Your monthly bills may look small on their own, but together they drain your income. Trimming each one a little — from paperless billing to utilities, insurance, and entertainment — adds up to meaningful savings over time.
Managing personal finance is often a challenge for most people. One of the biggest challenges, in many cases, is figuring out how to spend less money and save for the future instead. Often the best way to accomplish this is to cut down on your monthly bills where it is possible. On their own, your monthly bills might seem small or otherwise insignificant, but these bills do add up when you look at them as a whole—they can be a drain on your income. However, you can also minimize them in a number of ways, from smarter habits to professional bill negotiation. Saving money on bills in small portions will add up just as the costs on each of the bills do.
1 General Practices
There are two main things that you can do on most monthly bills that comes into your hands in order to reduce the cost. Research your options about receiving the actual bill every month. Most providers will provide an option for paperless billing. Instead, you have an online account where your bills will appear each month. The reason paperless billing can reduce your costs is that there is likely an extra fee associated with receiving a physical copy of your bill each month.
Besides signing up for paperless billing on all possible bills, take the time to examine and track your usage on all of your services. To help track your usage, sign up for push notifications from your provider. For bills like your Internet or cell phone, providers will often send notifications through a text message or a pop-up on your Internet browser telling you that you have used 75% of your allotted data for that period, or you are getting close to your text message limit or calling minutes.
Watch for areas that you might be able to trim based on your personal habits. For example, on a cell phone bill, you may not use all of your included minutes, data, or text messages. Based on your usage, you may be able to downgrade to a cheaper plan that is more suited to your habits—this could even be a prepaid phone where you only pay for what you are actually using.
2 Utility Bills
Rates for heating, electricity, or any other utilities are often set and therefore do not change. Unlike most entertainment services, you cannot choose an individualized plan. However, there are still a number of different steps that you are able to take in order to reduce your monthly utility bills.
Try installing energy-efficient light bulbs in all light fixtures around the house. These bulbs use between 25 to 80 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs. They also tend to last three to 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. Both of these factors mean that you are going to save money on your electricity bill—a significant amount when you add up every new light bulb being used each day.
Don’t use your lights during the day. Instead, open your curtains and allow natural light to flow into your home. The light from outside does not cost you anything on your monthly bill and your home will remain lit. Save artificial lighting for when it is dark outside.
Shut your lights off when you are leaving a room, even if it is only for a minute or two. This will help take a small amount off your bills, and while it may not seem like a lot at first glance, those short minutes that you leave your lights on do add up if you do that all the time. It only takes a second to turn the light back on when you re-enter the room.
If possible, invest in a programmable thermostat for your home. This allows you to take more control over the heating and air conditioning in your home. Specifically, a programmable thermostat will permit you to have a setting for when you are away from home, when you are in your home, and when you are asleep. You do not need to air condition your home for the entire day while you are at work—that costs a lot of money and it goes to waste if no one is there. Additionally, you can start air conditioning or heating your home a couple minutes before you arrive home. This ensures your home is comfortable when you arrive, but you do not have the additional costs of leaving it on all day.
Wherever possible, unplug all electrical devices when they are not in use. You have to leave some plugged in, such as your refrigerator, as this is essential to their function, but there is no reason to leave items like your toaster, kettle, microwave, or computer plugged in when they are turned off and not in use. If you leave them plugged in, they still consume electricity. This is a concept known as phantom power, and adds unnecessary costs to your bill.
If you have items in your home that use electricity and have filters, like a dehumidifier, remember to change or clean the filters on a regular basis. Filters blocked by dust or other substances do not run as efficiently as possible. They use more energy and raise the cost of your bills at the end of the month.
3 Insurance Bills
When insuring an older vehicle, consider only putting on liability insurance rather than comprehensive insurance (also known as collision). The amount that you would receive in the event that your car was destroyed, when it is an older vehicle, is often not worth the monthly insurance payments.
Most people have more than one type of insurance—car, home, et cetera—but many do not bundle their policies. Bundling these policies, like with Internet and phone, will often mean you are paying less overall than if you have them separate. Only insure for the worst-case scenarios. There are expenses that you can handle yourself that will cost less than paying an additional amount on your insurance bills.
This might include raising the amount that you save for an emergency fund, rather than adding potentially unnecessary costs to your health insurance bill (or other insurance) each month. Emergencies generally do not happen on a regular basis, and often paying for certain ones out of pocket costs less than paying insurance premiums. Keep in mind worst-case scenarios however—do not take these off your insurance.
4 Entertainment & Communication Bills
Entertainment and Communication Bills (TV, Internet, Phone)
Along with utility bills, most individuals or families have at least one bill that falls under the scope of entertainment and communication—popular ones are for television, Internet, and phone services. Beyond examining your usage and making sure that you have plans that suit you, there are a couple of options to further reduce your monthly cost. If you feel that you require all of your services, look into bundles offered by service providers. These are often cheaper than subscribing to these services separately.
While you may wish to keep all of your services, you may be able to eliminate one in favour of another if you change your habits. Specifically, consider making your home reliant on the Internet for watching your favourite television shows, and movies instead of subscribing to a CableTV service. This may require obtaining a Netflix (or similar) account so that you can stream television shows online. Streaming services do have associated costs, but these are much lower than cable subscriptions.
Of course, negotiation is always an option for these types of bills—if you’re unsure which bills are negotiable, consider calling Billshark to negotiate on your behalf.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does paperless billing save me money?
Most providers offer paperless billing, where your bills appear each month in an online account instead of arriving as a physical copy. Receiving a physical copy of your bill often carries an extra fee, so switching to paperless on all possible bills can remove that charge. Combined with tracking your usage, it is one of the two main general practices for reducing the cost of most monthly bills.
How can energy-efficient light bulbs lower my electricity bill?
Energy-efficient light bulbs use between 25 to 80 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, and they tend to last three to 25 times longer. Both factors mean you save money on your electricity bill, and the savings add up significantly when you account for every new bulb used each day around the house.
What is phantom power and how do I avoid it?
Phantom power is the electricity that devices still consume when they are turned off but left plugged in. Items like your toaster, kettle, microwave, or computer add unnecessary costs to your bill if left plugged in while not in use. Unplug them wherever possible. You do have to leave essentials like your refrigerator plugged in, since that is necessary to its function.
How can I cut my insurance bills?
For an older vehicle, consider liability insurance only rather than comprehensive (collision) coverage, since the payout if the car were destroyed is often not worth the monthly payments. Bundling policies like car and home usually costs less than keeping them separate. Insure only for worst-case scenarios and handle smaller expenses yourself, for example by building an emergency fund instead of adding unnecessary premiums.
How can I reduce my TV, Internet, and phone bills?
Examine your usage and choose plans that suit you, then look into bundles from service providers, which are often cheaper than subscribing separately. You may be able to drop cable TV in favour of streaming services like Netflix, which cost much less than cable subscriptions. Negotiation is always an option too—you can call Billshark to negotiate these bills on your behalf.
Ways to Save on Your Monthly Bills is a Billshark page. It can help you with your bills and your choices, and it can show you how to save.
Trim your monthly bills with paperless billing, energy-saving utility habits, smart insurance choices, and cheaper TV and Internet plans.
Use this page to learn about Billshark. Then go to the part of the site that fits what you need. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
We share this page to help you make sense of your monthly bills, your choices, and what to do next. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
This page links you to more help from Billshark. Use it when you want more detail or a clear next step. You can save a lot over time.
Got a question about a bill you pay each month? This page can help you find the best answer. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up.
Read each part of this page at your own pace. If you need more help, go on to a guide on your topic. It is free to read. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We put facts and tips in one place. This makes it easy to learn about the bills you pay at home. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
This page can help with real questions. You can learn about your plan, your account, and what you pay each month. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Use the menu and the links to go from a big question to the facts that fit your own needs. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We keep things short and clear so you can choose well. You can then read more if you want to. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
The links on this page help you weigh your choices. They also help you see what you pay and what to do next. You can save a lot over time.
Our goal is to help you spot the bills you pay each month. We also share smart ways to keep them low. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
Come back to this page when you have a new question. It will still be here to help with bills and savings. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
We link the small choices you make each day to the big picture. That means your budget and what you spend at home. We make it easy for you.
Each part of this page helps you see what you need. It may be help with a plan, your account, or a good read. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up.
Use what you learn here to plan your questions. Look at your choices, then take the next step when you are ready. It is free to read. Keep this page handy.
Our pages link to each other. That way, you can find more help and still keep track of what you came for. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
This page makes it easy to find the key facts first. Then you can pick a plan or make a change with less stress. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Good facts help you see why a bill went up. They also show you what to check before you call or reply. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
This page puts the key facts in one place. It can help you talk with a company about your bills and how to save. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
Our other pages explain the words you see on a bill. They also help you weigh the pros and cons of each plan. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
Our tips focus on real choices you can make. Start with the basics, then read a more detailed guide if you need one. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
This page is one of many that we share. Together they cover home costs, the firms you pay, and how to get help. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
Take your time and read this page first. It helps you see your choices and find out what to read next. We make it easy for you. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
We set this page up so you can compare and keep reading. You will not need to hunt for what you want. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Monthly bills come with rules, terms, and fine print. This page helps you find the parts that count for you. It is free to read. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
Our pages give you a clear view of what you pay each month. You can then pick the plan or guide you want. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
Some of our guides cover the basics. Others go into detail on one company or one type of bill. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
It pays to read first and act later. This page links you to the next guide if you want to learn more. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We share guides that help you make sense of your bills. They show your choices and the best next step. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
Want more detail on a bill, a plan, or your account? Check this page against the links we share here. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
We group our pages by topic to keep things simple. This helps you stay on track as you read about your costs. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
A bit of background goes a long way. It helps you spot what counts before you check a bill, change a plan, or call us. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
This page is part of our help library. It gives you clear facts and links so you can keep on reading. We make it easy for you. We are here to help.
Your needs can change, so come back any time. Our other pages can help you look into a new cost or plan. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
We laid out this page to help you get the facts and compare them. You can then choose your next step with ease. It is free to read. Keep this page handy.
Your monthly bills may look small on their own, but together they drain your income.
Managing personal finance is often a challenge for most people.
There are two main things that you can do on most monthly bills that comes into your hands in order to reduce the cost.
Besides signing up for paperless billing on all possible bills, take the time to examine and track your usage on all of your services.
Watch for areas that you might be able to trim based on your personal habits.
Rates for heating, electricity, or any other utilities are often set and therefore do not change.
Try installing energy-efficient light bulbs in all light fixtures around the house.
Don’t use your lights during the day.
Shut your lights off when you are leaving a room, even if it is only for a minute or two.
If possible, invest in a programmable thermostat for your home.
Wherever possible, unplug all electrical devices when they are not in use.
If you have items in your home that use electricity and have filters, like a dehumidifier, remember to change or clean the filters on a regular basis.
When insuring an older vehicle, consider only putting on liability insurance rather than comprehensive insurance (also known as collision).
Most people have more than one type of insurance—car, home, et cetera—but many do not bundle their policies.
This might include raising the amount that you save for an emergency fund, rather than adding potentially unnecessary costs to your health insurance bill (or other insurance) each month.
Entertainment and Communication Bills ( TV , Internet , Phone).
Along with utility bills, most individuals or families have at least one bill that falls under the scope of entertainment and communication—popular ones are for television, Internet , and phone services.
While you may wish to keep all of your services, you may be able to eliminate one in favour of another if you change your habits.
Of course, negotiation is always an option for these types of bills—if you’re unsure which bills are negotiable , consider calling Billshark to negotiate on your behalf.
