As we get deeper into the holiday season, it can feel like your expenses are piling up. Reducing your monthly bills can be a way to ease the pressure on your budget.

Lowering your bills may be easier than you think. With a phone call and a little preparation, you might be able to save money on internet, phone, cable or utility bills — and maybe others. For example, talking to your service providers can get you a lower price or promotional discount, or point you toward a financial aid program.

Use these expert tips to negotiate better deals with customer service representatives.

The outcome of the call can largely depend on when you pick up the phone. Choose a moment when you have time – and patience – to spare, so you can fully focus on the conversation.

People should avoid calling when “they’re going to be in a rush, or they’re angry, or they have a child screaming in the background, or it’s 4 on a Friday and they’ve had a bad week,” says Teresa Murray, director of the consumer watchdog office of the US Public Interest Research Group.

You may have better luck calling customer support at certain times of the year as well.

Kenan Acikelli, who spent three years as a customer service representative for a telecommunications company, said it was often easier for customers to negotiate bills at the end of the year or during periods such as Black Friday and resale to the school.

“The company would run specials during those times, and we were given more flexibility to match promotional prices or offer upgrades to retain customers,” he said in an email interview.

When you call a company’s support number — which you’ll usually find on its website or your bank statement — you’ll likely be directed through an automated system first. Talking to a live person gives you a better chance to explain your situation and discuss possible solutions. Try pressing “0” or saying “representative” to reach a real person faster.

Murray recommends gethuman.com to find company customer support phone numbers and other information that can help you connect with a live representative, such as hours of operation and instructions for navigating the phone menu.

People we spoke to said that politeness is your best bargaining chip in negotiations. Customer service representatives will probably be more sympathetic if you speak in a friendly and respectful manner versus a harsh or demanding tone.

“I’ve seen people come in frustrated, but the ones who stayed calm always ended up with better results,” Acikelli said. “I often went out of my way to offer them additional promotions or discounts just because they asked nicely.”

Keep your attitude in check and remember that the person on the other end of the line is a human being just trying to do their job.

Before the call, find out what prices and deals your service provider’s competitors are offering, and leverage that information, says Babu Jayaram, director of customer success and strategy at Qualaroo, a customer and user feedback software company.

“It shows you’re an informed customer, and reps often have some discretion to match or even beat those prices to keep you on board,” he said in a prepared statement.

Find out if your provider has any offers they might be willing to extend to you. Does your cable company offer a new customer incentive that is cheaper than what you pay? Maybe you can secure that rate.

A quick internet search – try something like “company name + discount” or “company name + new promotion” – can help uncover the information you need to back up your request.

Murray also recommends looking at other types of discounts. Some companies offer age-based discounts, often from age 55. Paperless invoicing and automatic payment discounts are also common. Murray says she saves $5 per line each month on her five-line cell phone plan by using automatic bank payments.

“It’s 25 bucks a month. So that’s right,” she says.

It is more difficult to get discounts electricity bills water and electricity, which are usually regulated and must follow certain rates. However, financial assistance programs may be available to people who meet certain income requirements or are struggling to manage their bills.

Having your account details ready can save time and reduce friction on the call. Log in to your online account or check your bank statements for information such as account number, plan features and past payment dates.

If you’ve been a customer for a long time, consider using that information to your advantage, especially if you have a record of payments on time. Companies value loyalty and employees may have customer retention goals that they are trying to meet. Keeping you as a satisfied customer is in the company’s best interest.

Don’t take the first “no” for an answer. Explain your situation again and get straight to the point. For example: “I would like to continue using your service, but I simply cannot afford to pay the price. What can we do to lower the bill?”

If you’re still getting nowhere, try escalating the request. The representative you speak to may not be authorized to do so lower your bill. Please ask to speak to a supervisor, who may have more problem-solving experience and decision-making power.

Despite our best efforts, customer service calls can lead to dead ends. Prepare for the possibility that your supplier won’t budge.

Before the conversation, think about whether terminating the service is a step you are willing to take. With some services, such as water, electricity or gas, alternative providers may not be available, but with others, such as mobile phone or cable providers, competition is plentiful.

If ending the relationship is an option and your representative cannot save you money, ask to begin the cancellation process. Showing that you’re serious can get them to give you a better offer.

If that offer never comes, consider switching to a lower-priced competitor or, if the service isn’t essential, give it up altogether.

If you’re not ready to make up your mind, save the notes from your conversation and think about it. In any case, applaud yourself for calling.