A Few Simple Tips To Help You Save On Your Cable Bill
While the economy has been showing signs of improvement, many consumers are still struggling financially on a day-to-day basis. For whatever reason – credit card debt, low income, etc. – one way to better a personal financial situation is reduce certain expenses.
One expense many Americans overspend on is cable, which can be cut down by using the following tips:
No. 1 – Call your provider and say you can’t afford it
While it may seem too simple, the first step consumers should take is to contact their provider and tell them their bill is too high. To avoid losing any business, the company may be willing to offer certain promotions to lower a bill. In fact, they might just lower the monthly payment without any special perks, as there is a good chance they don’t want to lose a customer over a small amount of money each month.
No. 2 – Contact other providers to see what they charge
Changing cable companies can be a pain, but that doesn’t mean consumers can’t use other quotes as negotiating tools. Those that find they are unable to afford their monthly payments should consider calling a few other providers in the area to get a quote. If it is lower, people should then contact their current company to inform them they will be forced to change if their bill isn’t lowered.
No. 3 – Don’t accept the first offer
More than likely, a service provider will have no issues with lowering a cable bill a bit, which is why it is recommended that homeowners don’t accept the first offer they are given. For example, if they say they will reduce the monthly payment by $5 per month, try and push harder for a further reduction by informing them that the discount isn’t enough to make the plan affordable. If turned down, it may be a good idea to hand up and call another day.
No. 4 – Eliminate premium services
Perhaps the easiest way to lower a cable bill is to get rid of all the unnecessary extras. People should consider whether they really need high definition, DVR or the hundreds of channels that come with many plans. Cutting one or all of these services can help reduce a monthly payment and generate a good amount of annual savings.
Jessica Williams is Consolidated Credit’s Marketing Communications New Media Coordinator. As a member of the education team, Jessica focuses on helping consumers make better financial decisions while living debt-free. She has previously worked with Take Stock In Children, where she was a mentor and communications specialist, and SouthPromo.com, where she managed community relations, event planning, marketing, and public relations. Jessica attended both the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida where she received her B.S. in Interpersonal/Organizational Communications and Marketing. Connect with Jessica on Google+.