We hate paying monthly bills - and for the most part, we have found a way around the things we want or need without the monthly bills (excluding mortgage and utilities of course).
I figure there may be others out there that may be interested in cutting out or cutting down everyday expenses, so here is a list that allows you to cut costs without losing service you want or need:
1. Get rid of you phone service: we have been using Ooma for over 2 years now and haven't regretted it once. We were paying $30 a month just for a basic landline with no added features. We bought our Ooma system for about $250 (we ported our telephone number so we didn't have to get a new number) and haven't paid a penny for phone service since. You plug the device into your high-speed Internet connection - so we do pay a monthly fee for our Internet. There is now only a $3 a month charge for taxes, but when you consider that you get free calls within the US, free caller ID, free Call waiting, free voicemail, and more - that's a huge discount over time. Consumer Report also rates Ooma as the best home phone service. We have been very happy with our system.
Another option for free phone service is to use Google Voice which provides free phone calls within the US, however the draw back is you need your computer to be turned on and a headphone hookup. But that can now be fixed with a device called Voice Service Bridge and VoIP Telephone Adapter. This allows you to use Google Voice without having to keep your computer on and hooks up to a phone. This device is also plugged into your high speed Internet connection. It also includes many features for free such as caller id, call waiting, and more. This device is only around $50 and there are no additional fees, but it does not allow you to port or keep your current number. We have not used this device ourselves, so we can't vouch for it personally. We do know others who use it and like it.
Many people use cell phones now days and have already ditched their landline phone. We have found that the monthly rates for many cell phones are just too pricey to use exclusively. In order to get enough minutes or unlimited minutes - your cell phone bill is at least $50 or more a month and that doesn't even consider a data plan. I have a pay as you go phone that costs me $100 for a whole year and I normally have money rolled over from one year to the next because I don't use all my minutes up. Since we have a landline that now costs us nothing - we don't need a ton of minutes for our cell phones.
2. Get rid of your cable: We have never had cable, so we don't know what we're missing. But if you do have cable, you can now get rid of your large cable fee of about $75 a month and instead - get Netflix or Hulu for $8 a month. Netflix and Hulu allows you to stream movies and many cable shows at a much cheaper amount than cable.
I know some people who keep their cable just so they can use the DVR device. If you want to record your shows, but don't want to pay your monthly cable fee - you can get a TiVo device that has lifetime subscription, which means that you don't pay a monthly fee. Just make sure that the device you purchase mentions lifetime subscription. eBay is a great place to find these systems for as little as $25 - just make sure that you purchase through a reputable seller.
3. Rent movies from Redbox or Blockbuster Express: all movies are only $1 a night, which is much cheaper than renting from other sources - even Netflix depending on how many movies you watch a month. In fact, we have not paid to rent a movie for many months now because Blockbuster Express is constantly offering Free codes - if you follow our site you will find those codes on about a weekly basis.
4. Get rid of your Home Alarm System: monthly rates for a home alarm system range from $25 to $45 - not to mention an installation fee and a service contract that locks you into the fees for so many years. We recently found an Alarm System that cuts out the middle man and allows you to install a wireless system very easily. Mace offers a system for about $75 that includes a motion detector, door and window detectors, and a remote control with a panic button feature. You can also purchase additional sensors if necessary. If the alarm detects motion it activates an alarm that then calls you or the police instead of an alarm company. You can have the alarm dial up to 5 preset phone numbers. This is a great way to have the peace of mind of an alarm system without the monthly costs. You can also purchase security decals or yardstakes that are great at deterring burglars.
Do you have any additional ideas of cutting monthly costs? Let us know in the comments.
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