Many families who struggle to make ends meet talk about establishing a family budget and reducing expenses. Some suggest “sacrificing” and “tightening the belt” to save money. While admirable, sometimes it is not necessary to do without in order to save money. Below are three easy ways to immediately save money without changing your lifestyle.

Pay TV

The entertainment world is changing. Last year almost 200,000 Americans cancelled their pay TV subscriptions. More and more people are moving away from pay TV and using internet services such as Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix for cheaper entertainment. The younger a person is, the more likely that person is to watch shows on a wireless device or computer and not subscribe to pay TV. The consequence is that satellite providers, cable companies, and even phone companies are hurting for business.

You can save money today by starting a bidding war for your dollars. Contact Dish TV, DirecTV, your area cable company, and your local phone/internet television providers and tell them that you are willing to subscribe to company with the best deal. Be sure to get the offer in writing (by email or otherwise) and review any contract before signing up.

Cell Phone

The cellular carrier marketplace is crowded. The prize these companies covet is the two-year plan — the customer that obligates for two years of service. Some companies will even buy out an existing obligation at a competitor, just to earn your business. This all adds up to a powerful bargaining position for you.

If you are a “free agent” without a contract, then you can shop around for the best deal. Be sure to investigate additional hidden discounts such as company or military discounts. If you are not a free agent, research competitor deals that include buying out your contract, then use that information to negotiate better terms with your cellular company’s customer retention department.

Gasoline

Gas prices are lower, that’s good. However, you can still save more money at the pumps by being a watchful consumer. A ten cent difference in price per gallon between filling stations can mean a $1.60 savings for a 16 gallon tank. Fill up once a week and that’s $83.20 a year. “Big deal,” you say? Well, it’s your money.

GasBuddy, a free cell phone app can save you money with each fill up. GasBuddy uses user feedback to track the current prices of local gas stations, making it easy to quickly find the best deal. GasBuddy is especially useful for premium gas, where prices may not be displayed on a road sign and can vary by $.20 or more between stations.