Whether you use your internet service for pleasure or business, you may be paying too much for it. Even with lower-tier plans, the cost of internet service is only going up. Yet, it is becoming more necessary now to use the internet for various things. No matter the price you pay for your internet service, you still want to enjoy streaming The Pirate Bay site for your best shows and movies or watching sports online, among other content available. Since most people cannot live without the internet, below are simple steps to reduce its cost.
1. Use a service to lower your bills
Today, some companies help evaluate your monthly bill. Whether it is for your internet or any other service, they come in handy to negotiate for lower prices on your behalf. Therefore, if the company you choose successfully lowers your bill, they pay themselves by taking the cut from the amount they save you. Thus, most people do not keep all their savings. Hence, it is best to determine whether it is worth your time to do the negotiation yourself or get someone else to do it.
2. Buy your equipment
You can consider investing in your own modem or router if you rent them from your internet provider. In the long run, it is likely to save you money. In the past, internet service providers would charge a fee while using your equipment, but today the practice does not apply. Therefore, before you buy your equipment, it is vital to ask your ISP to ensure the equipment you are buying is compatible with your ISP or check their website for this information. Notably, return the rented equipment to your ISP to save yourself from paying any form of penalties.
3. Review your bill
To lower your internet costs, start reviewing your bill. If you are unsure how much you are paying, it is a challenge to find ways to save it. Check the internet speed you get. It is measured in Mbps or megabits per second. The higher the Mbps, the faster your internet speed. Also, log into your account and look at your data usage. If you cannot find it, ask your ISP to find it. When you understand your usage pattern, it is vital to know if you can get by with a lower plan. Thus, a decent cut in your internet bill. Notably, be mindful of data caps, especially if you switch to a lower plan and exceed the limit for your ISP may charge the overage fees.
4. Bundle your service
Bundled packages are a good idea to cut costs. Today, most companies provide internet and TV package or internet and cellphone packages. Such packages are for a lower price than when you buy the two services separately. All you need to ensure is you are adding the products you want. For instance, if you add the TV package and watch just two or three channels, it is not worth it. What’s more, set up auto-pay, if the same companies give price cuts, if you set up for auto-pay on the bills, you can still lower the percentage of the bill every month.
5. Shop around
Once you know how much data and speed you need. You can check to see which providers offer the best deals. Check with your current ISP and competitors. Plus, in most cases, companies offer a deal if you are looking to drop your current provider. This is because they tailor a plan to your usage. So, visit provider websites and put in your address to see how much your desired speed costs. After, compare the price with providers in your area. Importantly, check the companies that offer plans to where you live. The closer you are to the city, the more options you have.
6. Create reminders
Most internet plans have half-year or one-year terms on the initial offer. After expiry, they go back up to the old price. Therefore, if you are not paying attention to your monthly bill, you may not realize when the bill goes back up. Thus, avoid this by setting a reminder on the calendar to check your internet bill every six months.