© 2008-2010 SavingsNut.com.™  All rights reserved.

Click Here.
User Agreement.

Advertise With Us

Home.
Fuel Economy.
Heating & Cooling.
Home Weatherizing.
Lighting & Electricity.
Home Appliances.
Water.
Cable & Internet.
Local Phone Service.
Long Distance Phone.
Cell Phones.
Discounts & Deals.
Contact & Info.
Energy$avingsNut.com™

 

“Electricity & Utilities Savings Advice & Tips On How To Reduce All Your Energy Costs”

 

Visit SavingsNut.com

 

A free website that provides savings tips, deals and discounts to reduce virtually all your household expenses.  Also visit:

 

AutoSavingsNut.com

 

CollegeSavingsNut.com

 

HealthcareSavingsNut.com

 

InsuranceSavingsNut.com

 

ShoppingSavingsNut.com

 

TravelSavingsNut.com

 

WeddingSavingsNut.com

For More Saving Tips

Facebook

Bookmark and Share

CABLE & INTERNET

CABLE & INTERNET MONEY SAVING TIPS

 

 

Reducing Cable & Satellite Costs

 

Reducing Internet Costs

 

 

Reducing Cable & Satellite Costs

 

The majority of homes now have either cable or satellite service, and with the transition to digital TV even more homes are expected to convert to paid TV.  While the cost of basic cable is usually reasonable, add-on services can increase the price many-fold and become a real budget buster.  Try the following ideas to rein in cable bills while still enjoying your TV.

 

1.     Find out what plans are available from your cable and satellite companies, including combination packages that include TV, phone and Internet.  Choose the plan that best meets your needs, but do not over buy.  Many standard and basic packages offer more than 50 channels.  Do you really need more channels, and do you really watch those premium channels very much? Consider getting rid of the extra channels if possible.

 

2.     Just because it may be easy to rent movies or buy special events from your cable or satellite provider, are they really worth the cost?  With all the channels included without extra charge, isn’t there something you could watch and enjoy without paying extra?  Or maybe just do something other than watching TV.

 

3.     If you do like to watch a lot of TV, consider buying or renting a digital video recorder (DVR) from your cable or satellite company.  It will cost about $5-$10 per month, but it will give you a tremendous amount of flexibility to record shows for later viewing.  Instead of relying on premium channels, or on-demand or DVD movie rentals, you can record several hours of free programming (including great movies you have never seen) to provide you with video entertainment whenever you like.

 

4.     Some TV shows and other video events are becoming available over the Internet for watching on your computer monitor.  Many of these are reruns of broadcast shows you may have missed.  In some cases, there are even first run shows from discontinued TV series that were never broadcast.  And it’s all free.

 

5.     And make sure when switching cable or Internet providers, or when moving to a new address, you tell the provider that you do not want to pay an installation fee or hookup charges.  Most companies will waive this rather than lose your business.

 

 

Reducing Internet Costs

 

The Internet has become a major communications, research and shopping tool, as well as a major source of entertainment, for many people.  Pretty much anything is available at any time, and the ability to “shop at home” is great.  As noted above, free TV shows, movies, video games, and plenty of music and podcasts are available over the Internet.  However, while many households use the Internet constantly, many others only use the Internet occasionally.  Consider how you use the Internet and see if there are ways to save.

 

1.     High-speed Internet service is great, but it comes at all different speeds and cost.  Most high-speed Internet service providers offer more than one level of service.  See if you can do with a lower-speed and lower-cost service.  Shop around.  If you use the Internet infrequently, see if a low-cost or free dial-up service may be all you need.  They are available from several companies, like NetZero.com.  And don’t pay for AOL service anymore if you already have DSL or cable Internet service.  AOL is now free to anyone, and you can keep your AOL email address, even if you want to use a different Internet service.

 

2.     Share Internet service, and its cost, with another user by setting up a network that you can both access.  By purchasing a relatively inexpensive router, more than one user can be on the Internet at the same time doing different things.  If it is a wireless router (and your computer is wireless capable), you do not even need to be plugged into the router.  You can be anywhere in the house, or even outside.  You do not need separate Internet service access or accounts to use more than one computer on the Internet at the same time, or to even have two separate email addresses.  So, if you have high-speed Internet access, only pay for one account and have everyone with a computer in your home connected to the Internet at the same time.

 

3.     If you live in close proximity to your neighbors (such as in an apartment building and closely spaced homes) you might consider purchasing a good wireless router, and sharing Internet access with one or more neighbors, by setting up a shared wireless network.  You can still have your own email address, but have one monthly Internet access bill being shared by more than one household.   

 

4.     If you are interested in having your own domain name and web site, often your Internet service provider, or the company where you register your domain name,will provide free web site hosting services.  For many web sites, there is no need to buy these services.

 

5.     And if you really want to save money on the Internet, consider using the Internet access available at the local library.  Many libraries offer free use of computers hooked up to high-speed Internet.  Many libraries also have a high-speed wireless system that you can access for free, using your own wireless capable computer.  If you do not use the Internet on a regular basis, library access can eliminate the need for high-speed access at home (allowing you to use free or low-cost dial-up access at home) or perhaps even eliminate home-based Internet access totally.

 

6.     There are also many retail establishments that offer “free” high-speed Internet service.  Barnes & Noble book stores, Panera Bread, Starbucks, and many others allow you to connect to their wireless network for free (with the expectation that you will be a customer for their products and services).  These networks are often very handy when “on the road.”

ReducingCable.
ReducingInternet.