Save money on your cable bill

Whoa! It has been almost a year since my last blog entry! Here is a fresh tip. I recently decided I wanted to reduce my cable bill. So there are two choices: switch or negotiate a lower rate with current provider. I personally like my AT&T Uverse service. My bill for my package including premium channels was $150 a month. Do not call the regular customer service line. You need to call the customer retention phone number for who ever your cable provider is and use the following line:

"Hi (insert rep name here), I received a special offer from (insert competitor name here) and I am thinking about switching services. I enjoy my service, but want to make sure I am getting the best deal. Is there any special offers or rate you can apply to my account?"

I used this line and the rep said he would check and be right back. Sure enough, the rep comes back on the line and without a fuss or hassle said he could give me the same package I currently have, but lower my monthly bill after taxes to $100 for 12 months! That is a savings of $600 over the next 12 months for a 5 minute phone call!

Do Not Go Into Debt to Buy Gifts...

Whether it is for Christmas, Anniversary, Birthday, House Warming, or any other occasion, people tend to spend way too much. Don't get me wrong, it is a great thing to give a gift. It shows you care, love, and/or respect the recipient. The mistake that most people make is they use a credit card or take out a loan because they do not have the money.

There are many times I have had people come into my office and say to me, "I need a loan to buy (someone) a gift." Do you ever ask someone how they paid for a gift? No, we never do. So it is up to the purchaser to be responsible for their finances. I can guarantee you that no matter what you get someone, they are going to appreciate it. If they don't like it, then most likely they will keep from saying anything anyways. Plus if they were the type of person to look down on your for the kind of gift you got them, are they worth keeping as a friend, girl/boy friend, or partner?

So my advice, try giving a gift that has a low price tag but is high on thought and creativity. Here are some examples:

*99 Cent cards at most retailers like Wal-Mart and CVS: This will allow you to not spend a lot, but also you can write in a clever poem, story, or anything pithy comment that you think the recipient will cherish.

*Candy: The right candy will go a long way. If you know what there favorite candy is, get them a $2 -$3 bag of their favorite. They will love it!

*House Warming Gifts: The most inexpensive gift is to ask the host if you can bring some soda, chips, cookies, etc. that will help them provide the food, and save you some dough!

There are many other ways to save. Stay tuned later in the year when I will give you some money saving tips around Christmas!