Small Money Leaks That Could Be Costing You Hundreds a Year

Aug 14, 2025, 11:11 AM

Discover practical tips to keep more money in your pocket, plus smart Hughes tools like Free Checking, Overdraft Protection, and myCards to help you take control of your finances.

In Southern Arizona, $185 can be a weekend adventure, a couple of Wildcats tickets, or a few really great nights out with friends.

It can also be, without you realizing it, the amount you lose to tiny, sneaky “money leaks” every year.

We’re not talking about big, obvious expenses. We’re talking about the $8 subscription you forgot to cancel, the $3 ATM fee you pay three times a month, the food delivery that costs more in fees than in tacos.

Individually, they don’t feel like much. But just like a slow drip from a faucet, they add up fast. And the worst part? They’re easy to miss.

Here’s where to look, and how to plug those leaks, so more of your money stays where it belongs: in your pocket.

Subscriptions You Forgot You Had

It happens to all of us. You sign up for a streaming trial during a rainy weekend, or a gym membership during a New Year’s motivation burst … and then life happens.

Before you know it, you’ve paid for three months without watching a single show or setting foot on a treadmill.

Plug the leak:
  • Every few months, check your bank and card statements for recurring charges you don’t recognize.
  • Be honest with yourself: Will you really start using that subscription again? If not, cancel.

Hughes members can track recurring charges through online and mobile banking, and if you want even more control, the myCards feature takes it a step further. 

You can instantly see where your card is stored online, spot forgotten subscriptions, view clear merchant names and logos, and even contact the merchant directly from your transaction history. That means no more mystery charges slipping past you.

ATM Fees and Bank Charges

You wouldn’t hand someone $5 just for letting you into your own house, so why pay $5 to access your own money?
Out-of-network ATM fees might feel small in the moment, but they add up fast. The national average is $4.77 per transaction when you combine your bank’s fee with the ATM owner’s fee.

Use an out-of-network ATM just once a month, and you’re paying about $57 a year, and that’s before monthly maintenance fees, which can easily add another $120–$180 annually.

Plug the leak:
  • Plan your withdrawals so you can use in-network ATMs.
  • Switch to an account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements.

With Hughes Free Checking, you’ll never pay a monthly fee, so your cash stays with you, not your bank.

Food Delivery Convenience Costs

We get it. On a 108-degree Tucson afternoon, the last thing you want to do is leave the air conditioning to cook dinner. But delivery app markups, service fees and tips can easily turn a $12 burrito into a $20 burrito.

Order like that once a week? You’re looking at $400+ a year in extra costs, enough for a family membership at a couple of local museums, a family day-trip, or several date nights downtown.

Plug the leak:
  • Pick up your food directly when you can.
  • Save delivery apps for special treats.

  • Order from restaurants directly; some offer delivery at a lower cost.

Energy Waste at Home

Between the triple-digit summers and the temptation to crank the AC “just for a bit,” energy bills in Southern Arizona can spike faster than a summer monsoon. Leaving lights on, running appliances in peak hours, or keeping electronics plugged in 24/7 all nibble at your budget.

Plug the leak:
  • Raise your thermostat a couple degrees when you’re out.
  • Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air.
  • Check out Tucson Electric Power’s rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.

Even small changes can save $20–$30 a month in peak season and $100+ over the summer.

Impulse Purchases

Impulse buys have a way of sneaking into our lives, that set of lip balms that only come out every other year, the “deal” you spotted on Instagram, the extra bag of kettle corn at the farmers market.

Plug the leak:
  • Give yourself a 24-hour rule before buying non-essentials.
  • Stick to a shopping list, especially at the grocery store.
  • Avoid “just browsing” when bored; those quick looks can add up.

Using a debit card linked to your day-to-day spending account helps you see, in real time, how those little extras add up.

Late Fees and Overdraft Charges

Late credit card payment? That’s $25–$40 gone in seconds. Accidentally overdraft by a few dollars? Same story. And for what? Absolutely nothing in return.

Plug the leak:
Automate bill pay to avoid missed due dates.
Set up low balance alerts so you get a heads-up before your account dips too low.

Hughes Free Checking offers free unlimited bill pay, customizable account alerts and Overdraft Protection, giving you extra peace of mind if your balance ever runs low.

The Big Picture on Small Expenses

It’s easy to shrug off small expenses because they don’t hurt in the moment. But here’s some quick math:

$10 a month in bank fees + $30 in unused subscriptions + $20 in impulse buys = $720 a year.

That’s enough for:

  • Two roundtrip flights from Tucson to most U.S. destinations
  • An entry-level DSLR camera for hobby photography
  • A solid boost to your emergency savings

When you think about it like that, plugging leaks isn’t about cutting back on what you enjoy, it’s about making room for more of it.

Start Small, See Big Results

You don’t need to fix everything at once. Pick one leak to tackle this week: cancel the unused subscription, switch to an account with no monthly fees, or set up bill pay.

Over time, those little wins will stack up, and you’ll notice your money hanging around longer. Which is exactly what it should be doing.

One easy win?

Switching to Hughes Free Checking means no monthly fees, no minimum balance and built-in tools to help you keep more of your paycheck for what matters: whether that’s savings, investments, or another round of tacos.