The typical customer spends more than $100 each month. This is one of the reasons why cable companies are among the most dreaded businesses in the United States. There are a variety of options for lowering the cost of your cable service. Certain tasks need some work, while others are straightforward; for example, if you can save only $10 every month, you'll save $120 over the course of a year, which is well worth the effort. Examine your viewing habits to see where you might improve. Spend a few days paying close attention to what you're viewing and, more importantly, where you're watching it. Consider Netflix as an example. Do you find yourself spending more time on it than you do watching cable? Do you prefer to watch live television, or do you prefer to watch on-demand television? Do you ever sit down in front of the television anymore, or do you prefer to use a tablet or a phone more often nowadays? Answering those questions will give you a better understanding of what you need and the level of influence you may expect from your cable provider.
Do Your Research
Like any purchase, be sure to investigate the cable providers in your region. Do you get the most favorable package in your region? Are there other providers that could offer you the same service at a lower cost? If you can find a cheaper price, you might have the expense of a cancellation charge, but the savings you can make with the new package could be sufficient to cover the cost within a couple of months. Take a look at all your choices before choosing a cable service.
Reduce the Number of the Premium Channels
It's not easy to let go of HBO and Showtime, but you could cut around $20 off your monthly bills with certain providers. Get rid of Showtime, and you can save between $5 and $15 each month. It doesn't need to be forever, however. If you cannot endure life without "Game of Thrones" or "Homeland," remove the channel after the final season has ended.
Bundle Your Telecom Utilities
One of the most efficient methods of reducing the cost of your cable could be by bundling your internet, cable, and phone services together. Cable providers frequently run promotions for bundles of these services; if you take your time when calling and identify the appropriate salesperson, you might be able to talk about a possible customer offer by switching to one of the bundles. All you need is the patience of a couple of phone calls to your service provider or other providers to reduce your cost by bundles.
Ditch the DVR
Of course, DVR is one of the most innovative inventions ever invented; however, the majority of satellite and cable TV providers loan it to you for a monthly fee, which could be anywhere from $5 to $20 per month, based on the quality of the equipment and the storage capacity. So, if you own one at home, it's time to consider whether you're getting the most value in the amount you are paying each month for the DVR service.
You will likely catch any missing episode of your preferred shows on-demand the following day instead of recording these on your DVR. If this isn't feasible, could you purchase your DVR to record shows? However, you're unlikely to be eligible for technical assistance. Alternately, you could switch to an advanced DVR service for an entry-level plan that provides the bare minimum of storage to fit the demands of your hectic schedule.
Streaming
Although changing your subscription in favor of streaming services might feel like a step in the right direction, it doesn't mean that you'll instantly reduce your expenses. Suppose you subscribe to multiple services that cost you. Create a list of the shows you'd like to watch, and you could find you'll be paying more than what you paid for cable.
Resize Your Plans
Reducing your cable bill to just the essentials could save you as much as $40 a month with some providers. In addition, you'll probably not have to pay for the additional channels. Nielsen's report from September 2016 showed that the average American people only stream around 20 channels, but they can watch 205 channels.
