My internet service bill had gone up and I didn’t know why. I wasn’t getting any faster speeds and hadn’t changed the way I used my WiFi.
So began an overdue search of various household accounts. A few hours later, I had saved several hundred dollars – from negotiating a discount on that internet service to canceling unused streaming apps to making a small change to my trash pickup service.
February is a good time to tackle such tasks since it is cold outside. What better time to settle down for some “winter carving” while checking your credit card bills?
Here are some strategies to reduce your monthly or annual expenses, digital or otherwise.
What is the best way to check my invoices?
Often an increase on a particular bill will prompt you to check again, like with my internet service. But you don’t have to wait until something catches your attention to take stock.
How you conduct your review depends on how familiar you are with online budgeting tools. Some digital apps can calculate recurring subscription fees for you and even cancel them. However, to use the cancellation service, you usually have to pay a fee for the premium version.
Gabbi Cerezo, a certified financial planner in Los Angeles, said she prefers to print bank and credit card statements and highlight line items for review. “I use one color for items I like and another for lines I’m unsure about,” she said. If the statement becomes a sea of pink — or whatever color you prefer for questionable items — you can consider making changes. Ms Cerezo said she was learning Spanish and was therefore having difficulty maintaining a subscription to the language app Duolingo.
If looking through your statements seems too inconvenient, other advisors recommend using your iPhone to quickly see what you’re paying for. Just click “Settings,” go to your name at the top, and then click your “Subscriptions” list. On an Android device, open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Payments & Subscriptions, then tap Subscriptions. “You don’t have to do it monthly,” said Hayley Dickson, also a certified financial planner in Los Angeles; once or twice a year may be enough.
Once you have an overview, you can start implementing it. My own review revealed a subscription to a photo editing app that my kids had given up on, and a duplicate Apple Music subscription that was somehow paid for under two separate Apple IDs. Eliminating the photo editing app and double Apple Music subscription saved about $15 per month.
How can I manage the cost of my internet service?
Ask for a reduction on your bill, especially if you have been a customer for a long time. I contacted the cable provider that provides my Internet service using their online chat feature. I wrote a quick note saying I’d noticed lower rates from competitors and was looking for a possible discount.
The session lasted almost an hour, including a few minutes of waiting for the chatbot to connect me with a real person (at least I think I was chatting with a human). I also had to complete a pitch for the company’s cell phone service. (Many cable providers have moved into the wireless business.)
My patience was rewarded. I ended up getting a deal that reduced my internet costs by about $14 per month to about $88 for two years – a savings of $336. While some newer companies in my area had lower rates, I work from home and need consistent WiFi. So I stuck with a well-known provider.
Jeff Rossen, host of YouTube’s Rossen Reports consumer guide, advised telling your internet provider that you’re considering canceling service and asking about any “unadvertised discounts.” If you’re feeling uncomfortable, he suggests this script:
“Hello. I’ve been a customer for a while and I like the service, but my bill has gone up. I’m seeing comparable rates from other providers at a cheaper price. Before I cancel and switch with you, I wanted to see what you could do to lower my rate.”
There are other ways to save on internet costs. Many providers are promoting very fast internet speeds of 1GB – a gigabit – or more, Mr Rossen said. But most families who use the Internet to stream entertainment, video calls and some games do well with slower, cheaper speeds, he said. “We buy more speed than we need.” Try a slower speed for a month or two, he suggested, and switch back if you’re dissatisfied.
You can also save by buying your own modem – the device that connects your home to your internet provider. According to Wirecutter, The New York Times’ product recommendation partner, buying instead of renting can save you up to $20 per month.
What can I do to reduce my cell phone bill?
It’s difficult to haggle with dominant wireless carriers like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, said Courtney Lindwall, technology reporter at Consumer Reports. Switching providers may be necessary to obtain lower rates. Lesser-known companies such as US Mobile, Consumer Cellular and Mint Mobile offer lower rates and tend to do well in customer satisfaction, she said.
The downside? The smaller providers may lack brick-and-mortar stores if you prefer in-person service. And because providers rent storage space on larger companies’ networks, the major carriers could slow down their service faster than their own customers’ during heavy network traffic.
Switching cell phone providers can come with some hassles, but attracting new customers is an incentive for competitors to help you, Ms. Lindwall said. “They make it easier than you expect.”
How can I manage streaming subscriptions?
When I canceled my cable provider a few years ago, I was excited to get access to favorite shows by subscribing to streaming services at a lower cost. But the market has evolved and streaming is becoming more expensive – and less enjoyable, with ad-free options now costing more. My streaming bill, including subscriptions like AppleTV (shows like “Slow Horses” and “Pluribus”), Hulu (“The Bear”) and HBO Max (“The Pitt”), is now $186 a month — more than I’d like. Almost half of that is on YouTube TV, where I can watch live television. The service recently announced new plans that let users customize their selections (e.g. sports only) and pay less than the base fee of $82.99. So I’m going to take a look at these.
Jim Willcox, a streaming media expert at Consumer Reports, says I could reduce my costs by bundling them, such as: B. by combining Disney Plus and Hulu with HBO Max instead of paying for individual subscriptions. (Some wireless providers offer their customers discounts on certain streaming packages.) There’s always the option of binge-watching a series and then canceling the subscription. However, some services are delaying the release of new episodes, meaning you may have to maintain the subscription longer before you can cancel it, he said.
Mr. Willcox also recommends using a single credit card for all your subscriptions so you can see them all in one place.
What other fees can I try to reduce?
Many cities and towns offer lower rates for municipal services depending on usage. So check if this is the case for you. I emailed our municipal waste department and quickly learned that I could save about $90 a year by swapping our trash can for a smaller one. I left the old one on the side of the road on trash pickup day and the new one magically appeared.
How about saving heating costs?
It’s been a cold winter and the heating costs reflect that. Check with your energy provider about a “flat” or flat rate billing plan that will offset your monthly bills over the season so you don’t end up with a much higher bill. For more strategies, see my November article.