Why say no to a discount ....

I was at at my service provider to get myself a dongle that would allow me to go online anywhere and everywhere (or at least that's what I was promised) and though it meant adding on to my expenses each month (came up to about S$37 monthly), but it also meant that I could go online easily. Am also going to wean off my mobile online access soon since purchasing the dongle. I just need to check if there's any penalty if I end it now and if there is, how much it will costs versus the costs I have to pay to maintain that service.

This brings me to the main thing I wanted to blog about. While getting my dongle documents ready, the girl who helping me with it checked my account and spot that my cable tv contract has ended. I am currently paying about S$56 monthly for that after the contract expired (which I was surprised I didn't even realised!!) and asked if I would like to renew the contract which would bring my monthly payment down to about S$44 monthly. Not much difference you might say but any savings is better than none. Just have to make sure that the amount I 'saved' is actually saved. Meaning, I need to actually take that actual amount (difference) and stash it into my savings funds. If I choose to use it for other expenses, then it's not actually savings.

What that trip to my service provider made me realised was that I need to be more aware of my contracts. I have usually taken it for granted that when my contract ends, it's no big deal because my services don't actually get disrupted. And after many years of using their service, I pretty much know I am not going to end the particular services so might as well enjoy some of the benefits that come with having a contract. I guess it would be different if you are not sure if you want to stay on with the service provider for two years then you need to check what is the penalty if you terminate the contract before the two years end.

I know that for my mobile, when my contract is due to end, they would usually send me vouchers to be used for a new mobile and somehow, mobile phones these days seem to last as long as the contract and by two years, I usually start having problems with my phone so timely to use the vouchers as I hunt for a new phone.

But to think of the savings that I could have gotten if I had paid more attention to my contracts and when they expire. As service providers are keen to get you to stay with them, they are bound to offer some 'goodies' to get you to stay. That's for one group of people. There is another group, who like me, no clue when their contract ends, so the service providers don't really have to bother much with us because with an opt out system, we aren't going anywhere anyway (too much trouble to set things up with another service provider).

I do admire my friends who are constantly checking which providers offer better deals and they would actually move around after each contract ends. For me, I cannot be bothered to do that but I am wiser now. Since I am going to hang around the same provider for a while, I better find out what I am getting in return for being so loyal. What about you? Are you being rewarded for sticking to the same service provider all these years? May want to go check it out today! :o)