- Saving money is the name of the game.
Let's say you're fortunate to live somewhere
with some choices for your home broadband,
should you be wary of lower cost options for my ISPs?
What are some traps you should look out for?
And can you trim some fat from your bill?
Let's chat cheap internet.
(upbeat music)
While saving some cash on your connection,
you're definitely gonna wanna keep up with
all the work here on reviews.org,
editorials, tips and tricks, reviews,
and some upcoming giveaways.
Hit all those subscribe options underneath this video.
Now, at the top of this,
we have to acknowledge that not everyone in this country
has options to compete,
but hopefully there are still a couple of tips here to help.
For the people watching this channel,
it's probably obvious but we still need to point out
how all internet is not created equal.
We've recently been making videos on
cable, DSL, fiber and satellite.
Calling something broadband, we need to compare a bit more,
not just getting service at a price,
but also sign up costs, installation fees,
contracts, equipment rentals, and of course, data speeds.
You might be lured in by an intro price
for a couple of months
but then end up paying a lot more in the long run.
I've been working with the editorial team at reviews.org,
so here are some tips to get your bill lower.
First, are yah really getting what you paid for?
Run those speed tests, stream that video,
and check that connection.
Regulator rules have improved the situation
for advertising speeds,
but often you're not paying for a guaranteed speed
so much as a potential maximum speed.
If you're paying more for cable,
but your connection is closer to DSL in real world tests,
then you might be able to switch teams
and cut a little cash off your belt.
You'll definitely wanna do some troubleshooting first,
but if some simple fixes don't correct the connection,
take your business elsewhere,
because you might also be able to renegotiate.
Calling your provider and asking for the best deal
they might offer can work sometimes,
especially if you really can switch to another provider.
I don't think it's ever a good idea to try and bluff,
if you say you're going to take your business elsewhere,
be prepared to do that.
But a call to renegotiate your plan
can often find a few savings tucked away
rather than having that company
completely lose your business.
And if there's wiggle room on your budget,
sweeten the deal with a bundle.
Maybe you can save more money overall
by bundling a couple of services together.
Going to a cable or DSL provider
looking to give them more money,
might make them more motivated to find you some deals.
But it's important to not over-buy your service.
Sure, we always want the best-est,
but if you don't really need faster connections
or more bandwidth, then you're kinda wasting your cash.
We've got a simplified chart on reviews.org
with general speed needs for different activities.
But of course, you're going to be the best judge
of your own actual use.
Lastly, look for those subsidies.
There are numerous programs and funds that might be able to
partially pay for your data connection,
especially over the last year
if you faced some financial hardships.
We recently shot a video on the
FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit,
which has already helped over a million people
lower their internet bill
and kept them connected to work, school, and entertainment,
overall, a couple of quick tips and tricks
to try and keep you spending less but also connected more.
It can be a bit of legwork and these plans and services
aren't always organized in the easiest way to decipher.
Instead, it's just easier to advertise
a really low dollar amount,
but then build in additional costs
or lean someone into signing a contract.
You might need to rent an install equipment,
and of course, many people need to look out for data caps.
Do you have any killer tips
for cutting your connection costs?
Drop us some comments down below, let's have a fun chat.
I think geeks are always at their best
when we all get to work together
to try and take care of folks.
And if you're shopping service,
make sure you check out reviews.org, the website.
We've got lists and rankings
on ISPs and cell phone carriers,
and you can search for service by zip code
to get a good lay of the land.
I personally used the site
before I joined this editorial team
while we were moving and looking for coverage,
it's pretty helpful.
As always, thanks so much for watching, for sharing,
and subscribing to the channel.
For reviews.org, I'm Juan Carlos Bagnell,
and I'll catch you all on the next video.