How to Lower Monthly Bills & Save Money With 3 Simple Calls

Before I get to how exactly I did it, I just want to underline that when you call your service providers, make sure that you are extra kind to these people.

First, they are just doing their jobs. Second, in my experience, when you are extra kind to someone on the phone, they are more than willing to bend over backward for you. I get their name, and I fill out surveys at the end, which take two to three minutes of my time.

Since they have saved me money on my bill moving forward, I am more than happy to tell the recording how wonderful these representatives are. It is not their fault that your bills are going up in price, they are just doing their job.

1. Cable

My first phone call was to my cable company. I always start with the cable company because my cable provider actually has a customer satisfaction department. They are the ones who I contact whenever I want to discuss my bill. The best part is that I did not change my service at all: for now, my family wants to keep the cable.

Our bill was $132. I know that might seem like a lot depending on where you live. Here in New Jersey, that is actually a great price for the service that we get for the four TVs in our house. Still, I called them and I told them that I am trying to see how I can reduce my bills because unfortunately, money is a little tight.

I said I did not want to disconnect my service with them because I love their company, but wanted to see if there is some way I can save money. The representative told me they appreciate me as a customer, asked me to hold on for a minute, and then said that she can bring down my bill from $132 to $119.

I know that this might not sound like huge savings but everything adds up. If this saves me $13 a month, at the end of the year it adds up to $156. So with just that one phone call, I saved my family $156.

2. Cell phone provider

Let’s go to call number two. My second phone call was to our cell phone provider. I know we are overpaying by being with the biggest provider in the US, but other providers have spotty service in certain parts of town, including where my two teenagers go to high school.

I am willing to pay a little extra to make sure I do not end up not being able to get ahold of my teens when the school bus breaks down. I cannot wait to switch providers when the time comes.

For now, however, I called them up, was as kind as possible, and they were kind in return. Without changing anything in our plan, they reduced my bill by $31 a month. This adds up to $372 of savings every year. Is it not great to see how a small amount can add up to something huge?

3. Car insurance

My third call was to our car insurance. I told them the exact same thing: I am trying to save money, can you apply any additional discount to our policy? He did a little bit of creative little play there, but he gave me an additional discount of $20 a month, which adds up to $240 at the end of the year.

This is how I saved a total of $768 for my family in one hour with just three simple calls. How much money can you save your family in one hour of phone calls? I am sharing this with you not only to give you some ideas but to empower you to take control of your finances. Every single dollar matters.

By having a flexible budget and reducing your expenses, you find the extra cash that you can throw at all of your goals, whether it is getting out of debt, an emergency fund, a house, or anything else.

I think that if you are wondering how to save on your monthly bills, most of the time the answer is – just ask. And if your providers do not want to work with you, let them know that you are willing to switch to a different provider and see what they can do for you.

How to lower monthly bills

Have you ever tried to reduce your bills by simply asking? What is the biggest discount you have been able to achieve? Share your experience in the comments below!