How do I lower my monthly bills?

Asked by: Austen Jast II  |  Last update: September 16, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (25 votes)

Here are a few small, easy changes you can make to start reducing your monthly expenses today:
  1. Download a Personal Finance App. ...
  2. Take on Meal Planning and Cook at Home. ...
  3. Use Shopping Lists. ...
  4. Cancel Cable TV and Trim Entertainment Costs. ...
  5. Reduce Your Electricity Usage. ...
  6. Invest in Smart Home Tech and Save.

How do I decrease my monthly bills?

How to save money on household bills
  1. Reducing your home phone and broadband bill.
  2. Get a cheaper mobile phone bill.
  3. Cutting the cost of your water bill.
  4. Government help to reduce your energy bills.
  5. Are you paying too much Council Tax?
  6. Cut the cost of driving and public transport.
  7. Pay your bills on time.

What is the 70/20/10 rule money?

It's an approach to budgeting that encourages setting aside 70% of your take-home pay for living expenses and discretionary purchases, 20% for savings and investments, and 10% for debt repayment or donations.

Is $1000 a month enough to live on after bills?

No. You cannot live on $1000 a year in the US. It would be challenging to live on $1000 per month in most places. The poverty level for an individual in the US is more than $12K annually.

How to drastically lower bills?

Here are 10 ways you can lower your bills:
  1. Negotiate your bills.
  2. Switch to a fixed pricing plan.
  3. Downgrade service.
  4. Use efficient appliances.
  5. Rotate services.
  6. Refinance loans.
  7. Use a balance transfer card.
  8. Bundle products.

Easy Frugal Ways to Cut Expenses and Build Savings

16 related questions found

What to say to lower your bills?

Consider asking about specific deals you might be entitled to—students, military personnel, and veterans are often eligible for certain discounts. And of course—mention you're looking to switch providers. “They usually want to retain you as a customer,” says Roth.

How to cut your electric bill by 90 percent?

20 Simple Tricks To Cut Your Electric Bill By 90%
  1. Utilize Natural Light. ...
  2. Install Low Flow Fixtures. ...
  3. Utilize Ceiling Fans. ...
  4. Invest in Insulated Windows. ...
  5. Use a Programmable Thermostat. ...
  6. Utilize a Smart Power Strip. ...
  7. Replace Incandescent Lights with LEDs. ...
  8. Utilize Solar Panels.

What is the 50 20 30 rule?

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How much should all your bills be a month?

50% of your net income should go towards living expenses and essentials (Needs), 20% of your net income should go towards debt reduction and savings (Debt Reduction and Savings), and 30% of your net income should go towards discretionary spending (Wants).

Is 500 a month in savings good?

Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.

How to budget $3,000 a month?

Here's an example: If you make $3,000 each month after taxes, $1,500 should go toward necessities, $900 for wants and $600 for savings and debt paydown.

What is the 27 dollar rule?

Instead of thinking about saving $10,000 in a year, try focusing on saving $27.40 per day – what's also known as the “27.40 rule” because $27.40 multiplied by 365 equals $10,001. If you break this down into savings per day, week, and month, here's what you're looking at in terms of numbers: Per day: $27. Per week: $192.

How to budget aggressively?

Tips for Building an Aggressive Savings Plan
  1. Paying Yourself First. ...
  2. Getting Out of Debt. ...
  3. Tracking All of Your Spending. ...
  4. Utilizing a Budgeting Method. ...
  5. Cutting Down Expenses. ...
  6. Opening a High-Yield Savings Account. ...
  7. Starting a Side Hustle. ...
  8. Avoiding Eating Out at Restaurants.

How do I simplify my bills?

Best Strategies for Simplifying Your Financial Life
  1. Use direct deposit. ...
  2. Automate recurring bills. ...
  3. Explore online banking. ...
  4. Put some savings on autopilot. ...
  5. Consider consolidating accounts. ...
  6. Look into automated money-management tools.

How do I lower my monthly payment?

Extend the length of your loan.

Another way to potentially pay less each month is to qualify for refinancing that extends your loan repayment period or term length. Just be aware that your repayment period will increase, which can increase the overall amount that you repay and your total cost of borrowing.

How do I lower my water bill?

Tips to Lower Your Water Bill
  1. Switch to a Low-Flow Shower Head. Low-flow shower heads use 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm); older models use as much as 5.5 gpm. ...
  2. Take Shorter Showers. ...
  3. Shower Instead of Taking Baths. ...
  4. Repair Faucet Leaks. ...
  5. Turn the Water Off While You Brush/Shave. ...
  6. Don't Pre-Rinse Dishes. ...
  7. Potential Leaks.

What is a good monthly income?

While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.

How much is a normal monthly bill?

A single person household spends an average of $4,641 on monthly expenses. Married couples without kids spend an average of $7,390 on monthly expenses. A family of four spends an average of $8,450–9,817 on monthly expenses (depending on kids' ages).

What is a good monthly budget?

One of the most common types of percentage-based budgets is the 50/30/20 rule. The idea is to divide your income into three categories, spending 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings.

How much money should you have left over every month?

Ideally, you want to have 20% of your take-home pay left over after paying all of your bills. Track spending using an app or spreadsheet to determine why there isn't more money left over after bills. Consider cutting unnecessary bills (like cable, streaming networks, gym memberships) to save money.

How much should rent be of income?

Generally, experts recommend spending no more than 30% of monthly pre-tax income on housing. However, it's not always that simple. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2017 and 2021, over 40% of renter households (19 million) spent more than 30% of their income on rent.

How much of your monthly income should go to bills?

We recommend the 50/30/20 system, which splits your income across three major categories: 50% goes to necessities, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt repayment.

What runs your electric bill up the most?

What uses the most electricity in my home?
  • Air conditioning and heating: 54%
  • Water heating: 16%
  • Refrigeration: 4%
  • Lighting: 4%
  • Appliances and electronics: 23%

Does unplugging appliances save money?

This tiny draw of electricity can add up over time and drive up your usage and thus your electricity bill, so unplugging devices can actually save you money.

Why is my electric bill $400?

High electric bills often come from using outdated or inefficient appliances around your home. Your utility itself could also be a factor – you may have been moved to a different pricing schedule or had an overall rate increase.