I remember the days when you would get a bill for tv, newspaper, etc. and it would be a fair price for renewal and you just paid it. In the last couple of weeks I have re-negotiated the XM radio, DISH, and today the Dallas Morning News. The original bill was $40 more than the previous one. Lady acted like her first offer was it. I turned it down and she knocked another $11 off. I wonder how many people just pay this stuff at the original invoice price. Also, I will not put anything on auto pay unless there is a contracted amount and no auto renewal.

I agree, I finally let Sirius/XM go and started using Pandora and Amazon music. I haven't taken the newspaper in a long time now. I usually call DirecTV every 6 months or so to get my payment lowered. They're customer service went down the tubes once they were bought out by AT&T. We switched our electricity a few years ago to Energy Ogre and couldn't be happier. Our bill is actually affordable year round.

Electricity is one where I don't even bother calling my current provider when the contract is up. It is better just to go on Power to Chose and pick a new one. It is almost too easy other then the fact that you have to build a spreadsheet to do it properly on your own.

Check out Energy Ogre, membership is $10 a month and they do all of that for you. Then lock you into the lowest rate for 6 months.