You love your magazine subscriptions, but you feel bombarded with renewal notices that never seem as generous as the original deal.

What to Consider: Is there anything so pleasurable in life as the moment when your favorite magazine arrives in the mailbox? Of course not. Still, with so many magazines vying for your loyalty, the ones that already have it want to keep it. So, if you're wondering whether you're paying more for a magazine than you should, call up customer service and ask for the lowest available renewal rate. At the very least, a subscriber should be able to get the rate that's being offered on the insert cards in the latest issue. That's your point of reference.

What to Say: Short and sweet: "I want the best rate you can give me." Followed by "Are you sure that's the best rate? Because I love the magazine, but I'm not sure I can afford it anymore."