I just learned of two companies that will negotiate with your cable company on your behalf, in exchange for a share of the savings. Shrinkabill.com and BillFixers.com.

There should be a lot of business opportunities out there like this because we have so many subscriptions and bills now and they are so complex and screwed up. Beyond utilities, you have screwed up medical bills obviously. Shopping around for homeowners and car insurance periodically can really pay off. Then there are simple repairs and maintenance that can lower energy and water bills. Property tax assessments can sometimes be challenged successfully. Mortgage and other lending terms can be negotiated, and if companies are not willing to negotiate they can be refinanced or consolidated. And yet most of us are too busy to spend time doing all this. It wouldn’t make sense to take time off work to do it, and we don’t want to give up our limited family and leisure time. But if there are businesses out there who will do it for you and it puts a little money in both your pockets that wasn’t there before, it’s a win-win.