In the economic crisis today, everyone is striving to save wherever and however, they can.
Do you want to cut core costs in any way possible?
We recommend starting with your internet bill.
In these days of working remotely and keeping in touch with family and friends around the world, it’s nearly impossible to get rid of your Internet bills entirely. The Internet has become an indispensable technology in a short time and is developing at a rapid pace. However, connecting to the Internet can cost you a lot.
But by cutting back on spending, you can use the money for other financial and personal purposes, such as saving, investing, and paying off debt.
While we can’t help you cut your bill completely, we can help you save money. A fast and reliable internet connection is almost as important as electricity and other household services.
1. Choose a good Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Many people are not well aware of their options when contacting an ISP, which puts them at a disadvantage and can lead them to buy more than they need, whether it be faster, more expensive speed than they need or bundled services they don’t need or want to buy.
While download speed is undoubtedly the deciding factor in choosing the most suitable plan, it is not the only factor. Take a moment and think about the overall value of your internet service, not just speed. Look at what other features they have to offer and whether those extra features can help you out. For instance, Cox which is a popular ISP has a variety of internet packages and bundles. But it also offers other features such as allowing you to pay Cox bills flexibly through their website or calling them up directly.
2. Renting Vs Buying equipment
Your Internet system usually consists of two main devices: a modem and a router. By default, when you subscribe to an ISP, the provider sends you these items as a rental on a separate line on your invoice. Unfortunately, the cost of renting a modem and possibly a router isn’t exactly cheap.
The alternative is that you can buy your own modem for a relatively small one-time fee, which can help you to save significantly in bills per year.
Besides saving money on long-term rentals, there are other good reasons to get your own modem. One of which is that you can probably find a better modem than the one offered by your ISP if you shop around. The ISP equipment is often outdated or even used and does not always support new technologies. A newer modem can help boost internet speeds as well.
3. Take advantage of bundles
Many ISPs offer not only Wi-Fi but also cable TV or phone service (or both). And more often than not, they will give you multiple discounts if you decide to combine your services into one package. This way you will have multiple services available under the same account and through the same ISP. It is also one of the many easy ways to lower your bills.
So you can check out the various cable and internet plans to see what’s on offer, including promotional rates, contracts, and monthly rates. Compare packages from different vendors and customize your packages to suit your needs.
4. Determine the speed you want
Visit Speedtest.net to find out the speed of your service, which is usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). If the Internet infrastructure is shared between households, so you may get more or less bandwidth than promised, depending on who else is using the network.
If you don’t upload large files regularly, a high-data plan or an unlimited-data plan may help. The data requirement may be too high and you can opt for a cheaper plan with less data per month. Knowing your daily usage can help you lower the cost by not paying for what you do not use or need.
5. Try to negotiate
There is nothing wrong with negotiating recurring bills, but some are easier to discuss than others. One of the keys to successful negotiations is to create the impression that you aim to work together to find a solution. One way to do this is to yield here and there. Many ISPs will cut their prices to keep you as a customer rather than have to win you back later.
By yielding, the other person feels more comfortable. Request access to the latest promotional offer for your region. Don’t worry, and remember honey catches more flies than vinegar.
Bottom line
If you want to lower your Internet bill, start with these helpful tips. Try different methods and see which one works best for you. Some of these strategies may take some time to implement but will give you some savings in the end.