Bundle Your Services
Research available service providers in your area. Many areas only have a single cable provider, with access to satellite programming and possible two or three Internet providers. Know your options first, and then compare the services.
Select a provider based on your specific interests, whether that be television programming, Internet speeds or phone features.
Contact the provider to inquire about new customer specials. Almost all providers offer a promotional period where services are billed at a significantly lower rate than regular price for a determined number of months. When evaluating plans, be sure to consider the price after the discount has expired, especially if the provider requires a service contract. Also, determine if there are any additional fees associated with breaking a contract. A low introductory price may seem enticing, but back-end fees could end up costing more in the long run.
Transition to Internet Phone
Cancel your phone service. Internet-based phone companies offer telephone service powered by your Internet connection at a rate far below traditional phone plans.
Research the suggested Internet speed by the Internet phone provider. If you need to upgrade your Internet speed, compare pricing to make sure the investment is still saving money. In general, the cost difference between Internet phone service and traditional phone service should be greater than the cost to upgrade one level of Internet speed. In the event that the upgrade cost exceeds that of the discount, then the switch does not make financial sense.
Evaluate your Internet connection. The major liability of Internet phone service is that it relies upon your Internet service to work. Rural customers with spotty Internet service may not want to transition to Internet phone service, as they may frequently experience outages.
Remove Landline
Evaluate the cell phone service at your residence. Many families, especially young adults, have decided to forgo landline service, instead opting to use cell phones at home. The downfall of this strategy is that it requires you to have a strong cell phone signal at home.
Turn on your cell phone and walk around the interior of your home. Keep an eye on the signal meter to see which areas of your home have reception problems. If you find that much of your home has trouble maintaining cell phone coverage, you may want to consider a cell phone booster.
Cancel your landline phone service. If your cell phone provider offers Internet and television, call to see if it has any bundles that substitute wireless phone service for landline connections.