With the cost of living constantly rising you need to take proactive steps to save money. The first step is learning the best ways to lower monthly bills so we decided to provide you with these helpful suggestions.
Issue: The cost of cable service has climbed steadily since you first signed up.
Remedy: Pick up the telephone and call your cable provider and ask them for a better deal. There are many providers to choose from so double confirm the packages being offered by other service providers before calling, this will give you more leverage.
Do not make any drastic decisions, you already have an established relationship with your cable provider and believe it or not they do want to keep you as a client. Speak with one of their customer service representatives and ask them for a better deal. These cable companies have ongoing promotions but you need to contact them and find out what is available. There is an adage, “If you don’t ask you don’t get” so keep that in mind when calling the cable companies.
As mentioned earlier it is wise to shop around with other cable alternatives to find out what comparable packages cost. Do not tell the customer service representative you are speaking with that you have been shopping around until they give you their lowest possible deal. This way you have more bargaining power and your current cable provider may have a superior package at a lower pricing point.
Issue: High Cost Student Loans
Remedy: Refinance your student loan or consolidate them into one easy to manage payment.
Most of us had to borrow money to get a post-secondary education. One of the biggest challenges is the high interest rates being charged on these loans. With interest rates at all-time lows you need to refinance your current loan to a lower rate. This may take some research but it will be worth the effort if you want to save money. If you want to keep your interest rates at the lowest possible level don’t borrow as much. There are government programs available that help you save money for college but you need to start saving even if it is only a few dollars a week. The more money you can save now the less money you need to borrow to pay for a college education.
Issue: Your Wireless Phone Bill Keeps Increasing
Remedy: Shop around for a better wireless phone package
If your monthly wireless phone bill increases or seems higher than usual you should look at the total amount of data you are using. The majority of us use our wireless phones to access the Internet which is very convenient but if you are not careful it could cost you a considerable amount of money.
You need to look for wireless plans that give the greatest amount of data for the lowest possible price. Even if the data plan offers a considerable amount of data you should use free Wi-Fi hotspots whenever possible to reduce the data consumption. If you are not under contract with your current wireless service provider you should shop around with all of the wireless service providers to find the organization that has the most competitive deal.
Issue: Being Gouged By Late Fees
Remedy: Sign in to your online banking and set up automatic payments so you never have to deal with another late payment.
For some of us we forget to make a monthly payment and get hit with a costly late fee. Instead of dealing with that hassle you should simply sign up for automatic payments that are taken out of your bank account or credit card by the due date. This should help protect you from late payment fees.
There are some people who do not like automatic payments but it teaches your fiscal responsibility. You know the funds must be available or you will be hit with a late fee and have to pay an over limit fee with your bank. These fees should provide you with sufficient motivation to make sure the payment is there in full and on time.
Key Points to Take Away From This
The most important thing to remember is you are in control. There are some individuals who feel helpless and don’t try to find cheaper alternatives. We live in a capitalistic, free enterprise economy where consumers have choice to take an assertive approach and follow the following points.
- Is there a more cost effective alternative?
- Does the lower cost alternative provide good value? (Sometimes cheaper isn’t always better)
- Are there any hidden fees or costs? There are some firms that use what appears to be low prices to lure you in but then hit you with high fees so keep that in mind when you are screening prices and you will be fine.