Fixed expenses are exactly what they sound like: the expenses that will probably never go away.

They also have a way of staying fixed in your consciousness. Housing, utilities, groceries, insurance and car payments seem like they’re set in stone but there is actually some wiggle room with some vendors.

You can always try to negotiate a better deal on your phone. Maybe you've been using Skype since you’re home all the time, and your phone plan becomes more inappropriate by the day. Even if you’re using the same amount of data or minutes, cell phone companies will usually negotiate with you — if you can get a human on the phone. (Sometimes I just press zero and that works.)

Cellphone companies aren’t alone in cutting deals with customers. Your cable company has likely taken a hit from cord-cutters switching their service to internet-only. Try using that to your advantage and say something to customer service like, “I don’t even watch cable TV. Why should I pay for it?”

If a mortgage is one of your fixed expenses, you may be able to lower it by negotiating a new rate. Perhaps your situation would be better suited by a five- or 10-year ARM instead of a 30-year fixed mortgage.

Some heroes to your bottom line can come from unlikely places, like a hardware store. Winter-ization and summer-ization can each be made less costly from simple measures such as caulk or installing some outdoor curtains to block the sun on your porch before it heats up your house.

No matter what your situation is, fixed-cost cutting is difficult to do without categorizing your expenses. It's always a good time to start using financial software like Quicken, Mint or any one of the many free apps.

In an ideal world, a person’s or a business’ monthly expenditures on fixed expenses would be about 50% of their income. Many of my friends and business contacts have told me that, as their income goes up and down with COVID waves, their fixed expenses are approaching upwards of 75% of their income.

It seems like the odds are in favor of people who will think differently, take multifaceted approaches to cost-cutting and who won’t burn themselves out. Things like turning off the phone and having a good laugh will restore you. Trust me.

Judy Heft is the CEO/founder of Judith Heft & Associates, a financial and lifestyle concierge celebrating 25 years in business helping people stay financially organized. She is a certified money coach and the author of “How to Be Smart, Successful and Organized with Your Money.” For more information, visit www.judithheft.com.