How to Save Money on Your Monthly Technology Bills

Here are some thoughts from Kevin Brand, EarthLink's SVP of product marketing on how to save on tech bills.

Assess your Needs

Look at the ways you use technology in your home. Take a week and monitor how often you are on the phone, watching television, or surfing the net. Once you see how much time you are using these services, compare it to your plan. Many people have access to high-speed Internet at work, making it unnecessary to pay for high-speed bells and whistles at home. The key is to avoid paying for excess.

Downgrade

Once you assess your needs, get rid of services that you aren’t fully using.  Are you downloading video and playing games or just checking email and sports scores on the Internet? If it’s the latter, it doesn’t make sense to pay for a high-end, super-fast Internet connection. A less expensive but safe and reliable service such as dial-up service – which some providers offer with a special Accelerator option – may be just what you need.

The same applies to your cable bill. Do you need the premium channels or DVR? Better yet, if you can watch most of your favorite shows online or you predominately watch shows on only a few channels, you may be able to downgrade your service to a cheaper plan. Be honest about what you really need, and don’t pay for services you aren’t using to their fullest potential.
       
Take Advantage of Freebies

Look for companies that offer free services. Some Internet providers offer free virus protection, which saves you from buying costly software yourself.  Others offer free spam protection and other security enhancements, a good bet if you’re looking to maximize savings and still surf safely.  Also, leverage your Web access by surfing special cost-savings sites, like www.pricegrabber.com, www.bizrate.com or www.thedailydeals.com.  Look for any special promotions your provider might offer on their home page.  A lot of Internet providers have partnerships with other online merchants to offer special savings to their subscribers. If yours doesn’t, consider looking for one that does. And sign-up for the email alerts from the companies that you already do business with to take advantage of special promotions.

Avoid Bundles

Advertisers may create a “need” that might not really exist for you. If you’re a cost- conscious consumer, look closely at how much you’re paying for popular, but often pricey, bundle packages that include phone, cable and Internet. It may be easier to pay all-on-one bill, but it doesn’t allow you the flexibility to choose the best individual services that fit your lifestyle. Nor will a bundle provide the flexibility to adapt your services based on lifestyle or location changes. Also, promotional pricing may exist initially, but the price may go up while you’re still locked into your bundle.  So, you may not need all the “bells and whistles” or restrictions of a high-cost bundle. In fact, if you opt for options like Freestanding DSL for your Internet access, you might be able to ditch your home phone altogether.

Study your Bill

Read the small print. Know what you are paying for and make sure you’re only paying for services that you actually use.  Also, be familiar with your contracts and look for changes to the Terms of Service. Know when your contract ends, so you don’t unwillingly default into another one. And be aware, not all Internet providers offer free, 24/7 customer support. If your provider doesn’t, you could be eating up dollars you don’t need to spend.

Pay Smart

Finally, make sure you are taking advantage of special deals and incentives. Some service providers offer discounts up to 40% for annually pre-paying. Others offer special pricing for a year’s commitment.  And always ask for what you want from your provider. A customer-service focused Internet provider may be willing to give you a credits if there’s been a serious issue involving your service or account.

Comments

[Miss M]

You can now get stand-alone internet service from AT&T, we've been paying for an unused phone line for years just to get internet. The combined bill has crept up to $70-$80 a month, but the highest stand alone plan is only $45-$50. So we'll be making that switch, though I know some people want to hold on to their land line.

[CuteFingers]

Another good place to look for freebies is your employer and your bank. They often have corporate partners that can save you a bunch on certain services.

[Chris]

Some companies are forced to offer prices based upon antitrust agreements with the federal government, yet don't necessarily advertise those prices. When I got ready to buy internet for my home, I dug around on the AT&T website and found a place on the terms and conditions page that lists a "$10 Basic DSL". Then in another place, I found a discussion on a 'measured rate phone line'. After purchasing each, I end up with limited local calling, unlimited DSL, and a bill of only $17.25/month (low $20s after taxes/fees). Also, if you live in a former indian territory, some companies will give you a phone line for only $1/month.... again something they will never advertise.

[Alan Weinkrantz]

I just got AT&T to cut my residential TV / Telephony / Internet Bill by almost 50%.