Automatic Teller Machines have been around for quite some time now. Since the late 1960s, the use of ATMs has grown quite wide and for a good reason: people use them a lot!

What ATMs are great for is quick cash if you need it and you're far from your bank's machines, but problems surface when people don't think and just use them any time they need a bit of cash.

If you don't pay attention, you can rack up quite a bill each month just using ATMs, so of course we'd like to give you five great tips for avoiding those fees!

1. Use your own bank's ATMs whenever it's possible. These days, it's rare to find a bank who will charge their own customers to use their machines.
2. Most people don't know this but if your bank's ATM is "down," at the time you're trying to use it and you're forced to use another bank's ATM, note the time and place. Call your bank during the next business day and report it. Any good bank will refund the fees you were forced to pay using another bank's machines.
3. If you aren't so lucky and your bank/credit union doesn't have a conveniently located machine, shop around for a machine with the lowest fee and use that. Remember, fees can be as much as $2 and higher, so do your homework.
4. Multitasking saves you money if you do it right. While you're checking out at the grocery store, use your debit card to get cash back. Just ask the cashier what the maximum amount is you can withdraw and you should be fine. Just make sure your bank doesn't charge you for such transactions (most don't).
5. If you have to make a withdrawal at an expensive ATM, plan ahead. That means you should withdraw enough to carry you over for a while in order to avoid further fees. Limit your visits to the ATM to once a week, at most.

These tips should help you avoid fees, but remember- the best way to avoid any of these fees is to actually avoid the ATM altogether and go see your bank teller. Good luck.