Save money painlessly by negotiating discounts for monthly household expenses.

    OK, so you've already cut your monthly budget in an effort to build your savings. Daily lattes are gone, dinners out are rare, and perhaps you're saving money by working at home. What else can you do to cut your monthly household expenses?

    你正在通過節省家用開銷來省錢。那好吧，你已經開始減少每月的預算來努力存錢了。每天一杯咖啡的享受沒有了，也不去外面餐館就餐了，也許你為了省錢都呆在家里工作了。你還可以做些什么來節省每月家庭開支呢？

    Cutting your monthly budget again doesn't mean trimming necessities; it means saving money on them. That might include trimming grocery costs and comparison shopping for items likes clothes and household goods.

    節省每月的開支預算并不是說減少生活的必需品。而是說在這些上面省錢。這也就意味著要減少日雜開支，買衣服或家庭用品的時候多逛幾家店對比一下價格。

    But when you save money on these purchases, each discount only happens once. To really maximize your savings, cut your recurring expenses, and let the savings add up.

    但是當你在買這些東西上面省錢時，只能有一次的打折機會。為了真正達到節約開支的目的，你需要削減你的日常開支費用，多存點錢。

    Review Your Monthly Budget Expenses

    回顧一下你的每月開支預算

    We tend to think that the costs of goods and services only goes up, but, in fact, they sometimes goes down. Competition and new technology often bring down prices for services like cable, telephone and Internet--giving us an opportunity to cut monthly budget expenses painlessly. So consolidating your business at one company or signing up for bundled services also might mean a discount.

    我們經常會想當然的認為服務以及物價是一直上漲的，但其實有時候他們是會下降的。競爭以及新的科技經常會給電視，電話，網絡這樣的服務行業帶來降價，這就提供給我們每月可以毫無痛苦地節省開支的機會。所以，只購買固定的品牌或者是辦理捆綁性的服務都有可能會給你省錢。

    But few companies advertise to existing customers that they have lowered their prices. You have to review these monthly household expenses periodically to be sure you are getting the best deal.

    但是很少有公司在降價后會打廣告通知客戶這一振奮人心的消息。所以，你需要每月都審查這些家庭開支預算，以確保自己得到了最實惠的折扣。

    Here's a list of 10 places to cut your monthly budget:

    以下10招幫你節省每月開支

    1.Insurance

    保險

    Compare prices for auto, home, health, business and life insurance. Consolidating at one insurance company could lower your insurance costs. That might mean you'll need to take your business elsewhere to save money. But before you do, be sure you're getting all the discounts you deserve at your current company.

    比較汽車保險，家庭保險，健康保險，商業保險以及人生保險的價格。在同一家保險公司買的話可以降低你的購買成本。這就意味著你要在別的地方省錢。但是這樣做之前，要確保那家公司給了你最優惠的購買折扣。

    Consider raising your deductible for lower rates. Ask your agent what other discounts you might qualify for. Often working from home could mean a discount on auto insurance.

    考慮下以低利率來增加你的可扣款。問問你的代理機構你還可以得到什么樣的其他折扣。經常在家工作就代表著可以在汽車保險上省錢。

    2.Financial Fees

    財務費

    Are you still paying a monthly fee even though your bank now offers free checking? Particularly if you have direct deposit, most banks offer some type of free checking. I found I was paying $8 month for only a few services （like free certified checks） that weren't available on the bank's free checking program.

    即使現在的銀行提供免費存儲業務，你是否每月還在繼續為你的戶頭付費呢？特別是如果你辦理的是直接存款業務的話，大多數銀行都會提供好幾種類型的免費儲蓄。

    我發現每個月我都交給銀行8美元，但是只能享受到銀行不免費提供的個別服務（如免費確認支票）.

    Do you incur ATM fees because your bank's machines are not convenient? It might be as simple as reviewing your current bank's options or you might consider migrating your account to an Internet bank, especially if earning more interest is important to you.

    你是否因為銀行取款機不方便而要支付ATM費用呢？解決的最簡單的方法也許就是看看你存款的銀行有沒有其他選擇，或者將錢存到網上銀行，特別是當存款利息對你來說是很重要的時候就更要這樣做了。

    3.Cable and Satellite Television

    電視和衛星電視

    Competition in this industry means that new packages are available that could save you money. Television and phone service providers are now bundling together their services, so consolidating your phone and TV services at one company may save money.

    在該行業的激烈的競爭就意味著新產品能夠幫你省錢。如今，電視和電話服務商都喜歡將業務捆綁在一起推銷，所以在同一家公司辦理捆綁業務可以幫你省錢。

    New customers, whether bundling services or not, usually get the best deals, so it may be necessary to switch providers. But sometimes threatening to switch will net you a discount. Also, if you're really serious about saving money, consider downgrading your package by cutting out pay cable channels.

    新客戶，不管是否選擇捆綁業務，都會得到最優惠的服務，所以有必要的話，可以經常換供應商。但是經常更換供應商的危險就是會使你享受不到折扣。并且，如果你真的想省錢的話，可以考慮下減少付費頻道的訂購。

    4.Cell Phone

    手機

    Cell phone companies love to offer free phones to induce you to sign up for another two-year contract. Before you renew your contract ask yourself a few questions:

    手機公司都會以提供免費手機為名，讓你簽下兩年的花費合約。在你簽之前先問問自己：

    （1）Do you really need a new phone and what is the hidden cost up sticking with your plan to get it? （I got my cell phone from Ebay for $30 rather than take the free one and the two-year contract.）

    你真的需要一個新手機嗎？在你得到這個手機的背后你要付出多少成本？（我寧愿從易趣網上花30美元買個手機，而不愿要一個免費的手機和兩年的花費合同）.

    （2）Are you using all the minutes allotted?

    你用得完所有的通話時間嗎？

    （3）Are you paying for Internet and texting but not using it enough to justify the cost? Or are you using it so much that another plan might be a better deal?

    你是否支付了過多的短信費和手機流量費？或者你是否每個月都超支，換選另外一種套餐也許是更實惠的做法。

    （4）Would a cheaper plan or a prepaid cell phone serve you just as well?

    是不是有適合你的更便宜的套餐或者付費電話服務呢？

    5.Telephone

    電話

    Many people are getting rid of their landlines entirely. However, if you work out of your home, this may not be a feasible option. But if you have a separate fax line, you might consider discontinuing it. With a scanner, you can email documents as PDFs instead of faxing.

    很多人已經完全淘汰了座機電話。但是，這對失業在家的你來說可是個行不通的選擇。但是如果你有獨立的傳真電話的話，你可以考慮淘汰座機。而有掃描儀的話，你又可以不用發傳真，而是將文件掃描成PDF檔電郵給客戶。

    Like cable and Internet providers, landline phone service packages keep getting cheaper as more competition comes on the market. Consider VOIP or cable phone services. If you do stay with your traditional telephone company, be sure you are getting the cheapest long distance service and not paying for services you don't need.

    正如電視和網絡商家那樣，因為市場上激烈的競爭，很多電話商家所提供的產品也是越來越便宜。考慮下使用網絡電話或者電纜電話吧。如果你一定要堅持使用傳統的電話的話，確保你得到的長途電話收費是最優惠的，另外，不要為不需要的服務付費。

    6.Internet Provider

    互聯網供應商

    Shopping around for a better package of telephone services might also save you on your Internet access if you use DSL. But there are many other options for Internet services including cable, satellite and a whole host of wireless Internet options.

    使用DSL在網上四處逛逛，找一找更便宜的電話服務也可以幫你節省開支。但是你也可以使用其他的網絡服務，如電視，衛星等一整套的網絡服務。

    The Internet is a telecommuter's lifeline, so do your research first. Be sure if you change service providers the new one will offer the services and reliability your business needs.

    網絡是遠程通訊工具，所以先要在網上做好搜索工作。確保如果你更換供應商的話，新的供應商會在滿足你業務需求的前提下更可靠的提供給最優惠的服務。

    7.Refinance Your Home

    將你的房屋重新抵押籌備資金

    Refinancing your home can cut your monthly budget expenses the most significantly, sometimes saving you hundreds of dollars per month.

    將房屋重新抵押籌備資金能夠為你節省開支成本做出很大的貢獻，每月能為你節省上百美元。

    But refinancing involves many upfront costs （interest points, taxes, fees, etc.）, so it may take several months （or even years） for you to actually realize these savings. And if you're not planning to stay in the house for long, you could actually lose money on refinancing. Carefully consider the pros and cons of refinancing your home before taking this cost-cutting step.

    將房屋重新抵押籌備資金包括了很多成本（如利率點，稅收，手續費等）,所以你可能要花幾個月甚至上年的時間才能從中看到節省的成本。當然了，如果你不打算在這所房子待很久的話，你這樣做就可能損失不少錢。在做成本的再抵押之前一定要慎重考慮好這樣做的利弊。

    8.Credit Card Rewards Points

    信用卡積分

    If you have a credit card with rewards points, use them. But use them wisely. Keep in mind that credit card companies offer points to induce you spend more. So don't pay more （by racking up interest or fees） in order to get rewards points. To accumulate points faster, concentrate your spending on the one card that offers the reward you will use （for me that's the one with Home Depot gift cards） rather than spreading your spending among several cards.

    如果你的信用卡上有積分的話，使用它們。但是要精明的使用這些積分。你要知道信用卡公司之所以提供積分是為了促進你的消費。所以不要為了積分而去消費。為了更快的累積積分，最好的方法是使用一張提供積分的信用卡，而不用很多張信用卡消費。

    Saving rewards points for your dream vacation or another splurge runs the risk of the points expiring or never being used. Using points on a regular basis helps you cut your monthly expenses. Consider using rewards systems that pay cash or offer gift cards that you will actually use.

    累積積分的好處是也許能夠實現你夢想的假期或者其他值得炫耀的獎項，但是風險就是可能商家會終止積分，或你一直沒機會使用這些積分。定期使用積分可以幫你節約每月開支。選擇反饋現金或禮品卡的消費更有效。

    9.Utility Bills

    水電費

    Like phone and cable industries, your utility company likely has more competition than it once did. Often you can change gas or electric suppliers for a better price on your energy needs, while still remaining a customer of the same utility company for billing and delivery purposes. However, these other suppliers don't always have a better price so be sure to do some comparison shopping.

    正如電話、電視行業那樣，你們家的水電費公司如今也面臨著前所未有的競爭。在滿足需求的前提下，你可以經常性地更換能給你帶來更多實惠的煤氣或電氣供應商，但是你可能為了結算和支付方便一直使用同一家水電公司。但是，這些供應商不可能一直都提供給你最優惠的價格，所以要經常貨比三家。

    But the old-fashioned way to save on utility costs is simply to conserve electricity or waste less water.

    而最傳統的節約水電費開支的方法就是盡量節約用水用電。

    10.Credit Card Interest Expense

    信用卡利息

    Monthly interest can be a huge expense for those with a large debt. Making only a minimum payment means the monthly interest eats up most of your payment. Reducing interest can mean more money for other expenses or paying off debt faster.

    每月如果你有大量負債的話肯定會產生巨大的利息。保底消費就意味著你每月的大部分消費都是用來支付利息的。你可以通過其他消費或早一點還請貸款來降低利息。

    One way to lower your interest is to simply ask for a lower interest rate. Companies will often oblige to keep your business. If they don't, consider a balance transfer to another card with a better rate. Read the fine print, though, balance transfers sometimes offer rates that go up after a period of time and usually involve fees.

    減少利息最簡單的方法就是向信用卡公司要求更低的償還利息。這些公司為了保住客戶，會答應你的要求。如果他們不同意的話，就將信用卡的帳目轉到另一張利息更好的信用卡上。但是，要看清楚文件，因為結余轉戶有時候在一定時期后利率會更高，并且都會產生手續費。