Money Saving Chronicles #3: Check Those Add-Ons

If you decide you need some service, check with the companies you already do business with, you may be able to get it through them.

One key example is that last year, I got Roadside Assistance through my cell phone company for less than I’d pay for a AAA membership. I also got high speed Internet through my phone company with a discount.

Now, I won’t lie and say these savings were huge, but they are there. More importantly, I kept my life simple and that’s the big advantage of buying something through a company you already use. I have 12 companies that I pay regularly plus an annual membership in the NRA. Keeping all these bills in order is a challenge and even the most disciplined person will occassionally forget a bill with so many. If instead of having 12 bills to juggle, I go ahead and take on 18 or 24, my life becomes more complicated and I increase my risk of making an error in my finances.

Add-Ons like my cell phone company’s road-side assistance are generally offered for a lower price than you could get the products alone for a reason. The reason for this is that in the case of the Cell Phone Company, roadside Assistance is a sideline, they can afford a small profit or even a slight loss if it retains you as a cell phone customer.

Now, don’t construe this to mean you should take every add-on a company you do business with offers. I didn’t sign up for Direct TV, though my phone Company offers it, because honestly I don’t need it. Same thing with Internet for my cell phone. I could never see spending $7 a month to surf the web on a screen that can barely hold a phone number The worst thing to do is to get something because it sounds good. Ask yourself if you’ll get the bang for your buck. If you travel much at all, getting a program that gives you travel discounts is going to make sense. If you don’t, then it won’t. Think through the little extras the company’s you do business with offers and sign up only for those you need and will use. Who knows? A money saving opportunity could just be a phone call away.

Save Money

—–