How To Lower Your Internet Bill

By Staff Reporter - 21 Sep '21 12:38PM
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  • How To Lower Your Internet Bill
  • (Photo : Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash)

Whether you're looking to button up on the family budget or are currently experiencing financial hardship, people nationwide are looking to lower their rapidly increasing internet bills. The average American spends roughly $60 a month on internet service and it's no wonder they're looking for cheaper alternatives. If you're happy with your internet provider and their service, but not your bill; here are some ways you can lower your internet bill.

Buy Your Own Equipment

Most internet providers let you lease your modem and router from them for a fee. If you don't want to buy your own equipment, maintain it or be on the hook when it fails; leasing your equipment is a good option for your family. Here are the most popular internet providers and their monthly equipment fees:

●       AT&T: Your equipment lease fee is $10 a month

●       CenturyLink: Your equipment lease fee is $15 a month

●       Comcast Xfinity: Your equipment lease fee is $14 a month

●       Cox Communications: Your equipment lease fee is $11 a month

●       HughesNet: Your equipment lease fee is $15 a month

●       Mediacom: Your equipment lease fee is $12 a month

●       Optimum: Your equipment lease fee is $10 a month

●       Suddenlink: Your equipment lease fee is $10 a month

●       Verizon Fios: Your equipment lease fee is $15 a month

●       Windstream: Your equipment lease fee is $12 a month

However, if you're looking to pinch pennies and plan on staying with your internet provider for a while, buying your own equipment can actually save you money over time. For example, if you subscribe to CenturyLink internet for two years, you can pay up to $360 for equipment that you need to give back at the end of service. Most modem router combination devices cost consumers $100 to $200 one time and it's yours when you switch internet providers.

Just keep in mind modems are internet technology specific and need to be approved by your internet provider. For example, cable modems only work with cable internet providers like Charter Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Communications and others.

Downgrade Your Internet Plan

One way you could be paying too much for internet service is by paying for faster internet speeds than your family actually uses. Let's face it; gigabit speeds are awesome, but don't make sense for most households to have. If your family consists of low to moderate internet users that only surf the internet, do homework and stream the latest Netflix Original, you don't need the fastest internet plan your internet provider is offering. In this scenario you could easily get away with an internet plan with speeds up to 100 Mbps, which would save your family $20 to $50 a month or $240 to $600 a year.

Bundle Your Internet & TV Service

If your family needs TV service too, why not bundle your internet and TV together? Bundling your TV and internet can be a decent money saving tactic when done correctly. TV and internet providers will reduce your monthly bill when you sign up for two or more of their services. This can save you anywhere from $20 to $40 a month or $240 to $480 dollars a year just for keeping your business with the same company. Here are some internet providers that have money saving TV and internet bundles:

●       AT&T: You can save up to $20 a month or $240 a year

●       Charter Spectrum: You can save up to $15 a month or $180 a year

●       Cincinnati Bell: You can save up to $70 a month or $840 a year

●       Comcast Xfinity: You can save up to $60 a month or $720 a year

●       Cox Communications: You can save up to $40 a month or $480 a year

Cancel Bundled Services You're Not Using

If you're looking to lower your monthly internet bill, look closely at your bill to find out what other services you may be paying for. Your internet provider may have included home phone or TV with your internet service disguised as a money saving bundle on your monthly bill. TV, internet and home phone bundles can save you a bunch of money, but only when you're using all the services included in your bundle.

Ask About Discounts & Current Promotions You May Be Eligible For

The easiest way to lower your internet bill now is to simply ask your internet provider for a discount or about any current promotions they are running that you would be eligible for. You won't know if there are any discounts or promotions until you ask. Be on the lookout during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, back to school time and other national holidays for the best promotions. You can also score some good deals by ordering internet service online where it is available.

Look Into Low Cost Internet Plans

If your family is experiencing extreme financial hardship, your household may be eligible for a low cost internet program. Low cost internet plans cost subscribers from $10 to $15 a month. Here are the most popular internet providers and their low cost internet plans:

How To Lower Your Internet Bill

How To Lower Your Internet Bill

To subscribe to a low cost internet plan, someone in your household will need to qualify. You can qualify for one of these programs by income or by receiving benefits from several federal assistance programs like:

●       Community Eligibility Provision of the National School Lunch Program (CEP of the NSLP)

●       Federal Pell Grant

●       Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

●       Medicaid

●       National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

●       Public Housing (HUD)

●       Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

●       Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

●       Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

●       Tribal Programs for Native Americans

●       Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefits

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* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of newseveryday.com

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