Back to the Basics: Scaling Down Your Phone and Internet Services To Save Money
Home phone (Photo credit: :: Wendy ::)
Odds are that you don’t just have a phone line or Internet service – you probably have a bundle package with both, as well as cable television. At first glance, packages may seem like the best option for your lifestyle and your wallet. However, the “lower” promotional fees per service may still be way too high. In the end, are you really getting what you need? Or are you just paying for extras that you don’t use anyway?
Trim back on these three areas of your services to save big bucks:
1. Phone
All you really need is a basic landline, since you probably have a mobile phone that has call waiting, free long distance and other useful features. Ask specifically about “Measured Service” – you’ll pay a low monthly rate and then you’ll pay just a little bit per phone call. Believe it or not, this can still be cheaper than what you pay now, even if you use your home phone a lot.
2. Internet
Unless you use your Internet for business or streaming, you probably don’t need the super-fast, lightning speed Internet service. Use the next fastest one and see how much you save every month on your bill. If you usually spend time online checking e-mail, reading today’s news headlines and doing general web surfing, you don’t need to over-pay for extremely fast service – you won’t even notice the difference in the end.
3. Cable
Thanks to Netflix and Hulu, you can watch pretty much anything you want online. Plus, you can stream movies and TV shows without commercials and you can watch whenever you want, not just when something is airing on TV. Since so much is available online, you really only need basic cable, if any cable at all. Ask about “Broadcast Basic,” which may cost as low as $10 or even less per month. With the most basic deal, you’ll still get most of your favorite network channels, plus a small group of additional channels.
More Tips
- Less-extensive packages are out there, they’re just harder to find because service providers don’t advertise them. You may have to push the customer representative a bit to find a bundle package for a lower cost.
- Make sure to keep a close eye on your Internet, phone and cable bill, especially in the first few months after you sign up for service. Many times, the salespeople don’t exactly communicate what it is you’re purchasing. Oftentimes, you’ll be offered a deal without realizing that there’s a more cost-effective method. Also, what you order may not necessarily be what you get, and you could end up paying for a higher service than you wanted.
- If you’re switching service providers, make sure to tell the new provider that you’re considering leaving a company for them. Oftentimes you’ll get a deal just for switching.
- If you really can’t get your provider to help you out with downgrading services, tell them you’re considering canceling service altogether. They won’t go ahead and cancel without your permission, but saying you’re thinking of leaving will often encourage customer service to offer you a new deal.
Guest author Brenda Livingston writes about internet service technology and is dedicated to helping consumers make informed decisions.
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Category: Saving Money
