Shrink Your Bills, Get Cash Back

If you're sick of hefty cable bills eating chunks out of your checking account, it's worth taking a look at free online services to see if you can save some cash. Use BillShrink to save money on cell phone and credit card bills and to compare gas prices and rates on CDs and savings accounts. The site takes your usage patterns into account when finding the best rates for you and claims to save the average user $1500. At My Emissions Exchange, input your home utility usage from your bills, and once you reduce your home energy use, the site sells your savings as official "carbon credits" and gives you cash. Web app billQ lets you track and organize your bills, reminds you when you need to pay them, and creates reports to help you understand where your money's going. (The basic service is free; premium is $5/month or $50/year.) WhiteFence helps you negotiate with utility companies via the internet--you don't have to call and haggle with a customer service rep, because this site does it for you. You can also compare TV, internet, phone, and other service providers side by side and get deals on other things like newspaper delivery and appliance rental. And if you split your bills with someone else, like a roommate or friend, BillMonk helps you keep track and do it easily.