44% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck have incurred extra fees while waiting for payday. These 3 credit cards can help

If you're struggling to make it paycheck to paycheck, the last thing you need is to be hit with some unexpected bank fees.

According to a CNBC and SurveyMonkey Quarterly Money Survey, of the 63% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, just under half (44%) have incurred late fees, interest or bank overdraft charges in the last six months while waiting for their next paycheck to arrive. This goes to show that for a significant portion of the population, it's not just having the money; it's having it when you need it.

If you're in a financial pinch, you can't (or shouldn't) skip paying your credit card bill — but you can make sure you aren't getting hit with extra fees. CNBC Select takes a look at some of the most commonly encountered banking fees and the credit cards that can help you avoid them.

The three most common fees encountered by our survey respondents were:

• Late fees: A fee charged by a credit card issuer when you do not pay at least the minimum payment by the due date.
• Interest: The cost of borrowing money, or the additional charges you incur when you don’t pay the full statement balance by the due date, at least for credit cards.
• Bank overdraft charges: A fee that happens when a checking account transaction exceeds the money in your account, and the bank allows the transaction to go through.

Each of these is a very different fee, sometimes from different entities. Late fees and interest are charged by your credit card issuer, with overdraft fees charged by your bank when you try to withdraw more than you have. 

There are also credit card annual fees, which are essentially the cost of owning a card, and foreign transaction fees, which are additional costs you’re charged when using your card outside the United States.

If you’re worried about being able to make the minimum payment for your card, or if you’re trying to avoid interest charges, there are a few steps you can take ahead of time.

One of the most important pieces of info is knowing your credit card’s due date. If it falls at an awkward time for you, maybe between paychecks, you can request it be moved to a more convenient date.

Auto pay is also your friend in most situations, at least for making the minimum payments. If you’re signed up, you won’t have to remember to manually make a payment each month. Just be aware of how much you’ve committed to spending. When the time comes to pay your bill, if you don’t have enough funds, you could be hit with an overdraft fee.

If you have a hard time keeping track of specific dates or managing multiple cards, consider consolidating the number you have to manage. A two-card system might be a more effective fit: One card that earns flat-rate rewards (typically 2%) and another that earns bonus rewards in categories you enjoy spending on. 

Lastly, if you miss a credit card payment and it’s your first time, there’s a chance your issuer will waive the fee. While this is never guaranteed, some banks might do this as a courtesy for otherwise good or loyal customers; simply reach out and ask. 

Chime Card™

Part of the reason the Chime Card™ doesn’t charge an annual fee is that it’s a secured card; the money in your Chime account is your credit limit. While this restricts your credit limit, it can be a great way to make sure you’re not overspending. Plus, you won’t be hit with overdraft charges; Chime offers *SpotMe®, which lets you overdraft up to $200 without fees on debit and credit card transactions that exceed your current balance. 

Depending on which *Chime membership you have, you can earn up to 5% cash back on a self-selected category each month when you make qualifying direct deposits. The options are utilities and bills, groceries, gas, travel and more. Since most of the rewards are tied to your Chime membership (the highest requiring $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits every 34 days), this card is best suited for those who use Chime frequently.

Citi Simplicity® Card

If you’re currently managing debt, the Citi Simplicity® Card could be a good fit. It offers a year-and-a-half-long intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers, alongside a lower introductory balance transfer fee.

The card is also a good option for those who struggle to make on-time payments: It doesn’t charge any late fees or apply a penalty APR, regardless of how many you miss. Just know that other negative side effects, like a lower credit score, won’t vanish. One major sacrifice you’ll be making for these flexible terms is rewards, as the card doesn’t earn cash back or points on purchases. 

Tilt Essentials

If you’ve run into credit issues in the past, the Tilt Essentials Card doesn’t require a security deposit or a detailed credit history. You’ll earn 3% on gas and groceries when you enroll in auto pay, separate from the 1% you earn on all spending. And if your initial credit line is a little lower than you’d like, at just four months, you could be eligible for an increase.

There are certain issuers, like Discover, that waive the fee the first time you pay late (up to $41 thereafter). This can serve as a first-time cushion, but it doesn’t offer any permanent solution if this happens to you frequently.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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* Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC

*SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, ""SpotMe"″). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners' discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non-card transactions, including ACH s, Pay Anyone s, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions.