Resolution: save big time on home expenses

Welcome to Week Three of our Resolution Series, where we’re focusing on cutting your home bills down to size.  (Editor’s note: thanks for all the kind comments and feedback on Weeks One and Two, I’m thrilled that so many of the budget girlies (and gents) are finding these useful!)

Phone Bills: Remember when everyone had just one number?  Hahahahah!  Those days are over, and for most of us, cellphones are necessity.  But there’s still lots of ways to save.

1. Audit your bills: A recent study showed the average cell user could save a galactic $331.00 per year with a plan that matches up with your usage.  You can check www.billshrink.com for a free cell plan comparison.  Are there services you could live without?  Call-forwarding, etc.  Dump ‘em.

2. Make the Big Move: Magic Jack is getting rave reviews from “Good Housekeeping” for ease of service and consistency.   We dropped our landline last year for Magic Jack and never regretted it.   Sneaky inside tip: the latest electronics show in Vegas also rolled out a Magic Jack feature that will allow you to make calls from your cell while at home using Magic Jack for free.  It’s killing the cell guys.  You can try out a risk-free 30 day free-bee  trial of Magic Jack here.   $

3. You can download a Voice over Internet Protocol onto your home computer and call folks worldwide at no charge.  Most of the word getting out of Haiti for those first terrible hours after the earthquake was all skyped.  Quality isn’t great, a bit of a pain, but it’s free, baby!  Sign up at www.skype.com, www.lingo.com, or www.volp.com.

Tax Bills: The average property tax bill and home valuation shot up 15% this year–even though we all know home prices have dropped like a rock.   Get a local realtor to give you valuations of homes that have sold in your area, compare to your home’s valuation and appeal.  75% of appeals result in a reduction of taxes!

Refinancing:  Look, make the suckiest economic period in 75 years work for you.  Interest rates are galactically low.  Do not agree to any up-front fees!   My personal favorite?  Paramount Equity Mortgage, 800.250.4000.  Ask for Dustin Dunaway.  He’s refinanced for us twice. I love him.  I am not getting paid to recommend him here.

Reduce Your Payments: If you’re struggling with your payments, you may be eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance or Modification.  It’s a federal program designed to help you.  Visit the site to see if you qualify: www.makinghomeaffordable.gov.

Insurance:

1. Install safety devices: most insurers will offer 5-10% off a policy for homeowners who install deadbolts and smoke alarms.

2. Boost your deductible: We increased ours from $250 to $1,000 and it knocked 30% off our policy.  The average homeowner files a claim only once every 10 years or so.  Save the moola!

Cable TV:  I’m not looking at you, I’m looking at me.  We have nearly every premium channel there is and we excuse it because “it’s our joooob!” to be “up” on every show on the planet, since we walk about them on our radio morning show.  Really?  Do we need every channel? 

Loyalty Means Nothing:  Sorry to sound cynical, but there’s no one, from your accountant to your cable provider who won’t try to drop their rates once you get a better bid from someone else.  Be brave.  Present the other offer, and bargain.  They won’t lower their prices voluntarily, just because you’ve been with them forever.  So make them.

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Tags: Saving on Home Expenses