5 Bill-Paying Hacks That Will Actually Save You Money

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Paying bills is one of those life responsibilities that everyone accepts with a huge grunt. No one wants to deal with complications, they just want to be done with the task. But did you know that how you pay your bills could actually save you money? Here are five easy ways to save a little cash while you — ugh — pay your bills.

1. Stop paying the monthly one-time fee with your card.

Many of you probably pay your statements online and with a credit card. It’s appealing to schedule a one-time payment for your bill. But you’re often charged a “service” fee for using this type of transaction with a credit card. It’s likely only $2 or $3, but that adds up. The solution? Opt for automatic payments through your bank account. You’ll skip the fee and save a good chunk of cash each year.

2. Pay double what you owe.

If you turn to one-time payments each month, you’re still in luck. Paying double (or triple if you can swing it) the amount you owe means your account balance will be sufficient to automatically pay for the next month. Say goodbye to that extra “service” fee.

3. Check your cell phone bill meticulously.

It’s no surprise that cell phone carriers find ways to quietly increase your charges while covering themselves with the fine print in your contract. So this bill isn’t a great one to attach to automatic payments unless you’re meticulous about scanning it. Keep an eye out for any incremental fees and charges on your monthly statement.

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4. Use smart bill apps.

If you haven’t heard of BillShrink, get acquainted. You may have gotten the best deal with a company at the time you signed up for its services, but things change. BillShrink lets you know which companies offer the best deal for the lowest price. If you’re thinking about switching services for one of your utilities or miscellaneous bills, BillShrink will give you insight into what’s worth it.

5. Consider transferring your credit card balance to a lower-interest card.

If you have a credit card, the plan is to pay it off, plain and simple. But if you’re stuck paying off a card with high interest rates, that can especially suck. Some major companies allow you to transfer that balance to another card within the same company that has a lower interest rate. It’s worth calling to ask, and if you can switch your balance to a card that will charge you less for interest, you could save a good amount of money.