Are you positive that you’re paying the best rate on your cable and Internet? The only way to be sure is to make sure each year to take the time and find out. There are at least seven bills that you should take the time to renegotiate every year. This doesn’t have to take a ton of time, but in many situations will pay off in the end. Take a look at these seven bills to renegotiate yearly and see if you think there are any worth pursuing!
7 Bills to Renegotiate Yearly
There are at least 7 bills that you should take a look at each year and decide if they’re worth making a phone call about.
Cable
Internet
Cell phones
Insurance
Satellite radio
Credit cards
Electricity
Note that I did include credit cards in this list. Even though credit card debt is not something I’d ever recommend, I understand that all of us are in different financial situations. And sometimes you can ask credit card companies and renegotiate your monthly interest rate.
Call around. Call all of your local providers to ask their current rates and promotions. Then begin calling back any that you can and sharing the prices you got from the other companies. Many times they will match or exceed the other companies offer to win or keep your business. This works with most of the bills above!
Be kind and positive. As you call around with prices of competitors, make sure to be super sweet to your current provider. Tell them that you have been a long standing customer and would love to stay with them, but just can’t afford it. No sob stories here—just stay short and sweet and explain that times are tough and things have to either be cut back or go away completely.
Buy new equipment. If you are running on old equipment, this is great time to research new technology and see if they will throw that into the deal for you. Make sure that you aren’t paying a monthly rental fee, though, for routers and other items. Many times you can buy these items yourself and save a ton over the monthly cost to “rent.”
Remember that bundle deals only cost you. Many times the cable and phone companies try to emphasize how much you can save if you add on other services. These are items you didn’t call about and possibly don’t even need. Keep everyone on the same page and stay away from bundles unless you really are wanting all they are offering.
DO NOT get caught in the lie that you must have a phone line or cable channels to get internet. You can have just Internet from the phone company or cable company without adding on their other services. About 45% of American homes no long have landlines (mine included). We live in a house that doesn’t even have phone jacks in the walls!
Get to know your “framily.” I’m borrowing a term from an old Sprint’s marketing campaign here. To save on your cell phone, it’s time to embrace your friends and family. Getting a plan together saves a ton! Now that almost all the companies have done away with contracts, this is the perfect time to band your “framily” together and save a ton of a group plan.
Know what you need. For cable and Internet service, they will always try to talk you into bigger plans. Having the fastest Internet speed on the block sounds great, but it costs more. Find out what you need or even be brave and try the lower speeds first before paying for top of the line speed. Don’t believe everything they say you “have” to have.
Ask for deductions. To decrease your insurance costs, sometimes the key word is deductions. Ask the insurance agent for anything that might lower your costs. Getting fire extinguishers, alarms, adding your cars to the same plans—there is a long list of things that can decrease your overall cost.
Trying to improve your finances in the new year? Check out my post on how to set yearly goals.