Most internet users hardly ever pay attention to how much they use the internet until the day the bill arrives at the end of the month.
That is when they realize how important it is to try and cut down on internet costs.
But in the modern world where internet penetration seems to be growing by the day and the number of internet service providers is on a steady rise, the wide variety of choice means that internet users no longer have to pay through their noses in order to be able to stay online.
If you find yourself struggling to pay your internet bills then there is probably something that you are not doing right and below are a few tips which, if properly applied, should be effective in helping you cut down on your internet bills.
Check your internet speed
Internet service providers typically charge users according to internet speeds. Faster internet speeds cost more money while users with slower internet connections may pay much less.
However, not all internet service providers actually provide internet users with the exact speeds that they advertise.
In some cases you might be paying a lot of money in order to be able to access high speed internet and yet the kind of speeds that you are getting are worth just a small fraction of what you are being asked to pay.
As such, the first step in reducing your internet costs is to test the speed of your internet to determine whether you are actually getting real value for your money or if you’re just being taken for a ride. There are numerous online applications out there that you can use to test your internet speed so it should not be too difficult to find one to use.
If, after testing, you find that your internet speed is slower than the advertised speed then it might be time to start looking for a new internet service provider.
Know and balance your internet needs
It is important to take time and understand the things for which you need and use internet the most. Some online activities usually require more bandwidth than others and, as a general rule, internet service providers will normally charge more fees for more bandwidth.
For instance, while normal surfing activities such as email and social media can be managed well enough with 1 Mbps or even less, online gaming would require up to 2 Mbps of bandwidth while heavier activities such as HD streaming of videos would require up to 4 Mbps.
When tackling this part, the main question you need to be asking yourself is whether or not you need all the bandwidth that you are paying for. If, for instance, you just use the internet for light surfing but you have a subscription for 4Mbps bandwidth then you need to have your ISP adjust that downwards so that you do not have to incur all the unnecessary expense.
Negotiate your internet bill
It’s funny how some people will negotiate and haggle for hours on end before making simple purchases and yet never think to do the same when it comes to the costs of internet. This is perhaps due to the fact that the internet is still relatively new and most people just assume that the rates set by their internet service providers are cast in stone.
But here’s the thing, most internet service providers are actually quite flexible in their rates and would be willing to revise them downwards if you try to negotiate with them. This is particularly true for organizations and companies that require a lot of bandwidth in order to conduct their activities.
You do not even have to be a great salesman and convince them, all you need to do is point out that you know of a better deal that you can opt for if they do not adjust your rates.
Buy your own equipment
Renting equipment such as routers and modems from internet service providers might definitely seem cheap in the long run but the rental expenditure keeps accumulating over time. The total cost of renting the equipment for, say, two years when calculated will almost always be higher than that of buying and using your own equipment.