One of the best ways to get your finances in order is to have an effective budget. There are a few easy things you can do that could save you lots of money. The trick is to leave room in your budget for things you really enjoy, and eliminate the expenses you can live without. Keep on reading for a few simple and effective ways to lower your monthly expenses.
Review Your Subscriptions
If you’re not sure how many subscriptions you pay for each month, it’s a good chance you can cancel a few. We all sign up for movie or tv subscriptions and forget about it. Sometimes it takes a few months to even notice we’re paying for something we don’t use.
A good idea is to start a spreadsheet or write down every monthly subscription bill and the cost. This way to go through each one and decide if the price is worth it.
Cell Phone Plan
It’s possible to cut financial corners on your phone bill to lower the monthly cost. Step one is to review your subscription plan. A lot of times we pay for unending talk minutes but barely use the feature. Your data plan can also be reduced to something more affordable.
Another tip is to compare your monthly service plan to what competitors are charging.
Then you can call your provider to ask specific questions about your plan and tell them that you could save money by switching to a different company. Whistle Out lets you easily compare phone plans, so you have all the information when you make the call.
Lower Your Utility Bills
Just like calling your phone provider can save you money, you can do the same thing with your utility providers.
Big companies like electric, gas, and internet providers don’t always have your best interests in mind. For example, suppose you are paying a monthly fee of $15 for an extra cable box. You might not even notice that you are getting charged for it.
The point is that you should always be shopping around for competitive rates. That way you can call up your provider and tell them your concerns about the high rates they’re charging.
It’s not unusual that a utility provider will cut down on costs for you. But they never will unless you get in touch with them first.
Always Negotiate
Whether you’re dealing with someone at your phone or cable company, be ready to negotiate prices. There is plenty of competition these days, so do some research and find out what other companies are charging per month. This could go a long way in lowering your monthly bills and boosting your budget.