Watching TV is a favorite past time for many Americans, but cable and satellite television can be quite pricey. According to the Leichtman Research Group, the average consumer pays over $103 per month. Over half of Americans with cable or satellite television also pay for an online video subscription service such as Netflix or Hulu. That's over $1300 a year to be able to watch our favorite show, news programs, movies, and sporting events! These money saving tips will help you cut your cable bill, freeing up more money in your budget for family vacations, paying for sports, paying off debt, or saving for retirement!
Watching television is an enjoyable experience (I'm streaming via Amazon Prime and listening to one of my favorite shows as I write this), but is it really worth $1300 or more each year? Because more and more families are working to change their finances, we have come up with some tried and true money-saving tips that you can apply to your cable or satellite television bill each month.
Money Saving Tips For Cable And Satellite Television
Get Rid of It: If we’re being honest, one of the best money-saving tips for your cable bill is to get rid of it entirely. Once you get rid of it, you’ll realize how much more time you have in your life and it can actually be kind of freeing. Although you may miss your shows, you might start being more present in life. We haven't cut ours completely because one of my boys is a sports nut & I haven't' figured out how to get them otherwise, but the majority of the shows and movies we enjoy, we can watch on Amazon Prime or Netflix.
Limit The Channels: Everyone knows they can save money on cable and satellite by limiting the amount of channels available. You can get the very basic channels and save a ton of money. However, the cable companies know what you want and they know you don’t want the very basic channels, but they’ll offer you this to keep you as a customer and hope to eventually get you to accept a higher package.
Switch Companies: I have saved a ton in the past by switching cable companies. There really aren’t a ton of options in my area, though, so I could only switch between 2 dish providers and one cable company. I’ve only done this when I was desperate to save some money on my cable bill. Honestly, with how much effort it takes to switch, you may want to use this as a last resort.
Use Alternatives: One of the popular money saving tips for your cable or satellite bill is to drop it and use an alternative viewing option. I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with Netflix and their ability to keep up with the cable channels. They offer exclusive shows on Netflix that you can’t find anywhere else. A brilliant way to save money on cable is to use things like Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix. While you may not get to see all of the shows you love, it’s a close second. You can also find many mainstream shows available for streaming on their network websites.
Call the Cable Company: I know everyone hates doing this, but it’s a great way to save money on cable. Calling the cable company and asking them to lower your bill is a genius idea. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve found that it works best if you’re not in a contract with them. They know that they hold a contract over you, so they are less likely to offer you a discount. Speaking of contracts. Sometimes, if those other channels are really important to you, negotiating is a good choice. You may be able to use your long standing history as a customer to get a new customer package price that includes deluxe channels for free or a discount for a select period of time.
Don’t Get Caught in a Contract with a Cable Company: The way cable companies get you is by making you sign a contract with them. They can raise your bill and there’s nothing you can do about it. And if you don’t think they will raise your bill without telling you, think again. They can be really sly.
While I love cable, it’s not worth the high price tag. I’d rather spend money on my kids doing things we love. Do you still have cable? Share some money saving tips of how you save money on cable in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you.
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