I am constantly looking at my bills, my receipts, and bank balance. I’ve said before that I opt in to being a “Hard Sell” so getting the best deal everywhere I can is important… I’ve got other things to spend that extra money on, and you ought to try this too. Here’s the list to go by:

🏡 Housing (Rent & Mortgage)

Mortgage

1. Refinance to a lower rate
2. Refinance term changes
   • Extend from 30 to 40 years for lower payments, though you’ll pay more interest long-term.
   • Or switch to a 15-year loan to save interest with a higher monthly amount.
3. Drop Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
   • Once you reach ~78% original principal, request PMI cancellation.
   • Alternatively, refinance from FHA to conventional once you have ≥20% equity lendingtree.com.
4. Loan modification / loss mitigation
   • If you’re struggling, lenders may extend term, lower rate, or switch to interest-only through loss mitigation.
5. Tax assessment review
   • Appeal your property tax if home values in your area have dropped .
6. Renters: negotiate & share
   • Ask for a lease renewal discount (e.g., 1–2 months free rent).
   • Rent out a room via Airbnb or similar to offset the cost.

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⚡ Utilities

1. Energy-saving measures
   • Seal windows, install programmable thermostats, switch to LED bulbs.
   • Use energy-monitoring smart plugs or a smart thermostat (affiliate with Nest or Ecobee).
   • Consider a whole-home energy audit (affiliate with local energy audit providers).
2. Shop utilities
   • In deregulated markets, compare gas/electric plans online monthly via sites like ChooseEnergy.
3. Water & sewer
   • Install low-flow showerheads/toilets.
   • Reduce outdoor watering; fix leaks promptly.
4. Internet & TV
   • Bundle services (TV + Internet + phone) to reduce cost.
   • Negotiate: call provider for loyalty or competitor offers.
   • Drop cable; use streaming alternatives (affiliate links for Sling, Hulu, Philo).
5. Mobile phone
   • Switch to lower-cost carriers (e.g., Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile). Use affiliate links.
   • Consolidate lines, bring own phone, or downgrade data plans.

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🛒 Groceries

1. Coupons & loyalty apps
   • Use Coupons.com for $15 off first 4 grocery orders (expiring 8/1/2025)
   • Print from LOZO (1,000+ coupons) lozo.com and Krazy Coupon Lady
   • Grocery-specific: PassionForSavings & LivingRichWithCoupons
2. Store loyalty programs
   • Kroger digital coupons via app
   • Tesco Clubcard: hidden coupons for razors, toothpaste, double-value vouchers
   • In US: Safeway, CVS, Target Circle, Walmart+, etc.
3. Coupon stacking
   • Combine manufacturer & store coupons.
   • Match coupons with weekly sales, clearance items.
4. Rebate apps
   • Use Ibotta, Checkout 51, Rakuten for cash back.
5. Bulk shopping & planning
   • Buy staples at bulk clubs (e.g., Sam’s Club, Costco via affiliate).
   • Meal plan with pricing per serving.
6. Generic brand switch — store brands often cost 20–30% less.

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📱 Cell Phone & Internet

1. Evaluate current plans
   • Drop unused features or lines.
   • Bring your own device or buy unlocked phones via affiliate.
2. Prepaid & MVNOs
   • Consumer Cellular, Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Visible offer cheaper plans.
3. Family/shared data plans
   • Group plans often offer better per-line rates.
4. Negotiate renewals
   • Call your provider during annual anniversaries; ask for retention offers.
5. Monitor roaming & overage
   • Use Wi-Fi calling and track data usage.

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📺 Subscriptions & Entertainment

1. Audit streaming & services
   • Cancel unused subscriptions (Spotify, Disney+, Hulu, etc.).
   • Share family plans.
   • Rotate subscriptions monthly to access rotating content.
2. Free & ad-supported tiers
   • Use Peacock Free, Tubi, Pluto, Spotify Free + ads.
3. Negotiate phone/internet bundles
   • Ask for streaming service included with your plan (e.g., Hulu with Disney+, Apple TV+).

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🚗 Transportation

1. Fuel savings
   • Use apps like GasBuddy affiliates to find cheap gas.
   • Use credit cards with gas rewards.
2. Insurance shopping
   • Compare quotes via Policygenius, The Zebra (affiliate).
3. Car maintenance
   • Regular preventative maintenance saves major repairs later.
4. Public transit & carpooling
   • Use transit where possible.
   • Rideshare with friends or coworkers.

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🏥 Insurance & Healthcare

1. Health and auto insurance
   • Compare annually on marketplaces or aggregator sites.
2. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs/HSAs)
   • Pay pre-tax for healthcare costs; affiliate with HSA providers.
3. High deductible + supplemental
   • Lower premiums offset with low annual spending.
4. Credit card perks
   • Card-linked discounts for eyewear, dental, telehealth.

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📦 Everyday Purchases & Miscellaneous

1. Credit card rewards and signups
   • Use cash-back or travel cards; pick signup bonuses (affiliate links).
2. Manufacturer rebates
   • Submit rebates for electronics, appliances—stores like LG, Samsung.
3. Free samples
   • Sign up for sites like PINCHme or BzzAgent for free goods.
4. DIY repair
   • Fix items yourself (YouTube tutorials, Amazon tool affiliates).
5. Buying used or refurbished
   • Furniture via FB Marketplace; electronics via Amazon Renewed.

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💸 Action Plan & Checklist

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✅ Example Coupons (as of June 2025)

• Coupons.com: $15 off each of the first 4 grocery orders — use printed coupons by Aug 1, 2025
• Walmart Grocery Promo: $10 off $50+ on first 3 orders; $20 off In‑Home delivery orders — expire July 1–3, 2025
• Clubcard (Tesco): Instant, personalized discounts for grocery staples like razors and toothpaste

Final Tips

• Track savings monthly; a few small wins compound fast.
• Set calendar reminders (renew coupons, re-negotiations).
• Normalize reassessing quarterly or semi-annually.
• Share wins with friends/family—they may also benefit from affiliate links.

R. A. Goldston, CPA at Large