Clark has only paid an ATM charge once in 12 years, back in June 1996 in Moab, Utah -- and it still eats at him! He can practically remember the very day! But most of his fellow Americans don't care if they get ripped off with inflated fees for using an ATM as a non-customer.

The annual survey that BankRate.com does of ATM charges shows that they're up another 13% -- to just under $3.50 per transaction. But the big banks can charge up to $5 for non-customers! The highest Clark has ever seen was $10 in a Las Vegas casino!

The only reason the banks can raise their ATM fees every year is because we let them by continuing to use non-affiliated ATMs.

There are so many ways to get cash back for free. You can do so by using your debit card at the supermarket or the drug store, or by using an affiliated ATM in your bank or credit union's network. Meanwhile, USAA and some of the online banks will reimburse any fees incurred by customers when using others' ATMs.

So if you've been wasting money like this, stop doing it. Just use the easy alternatives Clark has suggested above.