Maintaining your lifestyle doesn’t have to come with a “Loyalty Tax” that rewards your silence with creeping costs. We explore how a few hours of “polite friction” each year can claw back thousands of dollars from service providers who spend a fortune to acquire you but very little to keep you. By applying the “Return on Hassle” framework, we show you exactly which bills are worth the fight and provide the literal scripts you need to win. Stop treating your monthly statements as fixed costs and start viewing them as suggestions—your future vacation fund might be hiding right inside your internet bill.
Erica joins this week’s podcast as we talk about:
– Understanding the Loyalty Tax and why corporations bank on your reluctance to audit your recurring expenses
– Applying the Return on Hassle (ROH) framework to focus your mental energy on high-impact wins like insurance and internet
– Using the cancel bluff to reach the retention department, where the real power to discount lies
– Leveraging independent insurance brokers and price aggregation websites to save money on insurance
– Leveraging AI tools to get practical and specific guidance on where and how you can save money
– Why being a “steward of your capital” requires periodically being a little bit difficult with your vendors
Show References:
- Inside Out Money podcast episode #048 – 5 cell phone hacks to save you thousands
- Monarch Money – Maggie & Greg’s Referral link
- Inside Out Money episode #147 – 2025 Expense Review (Part 1)
- Inside Out Money episode #148 – 2025 Expense Review Part 2 – The real cost of food, fitness, phones, and more!
- Inside Out Money episode #113 – The Real Reasons You’re Not Improving Your Finances