More good news for bank consumers: since the January 2011 Bank Fee Survey, average minimum balance requirements to avoid fees are lower, and average monthly checking account maintenance fees (for those who pay them) are also slightly lower.

FORBES: Free Checking Options Fewer, But Not Gone

The most pressing problem the Navy currently faces is in its operations and maintenance account, which funds pretty much everything the sea services need except for military pay and weapons purchases.

FORBES: Washington Budget Wars Poised To Devastate Military Communities

Cash payments would be placed in an account and only used for maintenance, repair and environmental restoration.

NPR: Report: US Footing Greater Bill For Overseas Bases

Operations and maintenance, the account most closely tied to readiness, is structured in a way that affords somewhat more flexibility than weapons accounts, but on the other hand budget authority gets spent faster there so the money dries up faster.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

They also must take into account that moving electrical lines underground makes routine maintenance of the system more difficult, and thus more expensive.

WSJ: Should Utilities Be Required to Bury Power Lines to Protect Them?

Morgan Chase and Wells introduced new account structures in 2010 and 2011 that imposed monthly maintenance fees unless customers maintained certain minimum balances or hit preset monthly deposit levels.

WSJ: Bank of America Weighs New Set of Fees

If you chose a development that has homeowner's association and maintenance fees, be sure to take these into account when you do your financial calculations.

WSJ: When to Buy After a Foreclosure��WSJ House Talk