How to Reduce Your Monthly Cable Bills?
Cable prices have been soaring for the past decade or so. The average on cable bills has hit an all-time high averaging at $105. The years between 2011 and 2015 saw a spike of 39% in Cable TV billings, which is much higher than the inflation rates in those years. This explains the reason for cutting the cord trend. In August 2016 over 800,000 people have reportedly cut the cord because of the hike in prices in recent years.
Are you thinking about cutting the cord? That is not the only solution. Let us give you an insight into your cable bills, which will help you save up to 30% on your cable TV billing.
Audit Your Usage
How many of us watch all the channels available on cable? I bet none of us even knows all the channels let alone watch them. We, on average, use 20-30 channels while rush pass the others. As for the movie channels, one can always watch a movie On Demand and only pay for it when needed and that too for what is wanted.
Instead of falling for a package that offers hundreds of channels, look for the one that suits your needs and offers exactly what you need. This way, you will end up saving hundreds of dollars annually.
Go for a Lower Tier Package
As mentioned before, $105 is the average cable TV bill for a household. How many channels do you get for it? My guess says somewhere between 250 and 300. Do you watch all of these? Again no, how about getting what you want to watch and save on the side? Buying a package that contains channels that you will watch can help save a lot. You can have the less expensive packages starting as low as $30 a month and offering 100 plus channels that often also include HBO.
How much do you save is the real question. Let us take an example. Since the average spending on cable TV bill is around $105 a month and you switching to a lower-tier package of say $55 will save you a flat $50 a month. That is $50 times 12 a year, which accumulates to $600 annually and more than a thousand bucks in two years. Therefore, go for a low-tier plan and choose a plan that perfectly blends with your requirements.
Get Rid of the DVR
Missed an episode of the show that you like to watch or missed a news bulletin? Yes, DVR is the thing that gets you to catch up on the missed stuff. There are other ways to watch you missed episode later. Most news channels have their own YouTube channels that not only broadcast live but also have all the videos, news bulletins, and much more. Similarly, you can watch your missed show On Demand the next day. Let go of the DVR box and get the standard HD box. How much can be saved? Switching from DVR to standard box can save you up to $10 a month. That is not just it, check your bill and you might even be able to save more.
Cut the Cable Boxes
Premium channels are not the only thing adding to your cable bill. That TV box in your room and the one in your child’s room is costing you $3 to $12 per box per month. Maybe it is time for those boxes to go and for you to start saving on your cable TV bill.
Get the Right Internet Plan
Most of us do not calculate our needs and simply go for the fastest internet out there. This one-way approach to speed costs you a lot. Another thing to consider when getting an internet connection with your cable to look for is the download caps. If you like, streaming movies and videos you not only just need speed but also download limits. Gauge your use and get the internet that suits your needs. Instead of breaking the bank, be smart, and shop right. For instance, if you are looking to buy internet service from Frontier internet packages, then choose the plan that your household needs, not the one that offers maximum download and upload speeds.
Final words
Follow the aforementioned tips and you will be able to reduce your monthly cable bills significantly. To find the right plan for your household, enter your zip code and home address on Local Cable Deals and the website will display all the top-performing providers available in your area. So, avoid getting high-speed internet and several cable channels if you do not need them, and get what is right for you.