November 30, 2020 How to Get Affordable High-Speed Internet Services

Tips that you can utilize to get affordable high-speed internet.

Can you imagine your day without checking Insta stories or going through your Snapchat notifications? Or maybe not watching a few episodes of Emily in Paris on Netflix? The truth is, we can’t. In today’s world, staying connected to the internet has become a necessary part of life & having a life without the internet is unimaginable. It has become more of a need than a want.

In fact, the majority of US households consider the internet bill as a part of their monthly essentials. Many people pay over $100 for the internet standalone while some pay more than $200 a month for internet and cable TV.  Although prices and availability of the services and speeds vary according to your location, that is expensive and certainly not affordable by everyone. Now wouldn’t it be great if you were able to save some money on this monthly charge? Sounds good, right?

So, if you are looking to sign up for new services or an existing customer who is interested in saving money, here are a few tips that you can utilize to get affordable high-speed internet.

1. Know your Usage

Before choosing any internet service provider, the first thing that you should do is to have an idea about your usage. And it’s not just about you but also the people who would be living with you. If there are kids, they would possibly be watching a lot of YouTube or playing games. If there are adults, they might be working from home. Or maybe you guys like to stream a lot of Netflix and Hulu.

Knowing about all this will help you determine the speed that is going to work for you. As a result, you will be able to choose a better plan.

2. Do some research about your options

After choosing a speed, the next thing to do will be to look for available providers that are offering your required speed. You can use websites like Decision Data for this purpose which will give you a list of options based on your zip code or your city. Once you have that list, visit the websites of those providers or better, call their toll free numbers.

That is a lot of work, but it will be totally worth it. By doing so, you will get to know which providers are offering services at your address and the prices that they are offering against your required speed. Finally, you will compare the prices and call the winner to sign up.

Some other factors you might want to consider while doing so are the type of connection and customer service. If you can get fiber optics, that’s best. Otherwise, prefer a cable or at least a DSL connection based upon availability.

3. Consider Bundling up your services

While signing up for the services, another thing that you might want to consider is bundling up because it can save you a lot of money. Sometimes, bundling up your internet with cable TV or phone services gives you certain discounts. For instance, if you bundle up Spectrum TV along with the internet services, you can save somewhere from $5 to $10 or more depending upon the promotion in your area. But keep in mind that it will increase the overall monthly charges as you will be getting internet & Cable both.

However, bundling up only saves you money when you really need both services. If you do not want cable or phone and just getting it for the sake of a bundle, it is not going to do any good.

4. Bring your own Router/Modem

Most of the service providers charge you every month for renting the equipment. However, having your own modem/router can save you that $5 to $15 every month.

Most of the providers have published lists of compatible equipment with their services. You can visit these websites and find the compatible equipment, get it from any Walmart store, and enjoy the services. That equipment will pay off within 8-12 months compared to renting it. And after that, you will not just be saving rental fee every month, but you will be owning a modem and a router.

5. Look for subsidies

Subsidies are another way to save on your monthly internet charges given by the government. In certain areas, people below a specific income threshold or who are enrolled in programs like Medicaid or others can qualify for internet subsidy. Information regarding that can be found on the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) website.

6. Negotiate charges with your current service provider

In many cases, what happens is when you sign up, you get a good price but after a year or two, the price starts going up. This happens because your promotional period expires and you start paying the regular prices. Although that is something which is usually expected, sometimes you can get the benefit of being with a provider for a long time.

So, if you love the services but not the charges, then you might be able to save some bucks on your bill by negotiating with that provider. To do that, first, you will have to do some research and see what other options are available for you and how much are they charging. If you can find a better price, then call your service provider and let them know about your options.

Hopefully, they will be able to offer you a better or at least a similar deal to retain you as a customer. If they are not, then you should be ready to switch as you have already found a better option.

Final Thoughts

Getting affordable high-speed internet is everyone’s desire but the only way to do so is to put in some efforts. While signing up for new services, always do some research. Prefer using your equipment, bundle up where necessary, and do not hesitate to talk to your service provider if you feel like you are being overcharged.

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