In almost any kind of transaction, whether it’s settling loans with the bank or buying a few grocery items, the receipt might show a few dollars or cents’ worth of additional fees. These additional charges might seem so inconsequential that most people don’t bother to learn about them. While they may seem small at first, adding them all up can total up to hundred or thousands of dollars over time.

A common charge for any payment is the late fee. This is a charge made to encourage people to pay their bills on time. While sometimes this can be unavoidable, a payment on time can spell the difference between keeping your budget in check or going overboard. A good rule of thumb is to pay all bills as soon as they arrive, and not have to wait for the end of the month to rush all payments at one time.

Financing charges are added interest fees for the usage of credit card expenses that haven’t been paid on time. Most people will just pay the minimum amount, thinking that they’re actually saving their money. In reality, the bank profits from these late payments. Again, the simple rule of thumb is to pay the monthly balance in full, and not rely on the minimum payment.

There are plenty of other tricky charges that might seem small at first, but over time lead to bigger expenses. If an expense shows up in the papers, it’s better to pay them off sooner rather than later. If expenses still seem to pile up, it may be a symptom of a more serious financing and budgeting issue.