Go Fee-Free

One secret on the road to wealth: Cut the fees you pay. If you can't avoid them altogether, then make sure you're paying as little as possible.

It may take a little comparison shopping, but who doesn't like to shop? There are all kinds of ways to shave the amount you pay in miscellaneous fees. Get free checking and credit cards with no annual fees, for example. Protect your nest egg by choosing an IRA that charges minimal to zero account fees, and ask how much you're paying in annual and investment fees for your 401(k).

If you're investing on your own, trade with a discount brokerage that charges low commissions. If you invest in mutual funds, pick no-load funds, which have no sales charge. Choose funds with low annual expense ratios; index funds and exchange-traded funds offer some of the lowest annual expenses around. The amount you pay in investment fees eats into your investment returns, and that can add up to big bucks over time.

Don't be afraid to question fees you're being charged. If you're buying a house or a car, be particularly careful that you understand what every dollar is paying for. And inquire if there are ways to cut those fees. If you're carrying a credit card balance but pay on time every month, ask your credit card company if it will reduce your interest rate.

Changing your behavior helps, too. Don't use ATMs that aren't in your bank's network, and pay your bills on time. Pay off your credit cards every month so you won't pay interest. Avoid incurring overdraft fees on your bank accounts. If you have to meet certain minimums to avoid service fees, then meet them.

Fees pop up everywhere these days (see LookGirl on the go for the latest airline fee to avoid), so you have to be vigilant. The less you pay in fees to companies, the more money you'll keep in your pocket — which is where it belongs.