We rely on internet access in so many ways these days but the harsh reality is that some of us simply cannot afford premium deals. Finding a cheaper deal is not impossible however, so long as you know what to look out for and what to expect for your money.
Introductory offers
Most of the major Internet Service Providers will have introductory offers, where you may receive such perks as your broadband coverage at a greatly reduced price for several months, free installation or even free hardware, such as the modem or router required to install your connection, making your money go significantly further. This is why you should never be afraid to check out the competition and even to switch providers if you feel you are being short-changed.
Package deals
A lot of providers have branched out into other markets and will offer exclusive deals and reduced monthly charges to consumers who opt to sign up for additional services. Perhaps the best known for this method is Sky, who will grant their customers a much lower price for broadband if they also take out phone and television deals with them. Considering most of us pay for all of these things anyway, we may as well pay them to the same company if it means saving some cash. Other specific deals can also be made available to suit each individual user, such as Virgin Media promo codes which display the different packages and sales they have.
Contract length
It is worth noting that lengthy contracts are not always necessarily a good idea. With new technology constantly becoming available and providers updating and improving their deals, it can be good to feel more flexible. Providers such as Zen offer one-month rolling contracts, stopping you from becoming tied down by hefty 18 or 24-month ones with major companies that incur expensive charges should you want to cancel the deal and move elsewhere.
Comparison
The temptation can often be to stick to what you know but this will not always get you the cheapest deal. It is also important to remember that a deal that is right for one person will not necessarily be so for everyone else. We all have different needs and uses for our internet connection, with some only needing basic access for casual browsing and emailing while others carry out the likes of HD video streaming and long-distance conferencing. You should therefore always compare providers before you commit to any deals, seeing what each has to offer; with the likes of uSwitch ranking current deals from major players such as Talk Talk, Sky, BT and Virgin Media in terms of price, speed, downloads, contract length and popularity making this much easier to do. Even once you are in a contract, don’t be afraid to call your provider and see what options are available to you as most would rather reduce your monthly bill than lose you as a customer altogether.
Limitations
Hunting out the cheapest deal is great in terms of saving money but it is important to remember that this will often mean cutting back in other areas in terms of what your broadband deal will be able to offer you. Download and upload speeds will be slower, meaning that sending files, loading pages and buffering videos will all take longer. You likely won’t have access to unlimited data, meaning you have a cap on how much you can download per month, which can be an issue for those who play a lot of games or rely on services such as BBC iPlayer and some seemingly cheap deals won’t include line rental in the price, meaning an additional charge must be paid direct to BT, making any supposed savings void.
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