How to avoid paying ATM fees

— -- From transaction fees to overdraft charges, banks are charging consumers more money than ever before.

For example, the fee for withdrawing money from an out-of-network ATM has increased 55 percent, according to Bankrate.com.

"When you go outside the ATM network ... oftentimes it's two fees. It's a fee from the ATM owner as well as what your own bank charges you and together that can easily top $5," Greg McBride, chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com, told ABC News.

In 1998 an out-of network penalty charge would have cost just under $2, but now that fee has nearly doubled to $4.69, Bankrate.com found.

"I have seen an increase in banking ATM fees so I try to avoid it all together by going to CVS or Walgreens and doing cash back instead of going to an ATM," Nathan Kelly, who has an ATM account with Capital One, told ABC News.

The average overdraft fee is now $33.38, according to Bankrate.com.

"This is a pure convenience fee. Consumers aren't really price sensitive on it and that just really gives banks leeway to continue to raise these rates year in and year out," McBride said. "As people transition away from cash and get smarter about how they use their money and make fewer out-of-network transactions that is also a contributor to the steady increases we see each year," he explained.

ABC News chief business correspondent Rebecca Jarvis said today on "GMA" the best thing consumers can do to get around the fees is plan ahead and take cash out at your bank each week. She also suggested using a debit card to make purchases.

Another way to avoid overdraft fees is signing up for email and text alerts from your bank so you know how much money is in your account.