Arranging internet and TV? Don't fall into these traps

We really can't do without a good connection at home these days, because whether you work from home or want to enjoy Netflix at night, everything runs on wifi. Yet you are often shocked when you see what will be debited from your bill every month for that package, especially if you haven't looked at your contract for years. Many people stick with the same provider out of habit or fear of hassle, when it is actually a waste of money because loyal customers are rarely rewarded. In fact, new customers often get great gifts or substantial discounts that you as an existing subscriber can whistle for, so it really pays to take a critical look every now and then to make sure you are still in the right place.

Don't pay for air

The first thing you should do is take an honest look at what you really need at home, because providers like to try to sell you the very highest speed with nice talk about gigabits. If you live alone and mainly send some e-mails or read the news, you really don't need a superfast and expensive fibre package that you pay the highest price for. If, on the other hand, you live with a large family full of gaming teenagers all streaming at the same time, a slow connection is asking for trouble and frustration at home. So go ahead and compare internet online to see what speeds are available at your specific address, because not every postcode already has access to the superfast fibre network and sometimes cable is a great alternative.

Do you still need that TV?

You used to take an extensive channel package with your connection as standard, but be honest: how often do you still watch those 30 channels you never put on? More and more people only watch via apps like Netflix, Videoland or YouTube and don't really need that old-fashioned TV box at all anymore. If you get rid of that decoder and opt for an 'internet only' package, it often makes an immediate difference of a few tens of euros per month that you can keep in your pocket. If you still like to watch live football, Formula 1 or the eight o'clock news, a combined internet and TV subscription is often cheaper than arranging everything separately with different services, so take some time to work out what is the smartest option for your viewing behaviour.

Smart combining with your mobile phone

A very simple way to save money that many people forget is to combine your mobile phone with your home subscription. In fact, almost all major providers give you hefty perks and customer benefits if you bundle everything with one party. You then often get lasting discounts on your bill every month, free extra channel packages or double data for on your smartphone, which is of course a nice bonus. It really is a waste to miss out on those benefits, so always check if your mobile provider also provides packages for home at your address.

Afraid of being without wifi

The biggest reason why people are afraid to switch is the fear of being without internet for days on end, because nobody wants to be cut off from the outside world these days. That fear is fortunately unnecessary, as there is a handy switching service that seamlessly handles this for you between providers. The new provider will only terminate your old contract once the new connection is actually working, so you are not actually offline for a single moment during the switch. So you hardly have to do anything yourself except plug in the new modem on the agreed day. Grab your contract today and switch to a deal that does suit you.