How to save money on your broadband bill

Image: Megan Rexazin/ Pixabay

With the increasing demand for faster and more extensive broadband services, monthly bills can sometimes become a burden on your budget.

Factor that in with the rising costs of living, and now the importance of having a sustainable broadband bill for your household that still meets your needs is becoming very crucial to many.

Here, we have some tips to help you save money on your broadband bill, with different ways on getting the right deal for you at a lower cost.

Understanding your current broadband plan

Analyse your current plan

Begin by taking a look and evaluating your current broadband plan. Check your monthly bill and assess the services you are currently subscribed to and think about what you use and what you really need.

Understanding the specifics of your plan will allow you to identify potential areas for cost savings.

Identify your internet needs

Consider your internet usage patterns. Do you mainly use it for basic browsing and emails, or do you require high-speed internet for streaming and gaming? 

If you mainly work from home, you may be looking for something with higher capabilities and consistency.

Understanding your needs will help you choose a plan that fits your requirements without paying for unnecessary add-ons.

Research different providers

Research various broadband providers in your area. Look for customer reviews, coverage, and plan options. Some providers may offer more cost-effective plans with similar features, giving you the opportunity to switch and save.

But it is important to check fairly extensively with the providers in your area specifically. A lot of the companies will advertise these deals that would be perfect for you, but they might not actually be available in your area.

Check what providers have good coverage in your area, maybe try speaking with some neighbours to find out who they are with, and see who works best.

Speak with your current provider

Reach out to your current broadband provider's customer support and politely explain that you are considering other options due to the cost, and you would like to know if they can offer a better deal to retain you as a customer.

A lot of providers will look to accommodate you as they do value you as a customer, and they are humans too, so they understand the situations that some families and households will be in.

You may find that there is a special promotion available to you that you didn’t realise before, or they might simply give you money off your monthly bill for a length of time.

At the end of the day, you’re not going to get anything if you don’t ask, and nine out of 10 times you will be coming away from that phone call better off.

Bundling services for better deals

Consider bundling your broadband with other services, such as TV or phone. Bundling often comes with discounts, saving you money on individual services.

Every provider offers some sort of bundle service. Sky, BT, and Virgin Media are three of the big ones where you can get yourself set up with all your needs - broadband, TV, home phone line, and even a mobile plan with Virgin Media.

If you don’t need all that, they will have bundles with just what you need. Happy with your current TV package but your phone needs an upgrade? Virgin Media are partnered with O2, giving you a great deal on both broadband and a mobile sim.

Sky deals often see them combine broadband with their newest offering for their TV services, Sky Stream. Since it is a streaming-based TV platform, reliable broadband is imperative to it, so these bundles work perfectly in tandem.

Monitoring Your Usage and Bill

Set up usage alerts

Keep an eye on your data usage to avoid any overage charges. Set up usage alerts provided by your provider to get notifications when you approach your data limit. This can usually be done via a phone app or online.

Review your monthly bill

Regularly review your monthly bill for any unexpected charges or changes in fees. Contact your provider immediately if you notice any discrepancies.

It's crucial you keep check of this every month to ensure you’re not being overpaid, or that a deal that you were on did not end that month. That’s when it can get you because if you don’t realise and don’t flag it, you will continue to overpay.

Make the most of discounts and special offers

Providers change up their promotions and deals regularly, so be sure to check month to month, or even week to week, to see if there is a new deal that is best suited to you.

Seasonal Promotions

Stay updated on seasonal promotions or special offers during holidays or significant events. Taking advantage of these limited-time offers can lead to substantial savings.

There are certain times of the year when big sales will be on for most of the providers. Black Friday is always a big sales day/ weekend of the year, so be sure to watch out for that one towards the end of November.

Referral Programs

Check if your provider has a referral program. Refer friends or family to sign up for their services, and you might be rewarded with discounts or credits on your bill.

Best broadband deals currently

With everything listed above, we hope we’ve helped you figure out how to save money on your monthly broadband bill.

Why not now look at the current deals available from the various providers so you can find a broadband deal that suits you?

With Broadband Finder, we have a quick comparison tool that can identify what’s available in your area and can help find the best broadband deals currently.