If you shop on Amazon, you’re the type of person who hates wasting money. In this article, we will share several simple ways to stop throwing money away and instead save upwards of $3,500 a year or more.
We all want to save money but sometimes the simplest ways to cut costs fly under our radar. We tend to think of our monthly bills as set in stone — BUT THEY’RE NOT! There are plenty of areas where we spend more than we have to, just because we’re unaware. Well, not anymore!
With just a little bit of effort, we’re going to make some easy changes today to stop throwing away real money. We’re talking about hundreds of dollars, not just pennies. Here are four straightforward ways to adjust your expenses, so that you’ll keep more of your hard-earned cash.
(We’re not pushing any particular product — we want you to find what’s best for you, not us — but if you make a purchase through our links, we may earn a commission.)
1. Take Another Look at Your Cell Phone Plan
A hard truth: You’re almost certainly paying too much for your phone plan. The question is what to do about it. Fortunately the answer is very simple.
Compare! Take the power back into your own hands and see what else is out there. Your current provider doesn’t want you to think about this, but there are other options.
This research is not as tedious as it sounds. Websites like CellPhonePlan.com make it easy to look at different options and find a plan that best suits your needs without having to become an expert.
Your current provider thinks they already have you locked down, so now they’ve turned their focus on attracting more new customers rather than taking care of you. They’re not going to offer you the best deals if you’re already a subscriber.
By easily exploring your options, you’re likely to find plans with more data, better coverage, and lower prices.
And — BONUS! — if you start shopping around, don’t be surprised when your current provider suddenly offers you a better deal to keep your business. So even if you don’t change a thing, you can still cut costs.
2. Re-evaluate Your Home Internet
Typically, internet providers are as complacent about current customers as cell phone providers, if not more. We think it’s time to put them back on their heels instead of letting them take you for granted.
When was the last time you looked at your home internet plan? We get comfortable and we forget — which is exactly what they want. They’re hoping we won’t think about it.
Well, we’re going to. And it’s going to be easy — way easier than they want us to realize.
Are we really getting the best deal? Just like with our cell phone plan, taking the time to compare options will reveal better, more affordable choices. Websites like InternetServiceCompanies.com allow us to easily look at various internet plans and providers, customized to our needs and in our specific area.
Don’t be surprised when you find faster speeds and more reliable connections offered at lower prices. Internet providers often reserve their best deals for new customers, so it pays — literally — to keep an eye on what’s available.
Then you can either switch or leverage your position as a loyal customer. They’ll negotiate to keep your business. And if they don’t, or if you don’t want to deal with them anymore, no problem. You now have the info you need to move to a provider who is willing to do more for you.
3. Don’t Ignore Your Car Insurance
Car insurance is such a frustrating expense — you hope you never have to use it, but then when you don’t, it’s like you’re paying for nothing.
There’s no way to avoid this if you drive, but there is a very simple way get it for less.
You guessed it — Compare!
We’re repeating ourselves, but there really is no better way to get your bills lowered.
1) Know what’s out there, and then…
2) Pit providers against each other.
Make them compete for your business!
You will often find better coverage at a lower cost. Websites like AutoInsurance.com will help you easily compare different car insurance providers and policies. You may have been overpaying for years simply because you haven’t shopped around. Don’t worry about the past, just take a few minutes and change the future.
4. Invest (just a little bit) in Home Security
When it comes to protecting your home, as the old adage says, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It is so much cheaper to make sure you don’t lose your possessions to theft or vandalism than it is to replace them.
But people think home security systems are expensive. THIS IS A MYTH!
Maybe they were in 80s and 90s, but it’s 2024 and home security has never been simpler, more effective, or cheaper.
In addition to providing peace of mind and protecting you from potential losses, installing a home security system saves you real money every month. Did you know homeowners’ insurance providers will usually offer a discount if you have a security system. It saves them from having to make payouts and they pass that along to you. Sometimes up to 10% or even 20% off!
At this point, that security system is basically paying for itself, if not more.
Finding the right system can feel complicated, but it’s not. Websites like HomeSecuritySystems.net offer simple, comprehensive comparisons of different home security services and pricing options. Check these out and you’ll find a system that fits your budget and meets your specific needs in only a few minutes.
A Look at the Numbers: How Much Will I Actually Save?
Will this all add up to real money? YES! But let’s look at how, so you can see for yourself.
The potential savings from these suggestions will vary depending on your circumstances, but here’s how they could help a typical family — let’s call them the Smiths.
The Smiths saw this article, set aside a couple hours, and followed each of these suggestions. What can they reasonably expect to save?
They took another look at their cell phone plan. They discovered a new service that costs $20 less per line per month. With four family members, this adds up to an extra $80 a month in their pockets.
They re-evaluated their home internet. They found a similar plan to their own for less. When they informed their current provider they were thinking of switching, their provider offered to match the other plan and the Smiths immediately began saving $30 a month.
They reviewed their car insurance. The Smiths compared several policies, and uncovered a plan with better coverage at a lower rate, saving them $50 per month per vehicle. With a minivan and two cars (their teen is on their plan), that is $150 staying in their bank account every month.
They purchased a professional home security system. After looking at all the best options, the Smiths easily landed on the right system for their family. It was quickly installed for them and $25 a month was knocked off their homeowners’ insurance. Additionally, they began spending $10 less per month on utilities because of the energy savings available through their new security system’s smart home features
Let’s Add All the Savings Up
What does all this look like in total for the Smiths…
Savings
- Phone – $80
- Internet – $30
- Car Insurance – $150
- Home Security – $35
- TOTAL – $295
The Smiths got almost $300 in ongoing monthly savings in just a few hours. That’s $3,500 a year!
This isn’t complicated. It just takes a little time and a willingness to pay attention. That’s what your current providers don’t want you to do. They don’t want you to check around, to compare. But now you have the tools you need to make sure you’re not being taken advantage of.
You can compare your…
Good luck and happy savings!
Bonus Deal
The popular home security service SimpliSafe is having a 50% off sale today.
Visit their site and click on “Shop Packages.”