Cut Bills
47 Bills You Can Lower With One Phone Call
Most monthly bills have wiggle room — if you know who to call and what to say. Here are 47 bills to target, plus the exact script that works.
Rung 2 · Cut Your Bills
Cut Your Bills
Lower the bills you already pay — often with a single phone call — and free up money every month.
Cutting a bill once pays you back every single month. Phone plans, internet, insurance, subscriptions and even medical bills often have more wiggle room than companies advertise — you just have to ask the right way.
Start with the bill cutter below to see where your money is going, then grab a ready-made script and make the call.
Cut Your Bills guides
Bill Negotiation Scripts
Copy-and-paste scripts for the calls nobody wants to make — lower rates, payment plans and cancellations.
Open →Cheap Gas & Fuel Efficiency
Find cheaper gas, stretch every gallon and figure out what your trips — and your next car — really cost.
Open →Renewable Energy & Home Savings
Start with the free and cheap upgrades, then see whether solar or community solar makes sense for you.
Open →Health Care for Less
Cheaper prescriptions, low-cost clinics, charity care and how to fight a big medical bill.
Open →Bill Cutter: find your biggest savings
Free tool
Bill Cutter Worksheet
List what you pay now and what you are aiming for. Track your calls and watch the savings add up.
| Bill | Now ($/mo) | Target ($/mo) | Called? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent / mortgage | |||
| Electric | |||
| Gas / heating | |||
| Water / sewer | |||
| Internet | |||
| Cell phone | |||
| Car insurance | |||
| Health insurance | |||
| Subscriptions / streaming | |||
| Gym | |||
| Credit card interest | |||
| Bank fees |
Saved in this browser only. Need words to say? Use our bill negotiation scripts.
Where the easiest savings usually hide
| Bill | What to try first | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Cell phone | Switch to a prepaid or low-cost carrier that runs on a major network, or drop unused add-ons. | Low |
| Internet | Ask for current promo pricing, check low-income plans and Lifeline, or lower your speed tier. | Low |
| Car insurance | Shop quotes every year, raise your deductible if you have savings, ask about every discount. | Medium |
| Home / renters insurance | Bundle, raise the deductible, and compare quotes at renewal. | Medium |
| Subscriptions | List every recurring charge on your bank statement and cancel what you don’t use weekly. | Low |
| Electric & gas | Ask about budget billing and assistance programs; seal drafts and adjust the thermostat. | Low |
| Credit card interest | Ask for a lower APR or a hardship plan, and target the highest-rate card first. | Low |
| Medical bills | Request an itemized bill, check for errors and ask about financial assistance. | Medium |
| Prescriptions | Compare discount card prices, ask for generics and look at mail-order. | Low |
| Banking fees | Switch to a no-fee checking account or ask for overdraft fees to be refunded. | Low |
The 5-step bill-cutting routine
Pull 3 months of statements
Highlight every recurring charge. Many people find at least one they forgot about.
Know your numbers
Before you call, write down what you pay, how long you’ve been a customer and what competitors offer.
Call and ask for retention
The “retention” or “loyalty” team often has more power to offer discounts than front-line reps.
Be polite, be ready to leave
Kind, calm and specific works best. Mean it when you say you’ll switch.
Get it in writing
Ask for a confirmation email or reference number, and check your next bill. Scripts are on our negotiation scripts page.
Bill-cutting resources
FCC Lifeline GovFederal discount on phone or internet for qualifying households.fcc.gov ↗LIHEAP GovHelp with heating and cooling bills.acf.hhs.gov ↗Weatherization Assistance Program GovFree home energy upgrades for eligible households.energy.gov ↗ENERGY STAR GovFind efficient appliances and rebates that lower utility bills.energystar.gov ↗CFPB GovHelp with credit cards, bank fees and debt collectors.consumerfinance.gov ↗GoodRx FreeCompare prescription prices and free discount coupons at local pharmacies.goodrx.com ↗Dollar For NonprofitFree help applying for hospital charity care to reduce or erase medical bills.dollarfor.org ↗NAIC Insurance Resources FreeFind your state insurance department and consumer guides for shopping coverage.content.naic.org ↗
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