Charging Me to Pay You Is Wild 🧾

There are very few things in life that irritate me more than an unnecessary fee. This week, the water bill decided to test that boundary.

I paid it on time — because I am responsible and enjoy indoor plumbing — but while clicking through the payment screen, I noticed something that made me pause. If I had paid it late, the fee would have been nearly ten dollars.

Ten dollars.

For water. The thing that literally falls from the sky.

Now I understand policies. I understand deadlines. I understand that systems need structure. But nearly ten dollars for being a little late? That’s not a gentle reminder. That’s a financial eye roll with attitude.

And it got me thinking… I’m breaking up with extra fees.

The overdraft fee? We’re not aligned.
The “processing” fee? Feels suspicious.
And the infamous “convenience” fee? Let’s talk about that one. Because nothing says convenience like paying extra to pay.

If you want more of my money, just say that. Don’t disguise it like you’re doing me a favor. Calling it a convenience fee doesn’t make it charming. It makes it creative.

But this isn’t really about the ten dollars.

It’s about awareness.

When you start paying attention, you realize how many small charges quietly nibble at your wallet. A few dollars here. A penalty there. Before you know it, you’ve funded the “Oops, My Bad” foundation for the quarter.

Not this year.

This year we are alert. We are calendar-reminder people. We are auto-pay-with-boundaries people. We are not casually donating to the Late Fee Retirement Plan.

Because every time I avoid a fee, I feel powerful. Like I just dodged a tiny financial jump scare.

So yes, I paid my water bill on time.

Not because I love responsibility.
But because I refuse to give ten dollars to a line item called “Late Fee.”

We are hydrated.
We are punctual.
We are not paying for nonsense.

Extra fees… respectfully, it’s over.