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Monthly Expenses You Didn't Know You Could Negotiate

When you think about negotiating a price, what comes to mind?آ  For many people, they think about haggling for fresh fruit or a handmade product at a local open air market in a foreign country.آ  There are many things that are negotiable.آ  For instance, you don't often settle on the asking price of a home.آ  You make an offer.آ  Then the seller comes back with a new one.آ  Another common negotiable price is that of a used car.آ  There are also many costs in our lives that are often considered fixed costs.آ  These costs are usually your monthly expenses.آ  You pay for a service or product and the price they give you is what you pay.آ  Or, so you thought.آ  With a little bit of effort, you can actually negotiate some of your monthly expenses as well.

Cable and Internet

Cable and internet are some of the most common household expenses.آ  Yet, they can also be some of the most expensive.آ  They hardly ever start out that way.آ  In fact, chances are that you got your current cable and internet service at a promotional price.آ  And then, after a year or two, your price increased.آ  You still see commercials for the same service offered at a lower price than what you pay, but that price is for new customers only.آ  Don't get frustrated over having to pay more.آ  Cable and internet bills are some of the easiest to lower.آ  Timing is everything.آ  If you wait until the end of your contract period, you can call up your provider and tell them you will switch.آ  Providers don't want to see their customers leave.آ  It will also be helpful if you have some figures from other companies to see if they will beat, or at least match, those prices.

Credit Card Interest

Credit cards can be a wonderful thing to have, but if you constantly carry a balance, especially if it's high, and only make the minimum payments, the interest rate can wind up costing you thousands each year.آ  Most interest rates are not set in stone.آ  Call your credit card company and let them know that the interest rate is too high.آ  Most companies are willing to work with you, particularly if you have been a customer for a long time and have a good record of making your payments on time.آ  Not to mention that your credit card company doesn't want to lose your business.آ  Even a 3% difference, while it might not seem like much, can make a huge difference.

Car Insurance

If you drive a car, you have to pay for auto insurance.آ Car insurance can get quite expensive.آ  In order to work with your current company, do a little research before you call.آ  Check out to see what other insurance companies are offering for the same coverage options that you currently carry.آ Once armed with the necessary information, then contact your insurance company.آ  Even if they say no, that doesn't necessarily mean you are either stuck or you need to switch.آ  Many car insurance companies offer discounts for safe driving, taking a course or having certain safety features in your car.

Rent

Rent for your apartment is even negotiable.آ  However, the best time to do this is after you've spent at least a year in your current apartment and your lease is coming to an end.آ  Do a little research of other apartments in the area.آ  If you can find one that is similar in square footage with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and offers similar amenities, all at a lower price, take this information to your landlord.آ  There's a good chance he or she will be willing to work with you.آ  It's easier to keep you as a tenant than it is to find someone new.

Hospital Bills

Hospital bills can be a scary thing.آ  Even if you had a planned medical procedure, seeing the final figure can be truly frightening.آ When receiving a medical bill, the first thing you should do is check your bill over for errors.آ  Sometimes, a number can be entered wrong, causing you to get charged for services you didn't receive.آ  If everything looks to be in order, contact the billing department.آ  Even though the statement says the total is due in one month, more often than not, the hospital is more than happy to work with you to come up with a payment plan that works best for you.آ  Most of the time, these plans are interest free.

Just because the cost seems fixed, doesn't mean it is.آ  It never hurts to ask.آ  Sometimes, a little bit of curiosity and some negotiating skills can be used to save you a significant amount of money on your monthly bills.