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?

    你正在通过节省家用开销来省钱。那好吧，你已经开始减少每月的预算来努力存钱了。每天一杯咖啡的享受没有了，也不去外面餐馆就餐了，也许你为了省钱都呆在家里工作了。你还可以做些什么来节省每月家庭开支呢？

    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.

    节省每月的开支预算并不是说减少生活的必需品。而是说在这些上面省钱。这也就意味着要减少日杂开支，买衣服或家庭用品的时候多逛几家店对比一下价格。

    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.

    但是当你在买这些东西上面省钱时，只能有一次的打折机会。为了真正达到节约开支的目的，你需要削减你的日常开支费用，多存点钱。

    Review Your Monthly Budget Expenses

    回顾一下你的每月开支预算

    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.

    我们经常会想当然的认为服务以及物价是一直上涨的，但其实有时候他们是会下降的。竞争以及新的科技经常会给电视，电话，网络这样的服务行业带来降价，这就提供给我们每月可以毫无痛苦地节省开支的机会。所以，只购买固定的品牌或者是办理捆绑性的服务都有可能会给你省钱。

    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价后会打广告通知客户这一振奋人心的消息。所以，你需要每月都审查这些家庭开支预算，以确保自己得到了最实惠的折扣。

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

    以下10招帮你节省每月开支

    1.Insurance

    保险

    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.

    比较汽车保险，家庭保险，健康保险，商业保险以及人生保险的价格。在同一家保险公司买的话可以降低你的购买成本。这就意味着你要在别的地方省钱。但是这样做之前，要确保那家公司给了你最优惠的购买折扣。

    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.

    考虑下以低利率来增加你的可扣款。问问你的代理机构你还可以得到什么样的其他折扣。经常在家工作就代表着可以在汽车保险上省钱。

    2.Financial Fees

    财务费

    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.

    即使现在的银行提供免费存储业务，你是否每月还在继续为你的户头付费呢？特别是如果你办理的是直接存款业务的话，大多数银行都会提供好几种类型的免费储蓄。

    我发现每个月我都交给银行8美元，但是只能享受到银行不免费提供的个别服务（如免费确认支票）.

    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.

    你是否因为银行取款机不方便而要支付ATM费用呢？解决的最简单的方法也许就是看看你存款的银行有没有其他选择，或者将钱存到网上银行，特别是当存款利息对你来说是很重要的时候就更要这样做了。

    3.Cable and Satellite Television

    电视和卫星电视

    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.

    在该行业的激烈的竞争就意味着新产品能够帮你省钱。如今，电视和电话服务商都喜欢将业务捆绑在一起推销，所以在同一家公司办理捆绑业务可以帮你省钱。

    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.

    新客户，不管是否选择捆绑业务，都会得到最优惠的服务，所以有必要的话，可以经常换供应商。但是经常更换供应商的危险就是会使你享受不到折扣。并且，如果你真的想省钱的话，可以考虑下减少付费频道的订购。

    4.Cell Phone

    手机

    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:

    手机公司都会以提供免费手机为名，让你签下两年的花费合约。在你签之前先问问自己：

    （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.）

    你真的需要一个新手机吗？在你得到这个手机的背后你要付出多少成本？（我宁愿从易趣网上花30美元买个手机，而不愿要一个免费的手机和两年的花费合同）.

    （2）Are you using all the minutes allotted?

    你用得完所有的通话时间吗？

    （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?

    你是否支付了过多的短信费和手机流量费？或者你是否每个月都超支，换选另外一种套餐也许是更实惠的做法。

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

    是不是有适合你的更便宜的套餐或者付费电话服务呢？

    5.Telephone

    电话

    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.

    很多人已经完全淘汰了座机电话。但是，这对失业在家的你来说可是个行不通的选择。但是如果你有独立的传真电话的话，你可以考虑淘汰座机。而有扫描仪的话，你又可以不用发传真，而是将文件扫描成PDF档电邮给客户。

    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.

    正如电视和网络商家那样，因为市场上激烈的竞争，很多电话商家所提供的产品也是越来越便宜。考虑下使用网络电话或者电缆电话吧。如果你一定要坚持使用传统的电话的话，确保你得到的长途电话收费是最优惠的，另外，不要为不需要的服务付费。

    6.Internet Provider

    互联网供应商

    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在网上四处逛逛，找一找更便宜的电话服务也可以帮你节省开支。但是你也可以使用其他的网络服务，如电视，卫星等一整套的网络服务。

    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.

    网络是远程通讯工具，所以先要在网上做好搜索工作。确保如果你更换供应商的话，新的供应商会在满足你业务需求的前提下更可靠的提供给最优惠的服务。

    7.Refinance Your Home

    将你的房屋重新抵押筹备资金

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

    将房屋重新抵押筹备资金能够为你节省开支成本做出很大的贡献，每月能为你节省上百美元。

    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.

    将房屋重新抵押筹备资金包括了很多成本（如利率点，税收，手续费等）,所以你可能要花几个月甚至上年的时间才能从中看到节省的成本。当然了，如果你不打算在这所房子待很久的话，你这样做就可能损失不少钱。在做成本的再抵押之前一定要慎重考虑好这样做的利弊。

    8.Credit Card Rewards Points

    信用卡积分

    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积分的话，使用它们。但是要精明的使用这些积分。你要知道信用卡公司之所以提供积分是为了促进你的消费。所以不要为了积分而去消费。为了更快的累积积分，最好的方法是使用一张提供积分的信用卡，而不用很多张信用卡消费。

    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.

    累积积分的好处是也许能够实现你梦想的假期或者其他值得炫耀的奖项，但是风险就是可能商家会终止积分，或你一直没机会使用这些积分。定期使用积分可以帮你节约每月开支。选择反馈现金或礼品卡的消费更有效。

    9.Utility Bills

    水电费

    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.

    正如电话、电视行业那样，你们家的水电费公司如今也面临着前所未有的竞争。在满足需求的前提下，你可以经常性地更换能给你带来更多实惠的煤气或电气供应商，但是你可能为了结算和支付方便一直使用同一家水电公司。但是，这些供应商不可能一直都提供给你最优惠的价格，所以要经常货比三家。

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

    而最传统的节约水电费开支的方法就是尽量节约用水用电。

    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.

    每月如果你有大量负债的话肯定会产生巨大的利息。保底消费就意味着你每月的大部分消费都是用来支付利息的。你可以通过其他消费或早一点还请贷款来降低利息。

    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.

    减少利息最简单的方法就是向信用卡公司要求更低的偿还利息。这些公司为了保住客户，会答应你的要求。如果他们不同意的话，就将信用卡的帐目转到另一张利息更好的信用卡上。但是，要看清楚文件，因为结余转户有时候在一定时期后利率会更高，并且都会产生手续费。