3 Ways to Optimize Money: Save on Gas, Wireless Phone, and Credit Cards

Photo by Pfala

I frequently get excited about economizing our bills. Then I research, web browse, price compare and… run out of gas.  My attempt turns into an endless chore, I get overwhelmed and give up, because analyzing various plans and pulling information together from the myriads of services becomes  daunting.

Recently, I discovered a great free service that searches and summarizes for you, then presents you with the best options. It is BillShrink – a simple to use comparison service which provides customized analysis and lowest prices for gas, cell phone, and credit card.

1. Gas  – BillShrink analyses gas prices in your area, based on the zip code you provide.  Then, it displays the top three gas stations with the best priced fuel.

While I know all of the gas stations in the area, I never have the time to drive from one to the other and price compare on my own. Thus, this gas price comparison was simple to use and useful.   It is a great tool to find the best priced gas in your area, and start saving some $$.

2. Mobile - by looking at your current plan’s cost and minutes allowed , the amount of minutes you have, and whether you are under a contract, BillShrink analyzes the best mobile plan for you.

It kindly informed me that the plan I have, is the best available and the least expensive for my needs(Thanks for the compliment, BillShrink!).

Although this conclusion was partially driven by the fact that I am locked into a contract for the next year, and the cost involved with breaking my contract, it still feels great to be told by a smart software application that the plan you have is the best available for your needs.

While this information didn’t make me switch to a new provider. I will definitely revisit BillShrink when my contract runs out, to figure out if another provider is offering a better deal.

3. Credit Card – BillShrink found the best credit card based on my spending history, shopping preferences (grocery shopping, flying, etc.), and whether I pay my credit card in full monthly.

Although some of the suggested cards had an annual fee (unlike the card that I am currently using), overall savings calculations over 3 years were significant.

I did notice that the suggested credit cards are strongly influenced by the shopping preferences  you select, so it helps to know your spending habits.

It is helpful to see the summary of potential credit card options, fees, and interest rates summarized in one screen.   While I love my American Express Blue, I may consider switching to another card if I find one, that makes a strong case.

BillShrink is a simple, straightforward, no clutter to use services comparison tool that provides meaningful information and saves $$$. It is also the only service that I found so far that analyzes all of these sectors: gas, mobile, and credit cards.

Here are a few other competing services that I personally haven’t tried, but may be helpful in providing additional data points: BankRate, CreditCards.com and LendingTree.com in the finance sector. In the wireless market, competitors include WireFly.com, LetsTalk.com.

Tagged as: billshrink, cell phone, credit card, gas, mobile, price analyzer, price comparison, save, savings