Have you recently noticed yourself staring down the long list on your internet and cable bills? You are not alone. When it was Charter Spectrum bill pay time last month, I almost had a stroke (no, not literally!). According to Opinionoutpost, more than 7.6 billion people have canceled their TV subscriptions in the past 5 years, just to cut down on costs.
And it shouldn’t come as a surprise to most people. According to the U.S News and World Report, an average of $100 was paid by each customer per month. This included no fancy entertainment like Netflix or HBO, just your regular home cable.
So here are these 8 amazing tricks and tips to cut down on your cable and internet bills (and that too without having to give up your favorite channels!). Have a read.
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Use Your Negotiation Skills
Yes, you can use your skills outside of your office too. Contact your cable company customer care and inquire about all of their new offers related to internet packages. They keep on coming up with new ones almost every month. Choose the one which suits your needs.
Also, some of the cable and internet providing companies provide customized package plans to their subscribers. All you have to do is to make a list of the prices and the facilities you want and contact their local area office, or simply call their customer care service. They will customize your plan for you. It is better than paying for all the stuff you never wanted to see in the first place.
And while you negotiate for your cable packages, negotiate for your cable and internet providing equipment too. The equipment includes cable boxes, DVRs, cables, etc., and most of the time you can get them on a 50% lesser price just by negotiating.
It’s Almost Time! Let Go of HBO!
Yeah, we get you. It is very difficult to say goodbye to our favorite buddy HBO. But when you have to save and cut down on your internet and cable bills, you have to let go of premium channels like HBO and Showtime (by removing these two channels only, you can save up to $35 per month! Trust us on that)
Remove Those Idle Cable Boxes
Seems like HBO is not the only thing you can cut on to save yourself some credit. Additional cable boxes in every room can cost you up to $15 per month! Look around, you will find many unnecessary boxes to remove.
Look for Cheaper Cable and Internet Providers
Do a little research around your local area cable and internet operators. Compare rates, packages, and monthly deals. Most of the providers do not charge a huge cancellation fee. And you might end up with a comparably cheaper service.
Prefer Going Digital
Who needs an outdated cable service and a TV when you have services like Youtube, Hulu, and Netflix (unless you got kids that you have to make in front of a screen to get some work done or old-fashioned folks who still prefer TV).
Play Their Game – Their Way
Okay, so now is the time to put your acting skills to some use. We all face a situation when we are being sent a foot-long bill but haven’t exactly used those services. Make a call and threaten to cancel using their subscription altogether. They will always come up with alternate solutions. Listen to them very carefully and settle for whatever you wanted to get away with.
It is important to think of your options before you place the call, though. Before ending the call, or acting upon your threat, you need to decide beforehand when to put your foot down – saves time and a lot of trouble.
Keep Revising What You Negotiated
Most of the customers, once they get the desired package by negotiating, sit comfortably on it for the rest of their lives. Well, not you! (You are the player, remember?). Keep checking for competitive pricing of the similar cable and internet providing services. And keep revising your negotiation to keep the bills and the prices you pay in check. If it doesn’t help or suit you to stay with the same service provider, change them. (The player, remember?)
Still Not Affordable? Move On!
Cancel your cable and internet subscriptions altogether. Yeah, you heard me right. Getting rid of is a good option to save money too. I sound crazy, right? Listen to my whole plan before you judge me.
There’s another way to get many channels at a lower cost than what you were paying for your cable and internet subscription.
Let me tell you how.
All you have to do is to buy an HD antenna. You can also use one to run an internet speed test. And now they have these small models which you can easily place in your attic (No roof climbing skills required, yay!).