News - Thrifty Living

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2009

Finding savings in the mail

It's possible to make or save money by just opening the mail. Bills, pay stub statements and even junk mail can be a source of savings. For instance, within the last two weeks, a careful review of bills and statements has saved more than $200 in my home.

—Phone and utility bills. My husband, Avi, recently spotted two mistakes totaling $110 on our monthly phone bill. We were billed $80 for a home repair of our wireless network. The repair did not happen. We challenged both charges and were given credit for the errors.

—Magazine renewal fees. Through a special promotion, we had ordered several magazines for $2 per annual subscription. Last week, we received a postcard with details about an automatic subscription renewal. After reading the fine print, we discovered that the renewal rates were substantially higher than the initial promotions. We were billed $120 to renew four magazines. We cancelled the subscriptions.

—Phantom monthly charges. After examining her Internet and cable television bills, my mother discovered recurring charges for features she had not ordered. She protested and had the charges removed.

—Paystub mistakes. Review work paystubs. You may be responsible for tax or income errors. If you've been overpaid, your company could request immediate repayment. Likewise, a friend once faced a substantial tax penalty for a recurring tax error that was ultimately her responsibility.

—Promotions. From free facials to complimentary cups of coffee, we have found useful discounts by reading promotional mail, including e-mail. Coupons for food, entertainment, merchandise and services have yielded valuable savings and services.