“Fixed” expenses? That’s what they want you to think. Utility bills, cell phone bills, credit card interest rates and the like are often negotiable.

Apps like Trim and Truebill will negotiate monthly bills on your behalf, but they take a percentage of your savings. If you want to DIY, set a calendar reminder for once a year to call the companies and negotiate better rates. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need, and do something else while you’re on hold — like returning emails emails or reading that article you’ve had open on your tabs for the past month.

Be kind and do your best to make a personal connection with the representative, and clearly lay out what you want from the beginning — you can even bring up competitor rates if you’ve done the research. And if you’re not getting the answer you want? Ask kindly to speak with a supervisor. There’s a chance the representative you’re speaking to doesn’t have the authority to lower your monthly payment.