10 Things You Can Do To Lower Your Bills
Many people pay too much for their bills each month. It doesn’t have to be that way. Over the years, I’ve lowered my bills by doing several easy things. You can lower your bills too. Today, I want to share ten things you can do to lower your bills.
10 Things You Can Do to Lower Your Bills
Review Your Phone Plan
The first thing that you should do is review your cell phone plan. You may be paying too much money. There are a couple of things that you can do to lower your phone bill. The first thing to do is to check the current plans that your provider has. They may have some of the prices. Companies do that occasionally and don’t always tell their existing customers.
You can check the prepay option. A few years ago, I was in a contract with Verizon Wireless, and I was paying damn near $120. After my contract was over, I checked different options. One of them was the prepaid option. I was shocked that the prepaid option was basically the same plan I currently had. It was $60 cheaper, though. That day I changed to a prepaid plan. My current phone bill is $36.50. I have unlimited talk and text. I also have 15 GB of data per month.
You can check to see if your job offers a cell phone discount. A lot of them do. The bank that I used to work at had a 15% discount.
Refinance Your Loans
Refinancing your loans can save you a lot of money. You can refinance your student loans, your mortgage, and others. You may receive a lower interest rate and payment if your credit is good. A few years ago, I refinanced my student loans and got my payment lowered by forty dollars. My interest rate went down as well. I used the company, Earnest, to refinance them. If you’re looking to save money, check them out. They have competitive rates, and you get a $200 bonus if you’re approved. For more info, visit my exclusive link here.
Ditch Cable or Get a Cheaper Plan
The next thing you can do to lower your bills is to ditch your cable. There are many popular options, such as streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Disney+, get a firestick, an over-the-air antenna, or a live streaming service like YouTube TV. Figure out what options are in your area and calculate the prices.
If you don’t want to give up cable, you can choose a basic or mid-tier plan to save money.
If you have a DVR, you could discontinue and eliminate the service. That should save you some money.
Public Transportation
Vehicles cost a lot of money. You have to deal with a car note, insurance, gas, and maintenance issues. That could be $500 or more per month. You can use public transportation if you don’t want to do that. Cities like New York and Chicago have transit systems that allow commuters to go all over the metro areas.
Clothing Options
This technically isn’t a bill, but clothing can be a big-spending item. Starting today, you can do three things to save money on your clothes.
Buy clothes on sale. Every retailer has sales throughout the year. You have to look out for them. One thing that you can do is sign up for your favorite retailer’s email newsletter. They will send you emails when they have sales.
The next thing you can do is shop at discount retail stores. I’m a huge fan of stores like Ross, Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, etc. Those stores have a great selection of items to choose from. Their prices are also better than many of the larger stores.
Finally, you can shop at thrift stores. You’ll be shocked at some of the things that people donate. I see clothing that hasn’t been worn all the time. There are also items that have been gently used as well. You can save a lot of money by shopping at thrift stores.
Use Rakuten
If you buy many things online, such as groceries, consider using Rakuten. Rakuten gives you cashback on many of your online purchases. You have to purchase through their website. They also have an extension that you can download for Chrome. There are many stores that you can shop from through their site. They give all new users $30 when they create a new account and make their first purchase. Sign up for yours here today.
Balance Transfer
You can attempt a balance transfer if your credit card has a high-interest rate. Many credit card companies send out balance transfer opportunities several times a year. I did a balance transfer with a 0% APR for 15 months a few years ago. They charged a 4% fee, but I saved hundreds of bucks. Doing that allowed me to pay off my credit card debt for the first time a few years ago.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
In the ebb and flow of the seasons, our homes serve as our retreats. They offer a cozy escape from winter’s chill and a cool refuge from summer’s heat. But this comfort often comes with a hefty price tag in the form of high energy bills. This is where the beauty of a programmable thermostat shines.
A programmable thermostat isn’t just a fancy gadget; it’s a powerful tool that puts you in command of your home’s temperature and energy expenses. It lets you tailor specific temperatures for various times of the day, ensuring your home is always comfortable without wasting energy when you’re away.
Think about it. Waking up on a frosty winter morning to a toasty house, knowing that while you were sleeping, your thermostat was quietly raising the temperature just in time for you to start your day, or coming home after a sweltering summer day to a pleasantly cool house without leaving your air conditioning on all day.
What’s more, a programmable thermostat can help lessen your environmental impact. By optimizing energy use, you’re not just saving money but also doing your part for the planet.
In short, a programmable thermostat is like having a personal climate control manager for your home. It’s a smart investment that delivers comfort, convenience, and savings. So, if you’re searching for an effective way to keep your heating and cooling costs in check, a programmable thermostat could be just what you need.
Cook at Home
In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to fall into the habit of eating out or ordering in. It’s quick, it’s convenient, and let’s face it, it’s tasty. But this convenience comes with a cost, not just monetary. On the other hand, cooking at home offers many benefits beyond just saving money.
When you take the reins in your kitchen, you’re not just preparing food – you’re taking charge of your health and your finances. You decide what ingredients go into your meals, allowing you to make healthier choices. And when it comes to your budget, home-cooked meals are a fraction of the cost of restaurant meals.
Think about the joy of creating a meal that could rival your favorite restaurant dish in your kitchen. It’s not just about the money you save but about the satisfaction of creating something delicious with your hands. And let’s remember the bonus of leftovers, ready to be your next meal or snack.
Cooking at home isn’t just a task; it’s an adventure. It’s a chance to try new recipes, learn new techniques, and share the experience with loved ones.
DIY Home Maintenance
Homeownership comes with a list of responsibilities, and maintenance is significant. These tasks are never-ending, from a faucet that won’t stop dripping to a door that won’t stop squeaking. The easy solution is to call in a professional, but there’s a cost-effective and incredibly rewarding alternative – doing it yourself.
Taking the DIY route for home maintenance is about more than just saving money. It’s an enriching experience that allows you to learn new skills and better understand your home’s workings. When you tackle these tasks head-on, you address an issue and build a skill set for future challenges.
Consider the feeling of accomplishment when you successfully repair a leaky pipe or install a new light fixture. You’ve resolved the issue and saved on professional service costs. And the skills you’ve acquired? They’ll be useful for a lifetime of homeownership.
The internet is a valuable ally in your DIY endeavors. A plethora of online resources, including step-by-step guides and instructional videos, can support you in handling almost any home maintenance task.
So, the next time a maintenance issue arises in your home, consider handling it yourself. It’s an opportunity to learn, save money, and experience the satisfaction of a job well done. DIY home maintenance might just become your new favorite aspect of homeownership.
Bills can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. These ten tips can help you lower your bills if you use them correctly.
Jason Butler is the owner of My Money Chronicles, a website where he discusses personal finance, side hustles, travel, and more. Jason is from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Savannah State University with his BA in Marketing. Jason has been featured in Forbes, Discover, and Investopedia.