We all want to save money, whether it’s for our retirement or to spend our money to use it for something else, like vacations, gadgets, and many more. However, with the continuous increase of many stuff, from groceries to rent, it can be challenging to do so. Many internet service providers have also been slowly increasing their plans, especially with the high demand for high-speed internet due to the pandemic and the popularity of streaming services.
Now that the internet has become a necessity for many households, people have been looking for ways to lower their monthly internet bills. Assuming you’re one of them, consider yourself lucky, as we have compiled some of the best ways to save money on your internet service. Let’s start.
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Getting Free Internet
You may not have heard this, but you can easily qualify for a $50 free internet benefit from the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program by the federal government. You may be qualified if you meet at least one of the qualifications below:
- If you are a current award year recipient of the Federal Pell Grand
- If you meet the participating internet service providers’ low-income or COVID-19 program criteria
- If you have experienced a significant loss of income because of job loss since February 29, 2020; the household income should only have a total income of below $198,000 for joint filers and $99,000 for single filers in 2020.
- If you have an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guideline
- If you are a participant in specific assistance programs, such as Lifeline, Medicaid, or SNAP.
- If you’re eligible for the USDA-CEP or you are a recipient of reduced-price school lunches and breakfasts in 2019-2020, 2020-2021, or 2021-2022.
You can visit the Federal Communications Commission website to know more about or apply for this program. But if you don’t qualify for any criteria listed above, you still have plenty of ways to save money on your internet service.
Other Ways to Save Money on Internet Service
1. Ditch Cable TV
Let’s be honest. Many households pay for cable even when no one uses it. So, if you’re one of these people and you’re trying to save money, your best option may be cord cutting. In fact, cord cutters are continuously growing day by day, especially with the popularity of many streaming services nowadays.
The average cost of cable TV service is around $100 per month. If you want to save at least $1,200 per year, then cutting the cord is one of the best choices you can ever make. Moreover, you have plenty of alternatives, from Netflix, HBO Go, and Disney Plus to YouTube TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Now—all of which are more affordable than a cable TV service.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Bundle Services
Bundling services are an excellent way to save money monthly. It’s also a great option for people who cannot steer away from a cable subscription. Many cable and internet providers offer bundled services wherein they provide a great discount for people who opt to have their cable and internet plans from them. Other companies also offer phone service bundled with your cable or internet plan, which is highly convenient as you only need to pay one bill every month instead of two or three.
3. Buy Your Internet Equipment
Internet providers usually give their customers two choices; either pay the monthly equipment fee or purchase the equipment with an upfront payment. In many cases, people choose to pay for the monthly fee, which is not so cheap, by the way. So, it’s best to purchase your own equipment so that even if you switch providers, you don’t have to return the equipment that you also pay for every month.
4. Reduce Your Internet Speed
Check and see if you’re paying for more than what you consume or need. If you live with teenagers who do nothing but play online games and stream Netflix all day, it makes sense to have at least a 300Mbps internet plan. However, if you live with your parents or grandparents who rarely use the internet but you’re paying for the same plan, you might want to downgrade your current internet plan.
5. Check for Low-Income Subsidies
In 2016, the United States classified high-speed internet as a public utility, encouraging them to establish programs that help many less privileged Americans to connect to the internet. You should check if you qualify for these programs so that you can get a subsidy from the government.
6. Switch to a Different Internet Provider
You may want to check if your internet provider is charging more than other ISPs. We all know that some internet providers cost more than others, so it’s best to check and compare different plans from different providers and see if you can get the same speed you currently have at a lower price.
Begin Cutting Your Internet Costs Now
Allow yourself to save money as much as you can so that you can invest in more important things, such as real estate, education, and healthcare. Try these ways, and let us know if any of them have worked for you!
