I’m a Finance Expert: If You Don’t Negotiate Your Bills, You Could Be Overpaying Hundreds in 2026
People’s budgets and paychecks are stretched especially thin as 2025 starts to slow to a close, accommodating the increased cost of necessities. Though the Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates, inflation may still increase into 2026, as could your bills.
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Consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch explained which bills you should consider negotiating, so as not to overpay, and some tips in general for negotiating and saving money.
Bills To Watch
Woroch said that generally consumers tend to overpay any bill — or overlook savings — when they’re set up on autopay and thus not attending to cost increases, missed discounts or even errors.
Review bills each year or even each billing cycle if you’re on autopay to be sure you haven’t missed an increase.
Some bill increases are more likely to slip right by you, so you’ll want to keep a closer eye on these two.
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Entertainment Bills
One area where consumers overpay, Woroch pointed out, is in the realm of “entertainment” such as cable and internet, video subscriptions, mobile data and game apps. Many of these put their increases in fine print, so be sure to review each subscription or app.
Insurance
Insurance, from health insurance to car insurance to home insurance, “goes up continually every year,” Woroch pointed out. If your provider doesn’t negotiate, most of the time you can comparison shop to find a better provider with a plan that fits your budget.
Here’s How Much You Could Save
As prices rise on everyday essentials, finding any extra savings in monthly bills can help offset the cost increase so you can live affordably, Woroch said.
By reviewing your bills, looking for discounts and negotiating, which doesn’t take much time, “consumers could easily save a thousand dollars or more.” In inflationary times, with the burdens of tariffs being passed down to consumers, that’s a significant savings.
Don’t Assume Negotiation Is Off the Table
If you’re convinced that negotiation is not possible, Woroch suggested there are always opportunities to negotiate. “I’ve even had success negotiating interest fees and other charges on my credit card bill as well as removal of cancellation fees on flight cancellations.”
In a nutshell, it doesn’t hurt to ask, she said.
Negotiate Annually
Service providers typically increase prices once a year, but this may be based off your billing period or promotions you signed up for. “Make sure to note any deal expirations in a calendar and call before any discount expires. Or as soon as you notice a bill go up,” Woroch said.
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