Before choosing a package, decide how you will use and how often you will use the various parts of the package. For example, when considering telephone use, how often do you make domestic or international long distance calls? What are the average lengths of those calls? Could you do better elsewhere and have it be less expensive than a cable package? How much television do you watch and are there any "must have" channels? Unfortunately, if you're interested in only one special channel, you might have to include a package of several channels you won't watch to get the one you want. Is the added cost affordable and worth it to you? Finally, when you've decided what you want, call your cable company and ask what the final cost will be including fees and taxes. (In other words, what will the cable company expect you to pay once the bill arrives?) There are no easy answers and what works for a year or two may not work down the road and you will be doing all of this again. The bottom line is, when you think you are being taken advantage of, threaten to switch services, and if necessary, do it.