Budgeting: How to save money on internet bill without slowing down
To save money on internet bill costs, check what speed you need, compare deals when your contract ends, ask your provider to match a cheaper offer, and check whether you qualify for a social tariff. In a worked example, a 55 monthly bill drops to 32.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Check what speed your household uses, since many people pay for more than they need.
- Prices often rise when a contract ends, so compare deals before it does.
- In a worked example, switching after the contract ended cut a 55 monthly bill to 32.
- Social tariffs offer cheaper internet for people on certain benefits in some countries.
How do you save money on internet bill costs?
Pay for the speed you use, and don't stay on an out-of-contract price. Internet bills often creep up after an introductory deal ends, and many households pay for faster speeds than they need. A short check once a year usually finds a saving, and the whole thing rarely takes more than half an hour.
How much could you save?
Here's a worked example in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Monthly | |
|---|---|
| Out-of-contract price | 55 |
| New deal after switching | 32 |
| Saved | 23 |
That's 276 a year. Your provider's app or account page usually shows your current price and when the contract ends, so finding the numbers takes a few minutes. Your figures depend on where you live and what's available, but out-of-contract prices are often well above new-customer deals.
What speed do you need?
Less than many people pay for. Think about how your household uses the internet: browsing, video calls, streaming and gaming all need different amounts. A household with several people streaming at once needs more than a single person who mostly browses.
Check your current plan's speed and run a speed test at busy times. If it's comfortably fast for everything you do, a cheaper, slightly slower plan might be enough. If you work from home and rely on video calls, keep enough speed for those. Slow internet is sometimes the router's position, not the plan, so moving the router to a central spot can help before you pay for more.
When should you compare deals?
Before your contract ends. Many providers raise the price once the initial term finishes. Put the end date in your calendar and compare offers a month or so before. Check whether there are exit fees if you switch early, and whether the new deal's price rises during the contract.
How do you negotiate?
Get a competing quote, then call your provider and ask if they can match it. Many will offer a better price to keep you, especially if you're out of contract. Ask for the retention or cancellations team if the first person can't help. How to negotiate bills has a script that works.
If they won't move, switch. Note the date and the name of whoever you spoke to, so any promised price can be checked on the next bill. Make sure the new service is working before cancelling the old one, and return any equipment if required.
What's a social tariff?
In some countries, providers offer cheaper internet plans for people on certain benefits or low incomes. They can cost much less than standard plans. Check whether your provider or others offer one and whether you qualify, since you can often switch to one without a fee.
How do you know if you're overpaying?
Compare your current price with what new customers are offered for the same speed, from your provider and others. If yours is noticeably higher, you're probably on an out-of-contract or old price. Check the last few bills too, since prices sometimes rise each year by a set amount written into the contract. A quick look at a comparison site shows what's available at your address, which matters because speeds and prices vary by location.
Should you bundle internet with TV or phone?
Only if you'd use all of it. Bundles can look like good value, but if you don't watch the TV channels or use the landline, you're paying for things you don't need. Compare the bundle with internet alone plus any streaming you'd use.
What about mobile data instead of home internet?
For some single-person households who use little data, a generous mobile plan with a hotspot can replace home internet. It suits light users, not households streaming on several devices. Check coverage and data limits before cancelling, and remember that heavy use can drain a phone battery and data allowance quickly. For most homes, a cheap home plan is still better value. The budget tracker shows what your bills leave each month.
How do you track your internet bill in Wealtie?
Set it up as a monthly recurring transaction with the bill tracker, so it logs itself on the due date. When you switch or negotiate, edit the rule, and every payment after that uses the new amount, while past payments stay as they were. How to save money on phone bill covers your mobile plan.
Questions people ask
Check what speed you need, compare deals before your contract ends, ask your provider to match a cheaper offer and check for social tariffs.
Enough for the most demanding thing your household does at once, which is often less than you pay for. Check your usage and run a speed test.
Often, yes. Compare deals a month or so before the end date.
Only if you'd use everything in the bundle. Otherwise, internet alone plus streaming you use can be cheaper.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
