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Internet, Telephone, Cable and your Money

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Exp Realty 318970

In reevaluating my monthly expenses, it apalled me to see how much my internet, home phone and sattelite bill was running me each month.  When I added it all up, I realized over the course of the year that I was spending nearly $1800 for the three services. That got me to thinking that surely there has to be a better way.

I started to investigate and found some interesting ways to save money. Most of us have to have the high speed internet, but the other (cable/telephone) are more luxury type items, especially in the day of mobile phones.

Here are some tips:

1. Check out broadband phone service. Most range from 19.95 to 24.95 a month. There is plenty of them when you do a Google search

2. Take advantage of the competition between cable and sattelite. By switching to cable with their deal, I knocked $40 off of my bill in comparison and gained a hd/dvr unit. The promo rate lasts for a year. When I called to cancel with the satellite company, they offered my 2 months for free and a $10 a month credit for 10 months. It still wasn't as good as the deal I got. 

3. Compare high speed services. Your local phone company and cable comanies are in fierce competition with one another. I got a great deal on the internet. When I called to cancel with my phone company, they offered to cut my internet bill in half in order to get me to stay.

4. When contemplating cutting out my home line, beware that your home alarm will not work with a broadband phone service.  You must get a cellular main added to your existing system which will cost around $250.

I have now reduced my bill for the three services to around $1100 a year. Who couldn't use an extra $600-700 a year and have comprable services?

Robert Huntsinger
Empire Realty - Upland, CA
Empire Realty Upland, CA - Full Service at a Discount

Yup, I switch to vonage over a year ago and never looked back, I am saving over $200 a month for three lines.

Take care!

RJH

Feb 16, 2008 02:10 PM
Eugene Jones
Weichert Realtors - Somerville, NJ
Good advice Jamie, I too am looking to cut down some expenses.
Feb 16, 2008 02:12 PM
Mary Warren
Las Vegas, NV
Good ideas...we're eliminating our home phone and the bells/whistles on our internet TV service within the next couple of months for a total savings of about $75 a month!  Also dumped my long distance carrier the other day....only $5 a month but that's $60 a year (worth a dinner out)
Feb 16, 2008 02:12 PM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production
It used to be nickled and dimed.  Now it's dollared to the nth degree.  I was just re-examing my approach recently.  I'm still out of whack here.
Feb 16, 2008 02:22 PM
Dwayne West
Atlanta Real Estate - Canton, GA
Canton Georgia Real Estate
Great wake up call for me.I need to cut down on my expenses as well. Thanks for the good information.
Feb 16, 2008 02:33 PM
Jon Sigler
Coldwell Banker Realty - South Windsor, CT
Sigler Sold Another! 860-306-8029
Called cable last month and asked about deals they had, and got everything we were getting a fast internet connection and $20 a month less.  Not bad.  Vonage keeps adding and adding to their bill each month, just little amounts, but they have just as many "taxes" as the regular phone company.  Check out RingCentral.  
Feb 16, 2008 02:45 PM
Anonymous
Cable Service
I would recommend http://cableservice.in/ for any US
Cable Service map.
Cable companies are offering VoIP telephone (Telephone Cable Service) service, which is helping to drive down the price of

traditional phone calls from traditional phone companies. Offers interactive video, voice and data services to midsize cities

in the Southeast United States.  <a href="http://cableservice.in/
">
Cable Service</a>

Feb 27, 2008 09:01 PM
#7