Michelle Oliver  

Did you know you are paying too much for some of your household expenses?

I have been saved thousands of dollars in my home this year.   Since the economy has taken a turndown, most companies are raising their rates, right?  Maybe not.  You see you have to go through your home every once and a while to see if you are really paying what you are suppose to pay on your bills.  What was good for your bills several years ago may not be good for you in this financial economic crisis.

Case in point, I don’t watch television a lot.  If it were up to me I would not have cable but I have it for my movie loving husband and my cartoon loving kids.  Several months ago I switched cable services.  The new cable service promised to be more economical with better picture quality and more channels.  Jackpot! So I switched services.  My services would be bundled, meaning my cable; internet and phone were all in one.  I thought I was getting a deal, until my family talked me into getting a High Definition DVR and an extra box for my home office.  My bill was much higher but still a savings from previous service provider.

My new bill came in the mail and I reviewed it for accuracy and the payment amount.  I saw a charge that I did not approve, so I called the service provider. I asked the  customer service rep is there anymore I can save today, and could get be a better deal?  The answer was yes.  If I keep the movie channel that was thrown in free for a month, I will save $900 a year.  If I choose not to keep the extra channel I will save $1176 per year.

The key to my success for savings is to not give up.  Call the companies and ask for savings and check your bills always.  You too will find hidden treasure in your home just like I did!