Do you like your current internet service but wish it wasn’t so costly? If so, it’s time to take action to lower your monthly bill without sacrificing a service provider you love. Here are six strategies for getting more for less from your internet service provider.
1. Buy your own modem and router
Plan to stay with an internet provider for a few years? It might be more cost-effective to buy your internet hardware rather than renting it.
Many providers charge $10 to $15 per month to rent their equipment. If you stay with that company for two years, the total rental costs would be $240 to $360. You can buy a top-rated modem and router for less than $200.
Keep in mind that some providers won’t offer support or troubleshooting for your personal hardware.
2. Reduce your internet speed
Internet providers are taking high-speed to the next level, with plans that promise download speeds of 100 Mbps or more. That’s great if you need that level of service. Most families don’t.
Dropping to a lower, perhaps more appropriate speed could reduce your monthly bill by around $27 or more, depending on your carrier. Consult the chart below to help determine what speed you need, then consider contacting your provider to lower your plan. The recommended speeds assume multiple devices doing the activities listed, so you can adjust down if you only have one device gaming or streaming HD video at a time, for example.
Image via Flickr/artshopvn
