Terry,
The account I use at the bank doesn't charge to take out money - any bank that does needs to get with the times! Unless of course it's at an ATM that doesn't belong to that bank.
You are right in saying that a budget is the key though. If you budget all of your money before the month begins then whether you spend plastic or cash, it should be kind of a wash, as long as you stick to that budget.
I use a debit card a lot, which would put me in the plastic-spend-18%-more arena - but I stick to my budget - which I hope curbs that 18% to what is already planned at the beginning of the month.
I still avoid credit cards like the plague. Call me old fashioned
