Reducing monthly costs

[screembloodymurder]

I'm thinking about asking everyone I pay a fixed monthly charge to reduce their charges. Charges for cable, phone, internet, trash, insurance, etc. seem likely targets. Has anyone had any luck? What's negotiable and what isn't? Where have you saved?

[daninthemoon]

1. The only way to reduce those charges is to reduce your service.

The city is going to charge whatever they like for water and trash. CAble, phone, internet and insurance may be reducable, but you will lose services, options, and coverage.

[MADem]

3. I managed to get more for less by threatening to go elsewhere re: cable.

It can be done. It's always worth a try. Squeaky wheel, and all that.

[cutlassmama]

9. I'm going to try that. Thanks n/t

[screembloodymurder]

11. I just called. They knocked off $40/mo and I've got more channels.

:-)

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Not true in my experience. I made out like a bandit.

I called our satellite, gave them a story that my "other half" was insisting we change over to cable because of the offered better rate package, but I really really wanted to keep the satellite, that we had been loyal customers for 4 years ( NOTE: we were NOT on a current contract ) and did satellite have any
"special offers" to reduce our bill by at least 15.00 a month for the same package we had?
Ohhhh yes, they could and they did. Immediately. for 12 months.
Rep. says they can do this because of the economy.
Of course the bill came for the usual amount, I called, they said , ooops, just pay the discounted amount, somebody boo boo'd ( sure, uh huh, yep,) and I expect the bill next month will require the same call, but it is is 15.00 a month lower.
I have DISH and the special magical number that works to make this happen, if you need it.

Emboldened by my success, I did same thing with phone/dsl, same " going to the competition" line, acted a bit of a fluff head for them, and got 10.00 a month off.

Reduced the cell phone from a family plan to a single person name plan, saved 25.00 a month.
Told 4 friends about it, they did same thing.

cut out all the magazine subs. and refunds are coming.

We are about 50.00 up a month now.

edit: spelling

[MADem]

2. I knocked twenty five bucks off my cable...AND got more channels.

They were ripping me off and I called to cancel and told them why--that their service sucked and was a ripoff. They gave me a huge discount and every channel save the premiums. It runs out in six months, but I'll just switch to FIOS if they won't play ball and keep on keeping on.

I recommend you give it a try, but have a back up and some "great deal" prices that you can throw at the sales team--DIRECT TV or DISH or some other cable company in your area.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I have talked with several people..

...who have told me that they called these services--to cancel. Upon doing so--they were extended discounts or offers
to not cancel.

I had this happen with cable. I called to cancel and they offered me 3 months free. I cancelled anyway.

Just today, I had a friend tell me that she called up the cable company and said, "The Dish Network is offering me
three free months of HBO, are you going to give me that or do I have to cancel and go with Dish." The cable company
gave her three free months of movies.

It does pay to ask or to call and cancel...and see what happens.

[GoesTo11]

5. Argh Cable.

I don't have cable. Just watch DVDs from the library once in a while. When I stay with people who have cable, the TV is always on and they're always channel surfing. It's just horrible and stressful. I'd pay not to have it, but fortunately, I get to not have it for free!

[Common Sense Party]

12. You sound like me. No cable here, either.

I thought after February 17 I wouldn't even have analog TV, but I still have that. Don't watch it much, though.

When I travel (which is frequently) I vegetate and watch cable incessantly, channel surfing until 1:00 a.m. I have no idea why. It's hypnotic.

[Booster]

6. I called my local newspaper and asked them to stop

delivering the Sunday paper; that I just wanted Mon thru Sat. They said they would deliver 7 days a week for half of what I was paying so I let them. What pisses me off is I wish I had called them a long time ago. Same thing happened to 2 friends that called after I did. I also got my internet cut because the service was so slow and apparently there's nothing they can do to improve it so they cut the fee to $15 a month. I'm going to sit here one day and call all the services I get - can't hurt to ask.

[nancyr]

7. I cancelled cable...

and my headache is much better. I'm saving my money and my sanity at the same time.

[Danascot]

8. Check these out

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/DitchThoseMoneySuckingBills.aspx

A more general list, make sure to read all the comments at the end:

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/01/survival_skills_101_frugal_liv.php

[screembloodymurder]

10. Thanks!

Great ideas.