Technology has provided us with new avenues to communicate with each other as well as keep ourselves entertained – from mobile phones, to internet and of course, cable television. But with the good stuff comes additional expenses that a lot of people can certainly live without.
A recent study reveals that the typical monthly cable bill is $86 in the US and this is expected to increase to $200 by 2020!
That is just for the cable bill. Factor in your expenses for your home phone, cell phone and internet, then that amount is going to equate to a couple of days work!
So if you are currently looking for ways to save on your cell phone and cable bill and don’t know how or where to start, here are 3 things that you should consider:
1. Track and Evaluate Your Usage
It is important to find out whether you are utilizing your cable and cell phone plans well. For instance, if you have subscribed to premium channels, check whether you are watching the programs enough to deserve the extra fee. Cut down the premium channels that you’re not using often enough.
For your mobile phone bill, verify how much of your talk time and data usage are actually used each month. In case you find that you’re not using it all up, then it would be wiser to downgrade your plan to minimize your monthly bill or vice versa if you’re always paying extra for exceeding the limit. One way to track your talk time is to sign up with overmyminutes.com, which is a free service that sends you an email or SMS to let you know that you are running out of talk time.
2. Consider the Online Alternatives
Another thing that you can do to save on your cell phone and cable bill is to consider the online alternatives such as subscribing to Netflix for unlimited streaming. Netflix offers you a way to watch movies and your favorite TV show on your PC, PS3, Xbox, Wii, Xbox, Mac, Tablet, Mobile, etc. using the Internet. Plus, you can cancel anytime.
Likewise, you can save on your cell phone bill by using free apps or services that allow you to contact other users of that same app. Examples of these apps are Skype Mobile, Viber and Textfree. You can also use Google Voice to call and text in the US for free. People can even leave a voice mail on your Google Voice number!
Magic Jack is another alternative that you could consider. It comes with a US number and it can be used anywhere in the world at just $39.95 for the first year and $29.95 for each succeeding year. All calls to the US and Canada are free while international calls cost as low as $0.02/minute. The downside of using Magic Jack, as an alternative to your landline is that it has to be connected to your PC with a high-speed Internet connection, which means you, can’t receive calls if it’s unplugged.
3. Explore Bundled Services
The third way for you to save on your cell phone and cable bill is to get a bundled service. You can move all of the services that you use i.e. cable/satellite, cell phone, Internet and even your home phone to just one provider. This way, you will most likely get a discounted rate for patronizing them.
These are just three of the many ways that you can save on your cell phone and cable bill. Do you know of other ways to save on these expenses? What’s the best bundled service that you have come across with?
