NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) -
Even if you've neatly hidden the jumble of cords behind your desk, you can't ignore your telecom mess. And considering that all those bills can add up to more than $200 a month in charges, you shouldn't.
Solution: A package from one provider
You can simplify in one of two ways: Cut down on the number of services -- your cell phone can double as your long-distance service; your teen may be as happy to instant message as to have his own phone line -- or get the equivalent services from fewer providers.
Bundled plans, from unlimited local and long-distance calls for one price to single-provider cable TV, phone and Internet connections, often cost much less than what you'd pay for the services a la carte.
Cable giants such as Comcast and Baby Bells like SBC offer competitive bundles in most areas.
"Dealing with one company is the biggest simplification you can make," notes Sam Simon, chairman of the Telecommunications Research and Action Center in Washington, D.C.
Investment: Three to five phone calls.
The payoff: Save 30 percent or more on telecom.
Problem 3: Budget? What budget?
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