Filed under Money on February 27th, 2009:
5 Ways To Cut Back Your Monthly Bills
Each month you dread sitting down to pay the bills, and every month you question how in the world you are spending so much! This is a familiar situation for most households. The good news is there are a handful of ways to help cut your monthly bills.
1. Your cell phone bill
Call your carrier to review your phone usage and see if you have the best available plan. Keep your bill low by avoiding extra fees and charges. Instead of dialing 411 for information, call Googles free 411 service at 1-800-GOOG-411.
2. Your dry cleaning bill
Just because a blouse or pair of slacks says “Dry Clean Only” doesn’t mean some items cannot be hand washed. To cut bills, home launder the article of clothing and have the dry cleaner press it. This will save you 40-50% on the cost of a full service cleaning.
3. Your heating bill
It’s much more inexpensive to heat up just your bedroom or just your living room than it is to heat your entire Charlotte apartment. To save on bills, close the vents in rooms that are not used. This will make the living areas stay warm and comfortable. Another great way to heat a specific area or room is to use a portable space heater.
4. Your home services
Bundle your cable, Internet, and phone services. If you buy all three from a local provider, such as Comcast, they will give you all three at a greater discount. And, do you need long distance, the movie package, and HBO? If not, then don’t include the unnecessary charges in your monthly plan.
5. Your water bill
Don’t hang around in the shower working on your vocals, and be cautious of how often you do laundry and run the dishwasher. Being vigilant on how much water you are using each day, you will be amazed by how much you save on your next water bill. When it comes to the water you drink, buy a water filter, such as a PUR dispenser, to attach to your faucet instead of buying bottled water. This not only helps your wallet, but also helps protect the beautiful Earth we live on.
With these five helpful tips hopefully you will cut unnecessary spending back. Next month don’t dread paying bills, instead get excited about how much you saved.