Why do routine monthly bills keep getting more expensive?
Complacency stops people from periodically shopping around for better rates on bills and insurance, leading to hundreds of dollars in wasted money each year. Taking the time to make phone calls to negotiate or switch providers can significantly lower monthly expenses.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 12.0× more often in r/smallbusiness than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Calling service providers to threaten cancellation for discountsDid this help you?
- 2Switching to cheaper insurance and service providersDid this help you?
- 3Handling pest control and home maintenance tasks independentlyDid this help you?
- 4Using discount programs like Goodrich or communitycaresrxDid this help you?
- 5Ordering from online Canadian pharmaciesDid this help you?
- 6Asking a vet to prescribe alternative medications with discount coupons at local pharmaciesDid this help you?
- 7handling supplies and refills independently instead of hiring service companiesDid this help you?
- 8Paying via ACH or electronic bank transferDid this help you?
- 9Writing a physical checkDid this help you?
- 10Weighing the processing fee against credit card sign-up bonuses, miles, or rewardsDid this help you?
- 11Switching to low-priced MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile, US Mobile, Visible, or Google FiDid this help you?
- 12Buying a separate unlocked phone or certified refurbished phone in cash and using a prepaid planDid this help you?
- 13Transferring current phone numbers to a cheaper carrierDid this help you?
- 14Switching to alternative invoicing platforms or free/lower-cost tools like WaveDid this help you?
- 15Switching to MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile, US Mobile, Visible, or CricketDid this help you?
- 16Buying inexpensive older model phones or keeping phones outright for multiple yearsDid this help you?
- 17Transitioning to large carrier family plans where marginal cost per additional line decreasesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“This year my monthly expenses went down by over $500.”source ↗
“All I did was make phone calls. I feel like an idiot for not doing this sooner but I was complacent.”source ↗
“Currently my husband, oldest son and I have three lines through T-mobile at $150/month.”source ↗
“Our 14 and 12 year olds have a Gabb phone and watch which is $66/month.”source ↗
“We have two more kids coming up and I feel like eventually this is going to be a ridiculous portion of our budget. Is there a better/more economical way to do this?”source ↗
“Property tax bill came in and it got me looking at the card option for the first time but then I saw the processing fee”source ↗
“On a small purchase I wouldn't even think about it but when the bill is several thousand dollars that percentage becomes real money fast”source ↗
“I need to do something smarter about my phone plan because AT&T is financially holding me down and beating the s$&t out of me at this point.”source ↗
“The problem is that upgrading through AT&T would bring my monthly cost to somewhere around $65–$80 depending on the phone. I just moved into my own apartment and I’m trying to be smarter with my money, and I really cannot justify spending that much every month on a phone.”source ↗
“I just desperately want a reliable phone without a cracked screen, a battery that actually lasts, working GPS, and a service bill that doesn’t destroy my budget.”source ↗
“The convenience fee on a five figure tax bill was hard to swallow”source ↗
“My boy here was diagnosed with asthma this morning and he got prescribed twice daily Fluticasone Propionate HFA (110 mcg)— I’m located in the U.S. and the refill costs $230 per, which I could make work but would really prefer to save as much as possible since this will likely be a lifetime ordeal for my lil guy.”source ↗
“Cintas or any other uniform company. They rob you blind with their unnecessary services.”source ↗
“I used Aramark for a few years until I found I could do it on my own.”source ↗
“I don't want to pay $40 a month to do this anymore but like being able to send an invoice and having them to be able to pay directly on the invoice.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 14Why are service fees so expensive for tiny repairs?
- 7Why do you have to pay thousands to remove team members?
- 11Is paying a 1% wealth management fee actually worth it?
- 2Why pay upfront commitment fees for business loans that get declined?
- 3Why are hourly professional fees so expensive?
- 11Why does running an online store require paying for so many apps?