As many of us look for ways to tighten our budgets, it’s easy to forget a simple tactic: just ask. By making a few phone calls to the companies behind our three largest monthly bills, Sherry and I were able to save $590 over the next year. Here’s what we did.
It began when our Comcast bill jumped by $30. The promotional “triple play” rate for internet, cable, and home phone had expired and the regular price had kicked in. As loyal customers since 2006, I wasn’t willing to accept that without a conversation. I called Comcast, explained my frustration, and asked if they could lower the bill. I also mentioned that other providers were active in our neighborhood. That got me sent to the Retention Department, and before long my promotion was reinstated for another year. Even better, the new monthly charge ended up $8 lower than our previous rate. That change alone saves us $456 this year.
Buoyed by that win, I called Geico about our car insurance. We hadn’t reviewed our coverage since 2006, so it felt like an obvious place to look for savings. I asked the representative if she could help reduce our premium. I expected discounts for my driving record, but the real savings came from updating our account: Sherry was still listed as my “friend” instead of my married name. Correcting that status removed $134 from our annual bill. A simple administrative update—one we wish we’d made 18 months earlier—produced immediate savings.
For a third attempt, I called Sprint to see if our cell phone plan could be lowered. We needed to remain with Sprint to keep a valuable employer discount, so I asked the rep directly if there was any way to reduce our monthly cost. That time, there was no wiggle room: our two-year-old plan turned out to be one of the most basic and inexpensive options available. The call didn’t cut our bill, but it did reveal that we qualify for $300 toward new phones—useful information for a future upgrade.
All told, I spent roughly 30 minutes on the phone. That short amount of time yielded nearly $600 in yearly savings. It was a reminder that sometimes the fastest way to save is a brief, polite conversation.
Have you negotiated any bills recently? What strategies have worked for you when trimming recurring expenses? Share your tips—I’m always ready to make another call, especially if it comes with a savings or a new phone.
For more ideas on saving money, consider searching reputable personal finance resources.