5 Reasons Why Your Cable/Internet/Phone Bill is So Expensive

What’s the biggest bill you pay apart from housing? Chances are that bill may be the one for your cable, internet and or phone service. We’ve talked before about why cable and internet is so expensive, but there are many reasons why your bill may be out of control.

So why are we as Americans generally paying so much for internet in 2013? Wall Street Journal reporter Anton Troianovski has some answers for us in the video below:

And as for the things we have a bit more control over, here are 4 reasons why you specifically (yes, you!) are paying too much for cable, internet and phone service – and, of course, some tips for paying less:

  1. You’re Paying for Too Much Internet/Cable/Phone:

    Have you sat down and figured out which shows and networks you actually watch? If you watch basic cable and a few shows on a weekly basis, you could pay less than $8 a month by using Netflix, Amazon or Hulu and still enjoy your favorite shows with the exorbitant cost. Even if you still want to keep cable on you TV (and there are a number of ways to do just that) take the time to figure out just what channels you need and what channels you can live without. Then make sure your plan covers you.

    As far as internet goes, if you don’t work from home or watch a lot of videos on your computer, you can definitely save by asking your provider to give you a lower speed internet connection. And if you’ve got a cell phone (and a triple bundle package isn’t cheaper), you can drop that landline for additional savings.

    In short, don’t ever pay for more than you want or need!

  2. You’ve Chosen the Wrong Bundle:

    Maybe bundling your services will save you some money. Maybe you’ll fare better if you don’t bundle and opt for the cheapest options separately. Either way, if you haven’t considered all options, there’s a serious chance that you’re paying too much.

  3. You Haven’t Called to Negotiate:

    Even if it seems like you’ve exhausted all deal and discount options, making a simple phone call could end up knocking even more off of your monthly bill. Just a few weeks ago, I just called my provider (Verizon Fios) to inquire about a promotion they were running. New customers who signed up for 2 years of service could receive a $300 Amazon or Visa gift card. While I wasn’t a new customer, I wanted to see if there was any way I could benefit from this deal.
    The representative said that they couldn’t offer me that deal, but they could offer me 4 free movie rentals as a thank you for being a loyal customer. I got that perk without even pushing or negotiating one bit! All I did was make a phone call and ask a single question.

    So the moral of the story here is to pick up the phone and ask about your options. Tell the customer service representative that you’re considering changing your service if you can get a cheaper price elsewhere and you may be surprised at the new offers that suddenly become available to you.

  4. You Haven’t Considered Cheaper or Free Options:

    If you have a data plan on your cell phone and you live nearby to a local library, do you actually need internet service in your home? Or do you already have an Amazon Prime account because you enjoy the benefits of 2-day shipping? Then you could take advantage of free TV through their Prime service.

    Consider the free alternatives to cable, internet and phone service and give some serious though to the possibility that you may not need the paid options.

More money-saving tips from this newsletter…