More people are using debit cards than ever before and it seems only inevitable that at some point in the future electronic swiping will completely replace cash. This reality can’t come soon enough for banks, who frequently hike fees on debit and credit cards, account balances, and transaction fees to garner larger profits. Yes, don’t forget, banks are for-profit. And remember that when you swipe your debit card and purchase that pair of cheap sunglasses, the $9 price tag isn’t the final price you’ll be paying, and I’m not referring to the tax. Here are three ways banks charge you simply for spending your own money:

Transaction fees—All debit cards charge the card holder small fees when they are used on transactions. The cost of these fees depends on a combination of the financial institution that issued the card and the merchant from whom you are making the purchase. As of 2011, Visa and Mastercard were planning to significantly raise their merchant fees, from 8 cents on a $2 purchase to 23 cents, which is only a cent less than the legal limit. Other companies are expected to follow suit.

Account requirements—Another way banks are able to make a few extra bucks off their account holders is to increase the minimum balance requirements and attach corresponding feeds. CitiBank, for example, has effectively eliminated their EZ checking account option and raised their standard minimum account balance to $6,000. The fee for not maintaining that balance jumped to $15 a month, which is double the previous amount. Their mid-tier account requirements and fees also doubled. This is not an isolated case. Banks all across the company are fiddling with their account requirements in order to acquire new fees.

Debit fee—Perhaps in response to the 2010 Durbin Amendment, which famously limited the fees banks could charge merchants, Bank of America had planned a monthly $5 fee last year for debit card use. The customer backlash from the announcement was so severe that BofA cancelled the charge. Since then at least four more banks have cancelled proposed debit card fees, including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Atlanta-based SunTrust, Regions Bank. But don’t expect them to just give up. Analysts say that in the long run, banks will bilk the money they want by instituting higher monthly bank account fees, higher ATM fees, and the elimination of debit reward programs.

Bank account fees are nothing new, nor are transaction fees. But being charged money simply to spend your own money via a debit card is a relatively new invention that deserves to be second-guessed. Account holders should also be vigilant of what kind of checking account they are enrolled in and what fees they are incurring.

We are now in the second decade of the 21st century and launching a small business presents new challenges and new opportunities. The economy is still in rough shape but there are fresh tools and venues at your disposal. So unpack the boxes you’ve hidden away at StorageMart, move into a small office, hire some business partners, and get cracking! No one becomes an entrepreneur overnight; you’ve got to work hard and experiment with many different business models. Start by making sure you’ve thoroughly tested the following methods for promoting your small business:

Blogging—In addition to a website, your small business should also have a blog. On that blog you should post updates about your products and services, as well as anything and everything related to conveying the story and mission statement of your business. Use search engine optimization, marketing, and link building campaigns to make your blog rise higher in page rank and on search engines. Small businesses with active, optimized blogs are much more likely to find core, loyal customers and investors.

Podcasts—Podcasts are becoming extremely popular as they are a good alternative to video content and are easily distributed through Internet radio sites and RSS feeds. Having a podcast for your small business is a great way to position yourself in niche communities and it’s essentially a free form of advertising. Podcasts also reach different markets of consumers that you might not normally be connected to.

Social media—Using social media is a must for your small business. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and Pinteres are just a few of the most popular and the list goes on and on and will undoubtedly grow in the 2012. While each social media platform has their advantages and disadvantages, the common thread is the ability to aggressively network with thousands of people and get them talking about your business through clever marketing, discounts, and viral content. Social media is the advertising venue of the 21st century, so not having an online presence with it in mind is tantamount to building your business underground.

The bold new century is upon us and entrepreneurs, small business owners, self-employed professionals, and freelancers all need to be sure they’re utilizing the tools that our patron saints of technology have bestowed upon us. Blogging, podcasts, and social media offer incredible varieties of options and opportunities for people to fight back against the sluggish economy.