(StatePoint) Looking to stretch your dollar further in 2026? Here’s how your family can get more bang for your buck on the items and services you use most:
Find a Value-Packed Phone Plan
If it’s been awhile since you’ve looked at phone plan options, you may not realize that upgrading your plan doesn’t have to be complicated or mean spending more. Check out enhanced plans like T-Mobile’s newly unveiled Better Value, a family plan that gives new and long-term customers, including small businesses, such benefits as the largest, fastest, most advanced 5G network, unlimited data abroad, satellite connectivity and built-in extras like streaming services, without the premium price tag. Designed to deliver real savings families can feel right away, the plan starts at $140 a month for three lines with AutoPay, and can amount to savings of over $1,000 compared to similar plans.
Plus, it’s a good choice if you’re looking to map out your long-term budget. The plan comes with a five-year price guarantee on talk, text and data, so your family can count on the price you sign up for in the months and years ahead.
Additional benefits include exclusive hotel and rental car perks, exclusive ticket access and premium experiences at thousands of concerts and festivals nationwide, free DashPass by DoorDash, weekly perks through T-Mobile Tuesdays and more.
This limited-time plan is available to new customers with three or more phone lines who are switching at least two of those lines to T-Mobile, as well as existing customers of five or more years who have three phone lines. For more information, visit www.t-mobile.com.
Bundle and Save
If you’re working with more than one insurance provider, you may be over-paying – and wasting time. Not only does streamlining coverage under one carrier provide clerical convenience, an analysis by NerdWallet finds that bundling your auto and home insurance can offer savings of up to 40%. Additional discounts are available for all kinds of reasons – from having a good driving record to making specific home updates, so ask your agent what’s available to you. The best part is that you can use the savings on other household necessities, or to expand your coverage and gain additional peace of mind.
Shop Smart
With the cost of two basic essentials – groceries and gas – on the rise, you may be looking for ways to stretch your dollar on the items you can’t live without. One way to do that is by always using a rewards credit card at the supermarket and at the pump for cash back on every purchase. Additionally, apps like GasBuddy can help you locate the lowest gas prices near you, and apps like Ibotta let you submit receipts of your grocery purchases in order to earn cash back.
When it comes to monthly bills, a few smart strategies and tweaks to your routine means that your family can live large without your wallet taking a hit.
Photo Credit: (c) Zinkevych / iStock via Getty Images Plus
