That's a crazy amount to be paying in fees. Definitely talk to different banks about what kind of account you need / checking / savings and what the fee structure is. Sometimes they have a flat monthly fee that covers a certain amount of transactions each month, and sometimes that is waived if you maintain a minimum balance. One thing to watch out for is using cash machines that aren't from your own bank. They almost always charge a service fee for the transaction, and it's usually a $1. or a $1.50 and then sometimes your bank adds another fee on top of that. It really adds up and is a lot to pay simply for convenience. Those stand alone cash machines that aren't from any bank are the worst for charging extra fees.

As for saving money, one good idea to start is to carry a notebook around with you for a month and write down every single penny you spend, even if it's just buying a coffee. That way you see where your money is going and you can figure out things to do to cut spending. Things like making and taking your own lunch rather than buying it can really add up in savings.

Don't really have any suggestions about making extra money, I always worked part time when I was in uni.

--splitimage