With the world in a recession, everyone is trying to find ways to cut their costs and make their money stretch even further than they did before. There is a good possibility that you could be getting overcharged for a bunch of services without even knowing it. Here are some things that you should look into when you get your monthly bills. You have to plan ahead a bit to make sure you save this extra money, and it's easy to do when you know where the extra charges occur.

Utility charges

You should double check your electric and gas bills to see if you can find a cheaper tariff rate. Sometimes it is cheaper to switch to a different service provider to save some money. It's not difficult to change providers, and you can easily do it online.

Television charges

If you are paying for satellite or cable service and you have a full package that you simply do not watch, then you may be able to lower your monthly bill by changing your cable line up. Take a look at what services you are paying for that you are not using and contact your provider to see if you can remove them and reduce your bill.

Phone charges

Your phone charges - both landline and mobile - could be costing you more than you realise, especially if you are being charged for services that you are not using, such as call diversion and text messaging on your mobile phones. Look up phone numbers in your telephone book or online instead of using directory enquiries.

If you have friends and family overseas or abroad that you like keeping in touch with, try to find an alternative method of talking to them instead of using your landline or mobile phone. International calling is very expensive on any type of phone that you may use. Some alternatives to calling long distance include using online phone dialling that allows you to dial out for a minimal charge or even for free, and online programmes such as Skype that allow you to chat with your friends and family using your computer and web cam for free, letting you see the person you are talking to and making the experience even more enjoyable.

Finally, review your mobile phone contract to see if you are using all of the options you are provided with. If you are not, consider removing these options from your service and taking your mobile phone contract down to the minimum options you need. Research providers if you are near the end of your mobile phone contract to see if you can get a better rate or even switch to a pay as you go option where you have better control of how much you use your phone each month.

Credit card charges

Credit card charges can be extremely expensive when you add up the additional fees your lender adds to your bill. If you are being charged an annual fee, look for a credit card that does not include the extra cost each year. Pay your bill on time each month to avoid late payment  penalties, and if you are going to be travelling abroad leave your credit card at home to avoid exchange rate conversions and other foreign charge fees.