5 hacks that will cut down your expenses

It seems that saving is getting harder, not easier.

One can plan the perfect budget, but accidents, emergencies, and unexpected shopping sprees happen. The trick is to hack the system to be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for less. Here are five ways to cut costs without abandoning your everyday luxuries.

1. Organize an account-sharing streaming group

Your cousin, brother, and best friend all want in on your video streaming account. Sharing is caring, but don’t give out your streaming password for free. Set up a calendar and assign each person a month to pay the bill. This way, you’ll only have to pay every few months and you're saving money on something you already enjoy.

2. Leverage your birthday

Retail marketing emails can be annoying, but don’t send them straight to spam. Many online retailers send customers special deals on their birthday. Sign up for emails from your favorite stores and watch the savings fill your inbox on your special day.

Bonus hack: Create a special folder for the stores’ emails to be sent directly to. This way, they won’t clog your main inbox.

3. Avoid long-term contracts

No one likes being tied down to one specific service or vendor, especially when it’s to a binding cell phone contract. The monthly expenses add up over a one- or two-year contract and cause more headaches than the phone is worth.

NET10 Wireless gives customers the freedom to enjoy a new phone without the burden of a long-term contract. Plus, you don’t need to worry about activation or cancellation fees.

Even better, you can keep your own phone, number, and network.

4. Do your research

Imagine you’ve just found the perfect pair of jeans but they’re kind of pricey. Do some research and find stores that sell the same or extremely similar item. Another store may have it at a cheaper price — but you may have a gift card or credit card for the original store with great reward points and benefits. If you show proof, some stores will honor a competitor's item price and you can add to your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

5. Examine added fees

Take a close look at the fees on your next balance statement. Companies are constantly tacking on suspicious fees for services you may not necessarily need. Don't just accept those extra charges. Call your service provider and ask questions. Chances are, you'll be able to get some of them waived. You may find that you can enjoy the same great services for a portion of the original price.

Fortunately, services like NET10 Wireless don't burden their customers with hidden extra charges like overages, activation fees, and penalties.

Sometimes the best way to save is by spending money only on the minutes and data you actually use.

Learn more about NET10 Wireless here.