Pay Less for Cable TV -- Legally

You can't put a price on quality entertainment. Even so, there's no reason to pay more than you need to for it. (By "quality entertainment," I of course mean those first-rate television shows featuring sophisticated Dickensian story arcs. Like 'The Biggest Loser'.)

TV tastes may vary, but lowering the monthly cost of your cable bill is universally appealing. As a bonus, it's a snap to do.

It simply requires calling your cable company and asking for a break on your bill!

Advice from a bill-slashing expert
Since haggling is not yet acknowledged as an Olympic sport, I found an expert cable-bill slasher the old-fashioned way -- sending a companywide email.

You might be surprised by how many people have successfully used this "call and ask for a break" trick. But the hands-down resident winner was a woman named Ellen, who has been ringing up discounts with Comcast every three to six months over the past two years.

Her advice from her time on the front line: "Your mileage will vary depending on the customer-service rep you get, your particular provider, and the phases of the moon," she says, "but I've always been able to reduce my bill somewhat just by asking."

Dial Up a $10- to $57-Per-Month Discount

Over the years, Ellen has gotten her cable company to give her various breaks, such as new-customer pricing or ultra-high-speed service for the cost of the slower plan -- all of which she estimates has saved her anywhere from $10 to $50 a month on her bill.

Recently, some folks at Fool.com have reported getting deals like 50% off their monthly bill for six months, a 25% rate cut on a cable and Internet package, and $15- to $57-a-month discounts, as well as a new receiver thrown in for good measure.

Before Ellen headed home to watch Top Chef for less than her neighbors pay, she shared a page from her dialing-for-dollars playbook:

Head to your cable company's competitors' websites to price out current rates, or compare packages and availability in your area at, dslreports.com/find-broadband. Look for signup specials as well as rates for plans that are similar to yours.

Get Into 'Concerned Customer Mode'

(Put on a suit jacket and your "I mean business" shoes if it'll help you get into character.)

When you get a live human on the line, explain (politely!) that you think your bill is higher than you'd like. Share the details of the various plans you priced out while doing your research. Ask whether the company can match it, or inquire about any special offers -- perhaps for new customers -- that can be extended to you. If not, just ask about ultra-cheap rate plans.

If there's not a lot of competition in your area, let the rep know that you're serious about cutting your service back to just the basics. "They may find a good deal for you after all," Ellen says.

Write down any offer you're given and its expiration date, and then make sure you monitor your bill for price increases. When your promotional rate expires (or if your bill goes up for other reasons), call again, repeat your spiel, and ask the company to help you find places to save.

More Ways to Slash Your Bill

Dialing for dollars isn't the only way to whittle down your cable bill. Other cost-cutting strategies include:

Scrutinizing your service contract. Many cable and Internet providers have different pricing tiers for different speeds of service. The slower speed, which typically runs $7 to $10 a month cheaper, is just fine for most people, unless you're a rabid gamer or you like to regularly download the entire Internet.

Seeing whether you can save by "bundling": Cable and telecom companies want your business so badly that they're willing to eat the cost of some services entirely to get you to sign up for a package that includes cable TV, Internet, and phone service. The savings on most bundled plans come to roughly $20 to $40 a month. But beware: The "gotchas" on these deals can be plentiful -- such as a requirement to sign up for premium services you don't need, or a charge if you cancel the contract early -- so read the fine print thrice.

Going off the grid: Shop around for alternative Internet and phone options -- think outside the main players. There are other ways to communicate, such as through Web programs such as Skype, Google Talk, and jajah.com.

Dumping cable TV altogether! Radical, I know, but there are a lot more ways to watch "TV" these days than through, well, your TV. Many network station websites, as well as hulu.com, post shows online right after they air. Similarly, if you're willing to wait until the season's end, you may be able to load up an entire year's worth of viewing when the season DVD package gets released. So do you really, really need those specialty channels? Can you rent those shows on Netflix for a subscription price of $5 to $17, which could save you another $40 or more a month? If you can't bear the idea of parting with your beloved channels, simply telling your service provider you want to cancel a premium channel often inspires that provider to cough up some sort of savings.

Fool.com writer Dayana Yochim would like to send a gushing thank-you card to the inventor of the DVR. Now she really can watch it all. She doesn't own any stocks mentioned in this article. Netflix is a Stock Advisor selection. Google is a Rule Breakers pick. The Fool's disclosure policy has never missed an episode of The Frugal Gourmet.