Consumers typically scan their online checking and credit-card-account statements just to see what they’ve spent. But these days a closer look may turn up some great opportunities to save — or more enticements to shop.

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1. Gift Exchange

You can finally use that $100 gift card to Omaha Steaks — to pay this month’s electricity bill.

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In times of austerity every little savings helps. Here are some of the biggest money wasters that should be avoided  in order to save money: continue

Here’s a continuation of these pesky charges that annoy and frustrate us….

CLICK HERE TO READ Part I >>>

6. Paying to Get Credit Rewards Reinstated

Have a reward card? Some issuers have a creative new way of punishing you for paying late: They take away the points you earned in that billing cycle — and make you fork over money to get them back. Diner’s Club charges a $15 reinstatement fee; American Express, $29. Some other issuers, including Capital One, won’t let you get your points back for any price.

How to fight back: Schedule automatic payments online for at least the minimum amount due, advises Arnold. That way you’ll never be late.

7. Forking Over for Your Checking

As if it’s not bad enough that banks are paying next to nothing to use your savings — the going yield is 0.2% — they’re charging you more for checking too. The average monthly cost of an interest-bearing checking account was $12.55 in 2009 vs. $11.97 in 2008, reports Bankrate.com. Some banks have minimum balances you can meet to avoid “maintenance” fees, but the balances have gone up — to $3,400, on average, for interest checking. So it’s harder to sidestep the fee. “Does it really cost the bank $15 if my balance goes from $100 to $99.99?!” asks reader Roy Kinoshita.

How to fight back: Free checking will all but disappear at big banks in coming years, predicts Greg McBride of Bankrate.com. “But it will remain the hallmark of community banks, online banks, and credit unions.” Consider one of them. If you want to stick with a big bank, ask about deals for employees of your company; sometimes minimum-balance requirements are nixed if you have direct deposit. Finally, get regular checking rather than the interest-bearing kind; fees are much lower ($1.77 a month, on average).

8. Handing over big bucks to check baggage

With airlines charging for everything from blankets and pillows (American, Allegiant, JetBlue) to seat reservations (Spirit, Airtran, British Airways), it’s a wonder the burned coffee is still free. Your biggest complaint about the airlines, however, is the ever-increasing luggage fees. Only JetBlue and Southwest don’t charge to check your first bag. At other airlines, the fees on domestic flights range from $15 to $45 for your first checked bag, $25 to $35 for your second. (You may pay even more if you check the bags at the airport instead of online.) For a family of four on a roundtrip, those fees can easily total $200. To add insult to injury: Spirit announced that on Aug. 1 it will begin charging $20 to $45 for each carryon.

How to fight back: If you can’t fly a baggage-fee-free airline, aim for elite status on the airline you use most often. That gets you at least one free checked bag per flight. Or simply pack lightly enough that you can avoid checking altogether. You’ll need a soft-sided carryon bag with exterior dimensions totaling no more than 45 inches; length should be no more than 21 inches, says Doug Dyment, founder of the website OneBag.com.

9. Giving your cash away at the ATM

The cost of using an ATM that doesn’t belong to your bank just keeps going up and up. You’ll pay one charge to your own bank (average: $1.32) and another to the bank whose ATM you’re using (average: $2.22). Big banks tend to charge more than smaller ones.

How to fight back: Some major banks, including Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo, have smartphone apps that help you locate ATMs on the go. Use them. Have an iPhone? Download the free ATM Hunter, which finds locations for thousands of banks. If you can’t be bothered to go out of your way for the right machine, choose a checking account from an online bank that refunds ATM charges. Charles Schwab stands out: Unlike some other online banks, it doesn’t impose a limit on how many fee-free transactions a month you can make.

10. Paying for cellphone contract
Agreeing to a cellphone contract is sort of like signing over your soul to the devil: You know there will be hell to pay if you break your end of the deal. In this case you’ll owe $200 to $350. Such fees usually subsidize the cost of the handset you bought at a low price, says Bob Sullivan, author of Stop Getting Ripped Off.

How to fight back: Try to talk your way out of the fee, mentioning examples of poor service you’ve received (keep records and cite them). Customer rep won’t budge? If you can stand it, stick with the carrier a while longer. Termination fees are generally pro-rated, so the longer you hold out, the less you’ll pay. Next time consider a prepaid phone, which doesn’t require a contract. It’s generally a good deal if you use it less than 400 minutes a month during peak hours, says Sullivan.

Recession is here, we’re all trying hard to save and/or get out of debt but there are certain charges that if you don’t look out could set you back. We all love to hate them and if you’re not aware of them, here’s a list:

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