13 prices you shouldn't accept without putting up a fight

If you're part of one of those families where all the siblings end up attending the same school, Len Penzo points out that some colleges are known to give discounted tuition or financial aid when multiple family members attend. No siblings? Forbes suggests leveraging a high GPA for more scholarship money instead.

Mortgage rates are fair game for bargaining — with a little legwork. "Shop around, get quotes, make sure your credit score is stellar, and you should be able to talk about lowering things like processing fees," writes Gachman.

According to Gachman, "There is no shame in haggling with behemoths like Time Warner Cable or Verizon." She suggests calling and asking for manager to discuss your rates, or even threatening to leave your current provider for another one with a better offer — as long as you're willing to follow through.

"If your request is within reason, they'll usually make it happen," Gachman writes. "The phone reps are humans with beating hearts, not corporate drones."

Stop throwing unsolicited credit card offers away, and instead start using them to bargain for a better interest rate from your current credit card company. Len Penzo suggests simply picking up the phone and asking if they'll match their competitors' prices.

Not everyone knows exactly how to go about bargaining with a car salesperson — after all, they do this for a living, and chances are, you don't. Gachman says that to throw the seller off their game, you should "never, ever act impressed with anything they show you. Apathy is key here."

She also recommends asking for some extras with the car. "You should ask them to cover the cost of any registration and DMV fees, and try to get them to throw in the first month's payment as well (as long as you're putting money down). If they balk, in a very firm tone reply, 'Well, I don't want to have to walk out of here, but ...' " she writes. "They definitely don't want you to walk off; they want you to drive off — in the car they've just sold you."

If you decide to shop locally, Wisebread suggests checking prices online first, since smaller shops will sometimes match or even beat online prices.

Don't be shy, either. Len Penzo says it's completely acceptable to ask for extras such as balancing, mounting, stems, and an extended warranty.

Successful bargaining for furniture depends largely on where you're shopping. Gachman warns that you shouldn't expect to successfully bargain for furniture if you're shopping at chain such as Target or Macy's.

"If it's a privately owned shop they'll usually work with you, unless you're being ridiculous," she writes. "Don't ask to pay $100 for a $4,000 couch."

According to MainStreet, you're more likely to get a better price if you rent from a smaller company or an individual, and if you pay your rent in advance. Sometimes offering services, such as taking on yard work or small repairs yourself, can help, too.

MainStreet also writes that one of your most most powerful bargaining tools when it comes to rent is your ability to walk away from a deal that you don't think is worth it.

As expensive as medical and hospital bills are, they're open to negotiation — as long as you take a stand within 90 days of your service.

In fact, there are even professionals who negotiate with hospitals on patients' behalf. (You can find them on sites such as Medical Billing Advocates of America.)

According to Next Avenue, most cash discounts come from agreeing to pay your medical bill all at once, and even if you can't get a discount, you can also try to get more time to pay your bill. Next Avenue has a solid list of strategies to negotiate a medical bill.

When it comes to gyms, managers realize that there's a lot of competition, and that you could just choose to exercise on your own for free. Gachman advises using both of those facts to your advantage when asking if a gym manager will reduce the cost of registration or monthly fee.

"If they're being tough, tell them you're going to march, jog, do plyometric hops, or sprint over to a rival gym," she writes. "That should do the trick."

Know that when you walk into a jewelry store — whether it be private or a chain — the products in there are usually marked up somewhere between 100-300%, according to Len Penzo.

With that in mind, bargain away, but don't forget to do your homework first. Wisebread advises knowing what the going rates are for the piece you want, and determining your own budget in advance.

According to Gachman, "As long as you're not constantly late, you can usually get a late fee reversed, whether you're asking your credit card company, your bank, or your cable company." She advises emphasizing that your late payment is a "one-time thing" and that it won't happen again.

And then, to make sure you stick to your word, try paying your bills before they're actually due.

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