Paying separately for your mobile phone, high speed internet, and cable television can really add up. Are your family’s monthly media bills through the roof? You might want to take a look at the following tips to downsize your payments and still access the services you need.
1. Shrink your Cable Package
Most of us opt for the full cable package, only to pay for a bunch of channels that we don’t really watch. Do you really need to pay for premium cinema or extra HD channels? Before you downgrade your television package, it’s a good idea to track your family’s viewing habits. Create a sign-in sheet to keep track of the shows that your family watches throughout the month. You may be surprised at how low of a percentage of your channels are used.
2. Lower your Internet Speed
Do you only use the internet for sending emails, reading a few blogs and paying your bills online? You might not have any need for the fastest internet service. A slight downgrade in speed could shave money off of your monthly bills and make little difference in your quality of service. However, this will depend on your household’s use.
3. Track Data Usage
Just as you can track your television usage, it’s also a good idea to track your mobile phone and internet use to see if it matches up to your current contract. You might not go anywhere near the upper limits of your monthly minute and data allowance, or you might go over your allowance frequently. Either situation is a good sign that it’s time to adjust your monthly plan and consider switching to cheap mobile internet with Lebara or other alternative providers. Sign up for alerts when you approach your monthly minute limit to avoid overage fees, and take note of your general monthly usage to see if your plan should be downgraded.
4. Choose a Prepaid Option
There are a number of advantages to giving your child a mobile phone. It can be a good way to teach responsibility and can give you peace of mind when you’re apart. However, this can also lead to sky-high bills if you’re not careful. You might want to consider giving your child a prepaid phone or SIM card from a provider like Lebara, rather than tying their phone to the family plan. This allows you to set a limit on monthly texts and calls, teaching your child budgeting skills at the same time.
5. Bundle Services Together
You can automatically save as much as 20% on your bills if you bundle all of your media services into a package from a single provider. Be aware that service providers are particularly interested in landing new customers, so it may pay off to switch to a provider you’ve never used in the past. They may lure you in with a higher discount or more affordable rate. No matter what, you’ll want to shop around to see what your options are and get the best deal.
Many consumers are paying for services that they don’t need, or don’t take the time to compare rates. The best way to save money on your household media bills is to try and tweak your plans to find the right fit for your level of use.
