Banks make billions of dollars a year charging people to access their own money, and it seems like ATM fees are steadily rising.

It used to be that you would only have to pay a surcharge if you used an ATM that didn’t belong to your bank, a fee that was typically between $1 to $2 and was collected by the ATM owner. Nowadays, if you use an out-of-network ATM, you have to pay that fee and an additional fee to your bank. Additionally, many of these fees have gone up. Today, it’s not unusual to pay a total of $3 to $6 for withdrawing money from an ATM that does not belong to your bank.

A few bucks may not seem like a lot of money, but if you compare it to the amount you withdraw it could be a high percentage. For example, if you withdraw only $20, a $3 surcharge amounts to a 15% fee. Routine withdrawals of small dollar amounts can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars a year.

Luckily there are strategies you can use to minimize the amount of ATM fees you pay. Here are some:

Open Accounts at Banks with Convenient ATMs

It costs nothing to access your own bank’s ATMs, so you’ll save money if they are located in convenient areas. Before you open a new checking account, make sure there are ATMs near your home, work and other frequented locations. If you choose a large national bank with a sizable presence in your area, you won’t have to go out of your way to find a free ATM.

Choose Banks That Waive ATM Fees

Some banks will not charge you an ATM fee for using out-of-network ATMs. For example, PNC Bank (Stock Quote: PNC) offers a free checking account that will reimburse all non-PNC ATM fees. The only stipulation is that you must maintain a monthly minimum balance of $2,000 in your checking account. Some online banks also offer ATM reimbursement, but they often have a low maximum reimbursement amount. For example, EverBank only offers $6 per month in the reimbursement of ATM fees, but they do not charge you on their side.

Plan Your ATM Withdrawals

Taking out small dollar amounts isn’t worth paying the ATM fee. If you have to use an out-of-network ATM, plan ahead for how much money you need, and take it all out at one time. By doing that, you minimize the percentage of the transaction you pay in fees. If you don’t trust yourself with the cash, stash it away in a safe place until you need it.

Get Cash Back

When shopping at the grocery store or drugstore, take the opportunity to get cash back when you use your debit card. You don’t pay any fees for getting cash back. Even if you don’t need something at the store, it’s better to go this route. If you have to buy a $.89 pack of gum, you’ll still save money on ATM fees and at least then you’ll have some gum.

—For more ways to save, spend, invest and borrow, visit MainStreet.com.