I get asked all the time how to lower Internet costs. From talking with many of our readers we are finding that most are overpaying for Internet. The good news is I have a few tricks that help us save money on our home Internet.
#1 Shop Around
Shopping around is most important when you are looking at downgrading from a bundle to Internet only. Every year or two I spend an hour to switch or argue for a better Internet deal. This has saved me thousands of dollars on my Internet.
Cable companies seem to hate giving any type of discount to someone who wants to downgrade. For example, my local cable company will charge a new customer $39.99 for 100 Mbps down, but customers who downgrade to the same plan pay more than double: $70 a month.
Take some time, do research, and be open to DSL. I often switch between DSL and cable. You may be surprised to see AT&T DSL in some areas even offers a 1 Gbps option, and 100 down DSL is more common than you may think. Don’t want to go with AT&T or CenturyLink? Look into some of the smaller Internet companies, such as Toast.net a sevice Cord Cutters News has partnered with in the past who resell AT&T fiber and DSL without the data cap.
#2 Lower Your Speed
When people become cord cutters Internet service providers often try to talk them into crazy high Internet speeds. Remember to take what the phone rep says with a grain of salt.
I cut the cord with just 10 down and later found that about 20 to 25 Mbps down is all you need. Once you get over 100 down it has little effect on streaming. Not sure what Internet speed you need? Check out our guide on picking the right Internet speed for you.
I do understand that some people need or want faster Internet, but from talking to many cord cutters they are
Here is what Sling TV says you need for Internet speeds to stream Sling TV. The following are the recommended speeds according to Sling TV’s Help Center:
- Constant speed of 3.0 Megabits per second or more: Streaming video content on portable devices such as tablets and phones.
- Constant speed of 5.0 Megabits per second or more: Single stream of video content on a TV, PC, or Mac.
- Constant speed of 25 Megabits per second or more: Households that maintain Internet use on multiple devices.
Still struggling with buffering and have more than that? Check out our guide to fixing buffering.
#3 Buy a Modem
Most ISPs charge $10 a month or more a month to rent their modems; however, many, such as Comcast, will let you buy a modem from them and save $120 a year. This is a great deal when you consider that most modems cost less than $100 and you can start saving money the first year.
If you rent a modem for three years it will cost you $360. If you buy a $100 modem it would save you $260.
#4 How to Talk Your Cable TV Company Into a Lower Price
So, you don’t want to switch Internet companies but want to lower your home Internet costs? Good news. We have a few tips on how to talk your Internet company into a lower price.
Even if you don’t want to switch Internet companies, you still need to shop around. Knowing what the other services in your area charge gives you more leverage when you call.
We find that knowing the Internet speed and price of the DSL and cable companies helps. That way when you call and they say their best deal is $70 a month, you can counter by saying you will cancel and switch to the other company for $45 a month for a similar speed.
If you know what your Internet service competition is charging, you will often get your current Internet provider to match their competitors’ price.
#5 Don’t Pay for Unlimited Data
Some companies like Comcast have data caps typically now at 1 TB a month. They do this to charge you more if you go over 1TB a month.
Often when you sign up for Internet-only, companies will try to talk you into buying the unlimited Internet option. I suggest not buying that right off the bat. Many Internet companies give you a one- or two-time overage allowance before you get charged any overage fees.
If your Internet company offers protection for the first time you go over your data cap, take advantage of it. You may be surprised to find out many cord cutters do not use 1 TB a month.
Readers who are paying for unlimited data are often surprised to find out they do not go over 1 TB.
If you have an AT&T Internet service, look at AT&T resellers that do not offer a data cap. When you add in the unlimited Internet cost see if they are a cheaper option.
Do you have a tip for saving money on home Internet? Leave us a comment and let us know.
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