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| I’m off to spend three days in the most perfect company xxxxx Love you DB! |
Hello Dear Reader,
I was sent the following guest post, which I happily accepted, because it really got me thinking. I look around for the best deal on everything from cars to body lotion, but I really haven’t given much thought to my internet supplier. We are, to put it bluntly, totally and absolutely stuffed here in deepest darkest Cornwall. We don’t have superfast where I live so comparing upload and download speeds and bandwidth is an entirely academic exercise. However, you don’t have my excuses and really ought to be getting a better deal!
So, take the really good advice below and get yourself the best deal possible. If you can, let me know how you got on, how much money you saved. There will be a quiz at the end so make sure you’re reading all the way through.
Frugal Tips on Finding Cheap Broadband Deals
We are relying more and more on the internet for work and leisure. However, the cost of having internet connection can be pricey. Are you paying too much for your internet service? Here’re some tips on how to find cheap broadband deals.
Bundle your broadband, phone and TV services
The best way to save money on your broadband is to get your broadband, phone and TV services from one internet service provider. First, find out what you’re using the internet for, how much phone time you use and what type of TV programmes you like to watch. Then, search for a bundle that costs less than buying the services separately. Another advantage of a bundle is that you’ve only one bill to pay.
Go basic and pay your line rental upfront
Most broadband packages require a landline. Choose a no-frill landline if you’re unlikely to use features such as caller ID or call waiting. The amount you pay to rent a landline can be more expensive than the broadband. Some internet service providers offer discounts if you pay the annual amount of your line rental in advance. Therefore, the best way to save money is to pay your line rental upfront rather than in monthly instalment.
Choose a cost effective broadband deal
Make sure you choose a broadband deal that fits your needs and budget. Internet speed and download allowance are two important things to take into consideration to avoid paying for access you don’t need or paying extra charges. Broadband speed is a measure of the length of time it takes to transfer data from the internet to your computer. Broadband packages with faster connections are more expensive than basic packages. If you download large files, stream movies from Netflix and play games online, fast download speeds is preferred.
Download allowance is the amount of data you are allowed per month. The price you pay varies according to the download allowance. An unlimited package is more expensive than a limited one. If you’re a light user, a limited package will probably be fine for you. On the other hand, if you’re a heavy user with a limited package, it won’t be long before your allowance is used up. If you go over the limit, you have to pay penalty charges.
Hidden costs
Ask your internet service provider for a full cost breakdown. Find out whether there are any hidden costs such as installation fees and postage fees for the router. Make sure you read the small prints before you sign the contract.
Understanding your usage pattern and budget can help you find the cheapest broadband package. Take your time to shop around and compare broadband deals.
After reading that, I discovered that I’m a light user and that I only need a limited package. We don’t ‘stream movies’ or ‘download’ anything at all really. What type of user are you? If you have teenagers in the house, or you are a lot more techno-savvy than I am, then a really good upgraded package where the entire house can be online at the same time will be really useful.
Just to let you know, the dog sitter AKA my mum, is here and we’ll be off to North Yorkshire at six in the morning. If you are in the slightest bit interested, you can follow me on twitter queen_frugal and catch my updates #froogsontour. I might not get the chance to blog over the next few days as I will be staying on the Yorkshire Moors but I will be uploading photos on twitter.
Until then,
All my love,
Froogs xxxxx
Disclaimer : sponsored post.
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I just switched to a provider that charges £1.75 per month for unlimited internet, rising to £3.50 after that period, combined with a low cost no frills phone package. We only use the landline in emergencies so that works for us. Also, as I used http://www.uswitch.com, I will receive £140 shopping vouchers after the first direct debit. Altogether a very good deal!
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Hi mindo, and anyone else, can you let us all know which provider gives you a good deal
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Have a great vacation!
We don't have a landline; we use ooma. No satellite tv; we use netfllix and pick up local stations. We pay about $40/month for 7 mbps cable internet.
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Interesting post. It's a bit different here in the US. We generally get Internet through either a telephone service provider or our cable TV providers. If you get Internet through a telephone service provider, you do NOT have to buy landline telephone service to get Internet. This is US law. I don't have a TV. Getting only Internet service through the local phone company was cheaper than getting it through the cable company.
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We get all our utilities - phone, broadband, gas, electricity - through Utility Warehouse - and pay approx 118 pounds a month for everything.
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We are with Plusnet. When it was due for renewal, we found a better deal through BT, but when we phoned Plusnet to tell them we were leaving, they offered an even better deal than BT - unlimited broadband and unlimited calls for £14.99 a month, excluding line rental which we paid up front for the year as it saved £36 compared with monthly line rental. We have a teenager in the house who needs lots of internet time for homework so I think we have a good deal and no worrying about going over the limit. Have a lovely break xx
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Our experience of changing broadband from Virgin to Sky was not a happy one. We had weeks of hassle with service dropping out at odd times during the day and their customer service was appaling. We must have spent hours and hours on the phone to them being fobbed off with the same excuses every time. Finally they admitted they had no idea why we had such poor reception and let us out of our contract without penalty. We went straight back to Virgin and were lucky enough to qualify as new customers and get a good deal and we have had excellent reception ever since. We changed to try and save money, but sometimes it's better to pay a bit more for a reliable service and we will be sticking with Virgin even when the year's offer ends.
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My supplier is TalkTalk, here in N. Devon they provide the same speed as anyone else, but the £140 shopping voucher promotion has now ended.
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I was with Plusnet that offered an internet only deal - that was terrible as the signal was a bit rubbish and it was limited-my kids stream constantly so we went over a number of times. Went back to Virgin who had started offering an internet only deal. It costs £26.50 unlimited,and we are very heavy users. Will probably never have a landline again.
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We are with Virgin. Recently, they told us that the price of our package would double (now that the introductory period had expired) and Sky offered us the same package at half the price. So my husband put the wheels in motion to change over and almost immediately, Virgin telephoned us to find out why we were leaving them - their service is reliable, as Helen, above, has said. Suddenly, they were prepared to match Sky's offer, for 18 months. So don't be afraid to shop around, look determined and then haggle!
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If anyone is thinking of swapping provider at the moment Uswitch are offering a Talk Talk phone and broadband deal at the moment - Free for a year (line rental still payable) plus £75 love2shop voucher - expires on 06/11/14
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Here in the States we don't seem to have nearly as many options. After doing a lot of research, its seems like the “grand total” is always the same, no matter the carrier. One offers cheaper phone, while another cheaper TV or internet. It's almost like they get together and make sure they are each getting “their” share of our money!! (but that would be “illegal”, of course **wink wink**). We went with the TV package that carries the most rugby games!!
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