\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWith prices climbing almost everywhere, finding extra money in your budget can feel impossible. But one of the easiest ways to stretch your paycheck is by taking a closer look at the bills you already pay.Jessica Roy, a personal finance columnist with the San Francisco Chronicle, says many people underestimate how much control they actually have when it comes to their expenses.\u201cThese companies are expecting that you won\u2019t even notice when they raise rates,\u201d Roy said. \u201cOr if you do notice, you won\u2019t do anything about it.\u201dThe easiest bills to negotiate are the ones where you have multiple providers to choose from, like cellphone plans. Credit cards are another big one, especially if debt starts to pile up.\u201cYou can call them up and say, \u2018Hey, I’m looking over my expenses, I’m exploring what my options are. I’ve got zero percent balance transfer offers. I’ve got lower APR offers. Is there anything that you can offer me to keep me as a customer?’ You are not locked into whoever has your credit card debt right now,\u201d Roy said.Utilities are harder since there is usually just one provider, but Roy said they can still be worth contacting.\u201cA lot of the time, there are hardship programs they can enroll you in,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are deferments that they can offer you. And if you’re enrolled in certain other government programs like SNAP or Medicaid or SSI, it really depends from place to place, but a lot of the times, if you tell them that, they will automatically enroll you in savings programs.\u201dThe same advice applies to workers impacted by the government shutdown. Contact your providers, explain your situation and ask if they offer temporary assistance or hardship programs.When you are ready to negotiate, Roy said the most effective approach is to pick up the phone and keep the conversation simple.\u201cI think a lot of people feel like they’ve got to go in their guns blazing and rage, raise a huge stink, or, you know, have some like, secret script or code word that they read about or saw in a TikTok video,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd that’s really not true.\u201dRoy said doing a little research before you call can make a big difference.\u201cCome in with specifics and say, \u2018You’re making me pay this much, but I know I could go to this guy and pay this much,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cThat’s going to have a lot more impact.\u201dWhile some apps promise to negotiate for you, Roy does not recommend them. Most take a cut of what you save \u2014 or even charge a monthly fee \u2014 so you are better off making the call yourself. The biggest mistake you can make is not trying.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
With prices climbing almost everywhere, finding extra money in your budget can feel impossible. But one of the easiest ways to stretch your paycheck is by taking a closer look at the bills you already pay.<\/p>\n