The Subtle Art Of Negotiating Lower Bills

Yes, even pussies can negotiate.

Anyone who tells you something is “non-negotiable” is, in fact, using that as a negotiation strategy themselves. Those familiar with haggling know the truth: everything is negotiable.

But negotiating is one of those things that many people have a serious aversion to. Whether it's a fear of confrontation, or simply the knowledge that they're weaklings who don't deserve to win, many people actively avoid situations that require negotiation, or plow through them as quickly as possible, accepting the worst possible deals in exchange for getting it over with.

Can you negotiate all of your bills?

It doesn’t hurt to negotiate any recurring bill, but certain types are easier to reduce through negotiation than others, mostly those in industries where consumers can easily leave for a competitor. These include:

• Cable or satellite television

• Rent

• Cell phone and home phone service

• Credit card interest

• Car insurance

• Home security

• Gym memberships

• Subscription services

• Bundled services

Here are the actual negotiation techniques used by the pros that might be helpful in your situation.