YouTuber who became a millionaire at 32 shares how she saves money on bills: 'If you're buying...'

Rose Han encourages people to create a 'negotiation hit list' — bills and services they can start calling about. (Image credit: LinkedIn)

Rose Han, a former Wall Street trader turned financial educator on YouTube, says one of the most overlooked tools for saving money is negotiation — even on bills most people assume are fixed. Han, a first-generation Korean-American and author of Add a Zero, became a self-made millionaire by 32 after paying off $100,000 (about Rs 88 lakh) in student debt. Her YouTube channel, which teaches a freedom-focused approach to wealth, has grown to over one million subscribers.

“Most people assume their bills are non-negotiable and set in stone,” Han said. “But almost everything is negotiable. Companies build a cushion into their pricing because they expect some customers to ask for a better deal. Most people just never bother.”

Han recommends two key strategies: anchoring and framing.

Anchoring involves setting the first price in a negotiation to shift the reference point. “If you’re buying a used car listed at $15,000 (about Rs 13 lakh), don’t start by asking for a discount. Start by saying you’ve seen similar models for $12,000 (about Rs 10.5 lakh). That becomes the anchor,” Han explained. She advises backing up your anchor with credible data points to strengthen your position.

Framing, on the other hand, is about presenting your request in a way that benefits the other party. “Instead of asking your insurer to lower your rate, say you’ve had a perfect driving record for five years and want a rate that reflects your low-risk profile. That helps them retain a good customer,” she said.

Han encourages people to create a “negotiation hit list” — bills and services they can start calling about. These include internet, phone plans, insurance, credit card APRs, streaming services, and even medical bills. She suggests starting with smaller bills to build confidence.

“Be polite, friendly, and relaxed. Compliment their service, crack a joke, and if they won’t budge, ask for a supervisor or the retention department,” Han said. “Different reps on different days can give you different outcomes.”