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Alarm Monitoring
If you have your burglar and/or fire alarm system monitored by a monitoring service, there are few companies across the U.S. that charge only $9.95/month! If these companies are available in your area and you are paying anything more, you're paying too much! Also if your alarm system is monitored you generally qualify for a discount from your homeowners insurance company (they also give discounts for fire alarms). The discount can be close to the monitoring fee thereby making your professional monitoring almost free! Another option is to have an automatic dialer installed on your system, which can be programmed to call multiple numbers (except the police/fire dept., by law) and run a pre-recorded announcement when a particular alarm sounds. This notification would cost you nothing except for the initial hardware (~$60-$100) and installation (~$90).
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Electric
Many areas in the country now have a choice of companies that they can buy their electricity from. Investigate all options in your area; note that some companies may give you a better rate if you will sign a contract for 1 or 2 years (you can break these for a small fee). There are a few web sites that offer comparison shopping for electric service. You can probably call your public utility commission and find out who else offers electric service in your area.
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Internet
Dial-up - There are many Internet Service Providers that offer unlimited service for $9.95/month (and some now even $6.95/month), these include Netzero.com, Bluelight.com, Wal-Mart, etc. There is no reason for you to be paying anymore than this. If the issue is changing your e-mail address, you can get a permanent address by getting your own domain name for about $5.75 to $7.95/year and getting it hosted for $5 - $15 year. You can also get a free permanent e-mail address from hotmail.com and others.
Dial-up - Don't pay for a second phone line just for dial-up access. It is cheaper to give out your mobile phone number for calls you are expecting (but be sure to tell them it is only for calling you back today and it is a mobile number). Another option is to get call notes so you won't miss your calls. A second phone line is generally more than twice the cost of the first line because in many areas they charge you a higher FCC subscriber line charge for that second line.
DSL - For higher speed access this is generally the next cheapest option but it is only available in some areas. This service is limited by the distance you are from the phone company’s central office, so if you are out in the country, it is probably not available.
Broadband - This is the next cheapest option and is only available in limited areas and is a wireless operation (no cable or phone wires) that operates from towers like mobile phones. This is generally only available in densely populated areas.
Cable (broadband) - This is a generally a higher cost than DSL and averages about $45/month before taxes.
Satellite - This is the highest price option, but is an option if you need fast access and download speeds and don't have cable, broadband, or DSL in your area.
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Natural Gas
Some areas of the country now have a choice on who they can buy their natural gas from. Investigate options in your area. There are a few web sites that offer comparison shopping for natural gas service. You can probably call your public utility commission and find out if anyone else offers natural gas service in your area.
Telephone
Local - Shop around for local phone service. Many areas across the country have 2, 5, 10, 15 or more options for local telephone service (dial tone). The front section of most phone books list alternative companies, there are also some web sites that will tell you who serves what areas. Service, features, and prices vary greatly. Our Baby Bell is SBC; they charge $34.29 with no long distance included. The alternative we went with is $29.09 with 50 free long distance minutes.
Local - Don't buy inside wiring maintenance or phone equipment insurance. Both of these items rarely go bad and when they do, you can hire an independent contractor to fix your inside wiring at less than half the cost of having the Phone Company fix it.
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Telephone Service Directory - Wiring Contractors & Local Service Providers
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Long Distance - Make sure this is combined on your local bill and preferably should be from the same company as your local service. By doing this you will generally save on the many fees's, charges, funds, etc. (by eliminating the duplicate one's).
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Mobile - Consider switching your main or secondary mobile phone to prepaid. Rates can run as low as $6.67/month ($10 for 45 days) for 20 minutes, and your minutes don't expire!* If you must have a mobile phone this is a great plan for emergencies and occasional use. Many of larger mobile phone companies offer this type of plan.
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Television
Antenna - This of course is the least expensive reception possible and with no monthly charges. One time equipment and installation charges can be $200-$500 ($500 is equivalent to only $42/month (equivalent of cable cost) for 1 year, then it is free!) If you have poor reception it is probably because of the equipment you are using. The two best antenna systems we have experienced are Winegard & Channel Master antenna's and if necessary signal pre-amplifiers. We recommend you have these professionally installed due to the installer's knowledge of what is required in your area to achieve excellent reception. At a minimum consult with an installer in your area about what you should expect for reception with a good system installed, you might be surprised!
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Cable - This option is generally more expensive than satellite reception but check with your local cable provider.
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Satellite - This option is generally less expensive than cable but does sometimes require a one time equipment charge (this can easily be re-cooped after a number of months compared to the cost of cable). There are two main satellite providers, DirecTV and Dish Network. Research what each offers and their pricing (there are differences). Satellite is also a good idea if you are over 125 miles or so from any transmitters.
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Trash Pick-up/Hauling
If your city or an outside trash collection service picks up your trash, they generally charge you monthly on the quantity of containers you have requested from them. If you have two containers because of your trash load, you are getting charged for both each month (approx. $8 plus tax for each per month). Most times you could probably compact the trash in the one or hold it till next week when you might have less. Also if you live in a suburban area ask your neighbors if they mind if you occasionally put your extra in their containers right before the trash man comes. If they have room, they probably won't mind. Get rid of the extra container you are being charged for!
Water
If your water is provided by the city, a percentage of your bill is the charge for the city sewer drainage. So if you water your lawn a lot or fill the pool the town assumes a percentage of this went down the sewer and they charge you. We don't have any recommendations on this but wanted you to be aware of it.
If you water your lawn regularly, do it manually so you don't waste water. Many times you see automatic sprinklers going when it is raining, or has just rained. Also watering in the early evening or anytime before about 5am is probably more effective than watering in the heat of the day (the water evaporates too quickly and is less effective). You might even consider cutting back on your watering, if the lawn gets brown (looks dead) it is only for the season and will come back green next year.
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