I needed some cash while walking through the airport on Monday, so I stopped at an ATM. Someone had forgotten to take their receipt, and what I saw turned into an unexpected financial wellness lesson.

A $60 cash withdrawal.

A $4 ATM fee.

That means they paid 6.67% just to access their own money.

What surprised me even more was something I didn't notice until about 48 hours later: their available balance was $19,828.27.

Whether someone has $200 or nearly $20,000 in their account, paying unnecessary fees is one

of the easiest ways to let money quietly slip away.

Think about it:

A $4 fee may not seem like much.

But if you paid that fee once a week, that's $208 a year.

That's money that could have been invested, added to an emergency fund, or used toward a financial goal instead.

Financial wellness isn't just about how much money you have. It's about developing habits that help you keep more of it.

Teachable moment: Before traveling, check whether your bank has fee-free ATMs where you're going, or consider getting cash before you leave home. Small decisions like these can have a big impact over time.

What's the most unnecessary bank fee you've ever paid?