Cord cutting is a great way to save a ton of money and still watch the shows you enjoy. Several studies have shown that cord cutting can save you anywhere from $87 to over $100 a month. Yet it can be very scary to get started.
Today I want to break down 5 cord cutting tips to help new cord cutters get started.
#1 Don’t Rush into It
The number one mistake people make when they cut the cord is rushing. When you rush into cord cutting you add a lot of unneeded stress to the process.
Taking cord cutting slowly can help you avoid overpaying for services and devices. It can also help you avoid stress. So, long before you call to cancel your cable TV make sure to set up everything—from your antenna to streaming players. Test out different streaming services before canceling pay TV.
This way when you cancel your pay-TV provider you are not rushing out to buy any antenna you can find in hopes of watching your favorite show tonight. A little preparation will ensure that when you cancel cable TV you are set for your life as a cord cutter.
To help get the research started, check out our Cord Cutting Beginners Guide HERE.
#2 Only Subscribe When You Need That Service
Don’t worry about contracts. Unlike cable TV, there are no year-long contracts. You can add or drop subscriptions whenever you want. If you only want a live TV service for sports, only pay for it when your sport is on. Only want HBO for Game of Thrones? Then only subscribe when Game of Thrones is on.
By only subscribing to services when you use them you can easily save $100s every year. Don’t be afraid to get a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV only during football season for example.
#3 Don’t Get Tricked into Overpaying for Internet
Often when you downgrade to Internet only one of two things will happen. They will do their best to convince you to upgrade your Internet speed to a crazy high level or they will try to get you to bundle.
For a good streaming experience, you really only need 25 Mbps down. (But faster is nice.) So, don’t be tricked into the idea that you need a faster speed to stream your content.
Remember you can always upgrade to a faster Internet speed at a later date. Though if you find yourself overpaying it can be hard to get your Internet service provider to downgrade your speed to a cheaper new customer package.
Here are some tips to finding the right Internet speed for you.
#4 Shop Around for Internet
Sadly, your cable company could care less that you have been with them for 10 years. They won’t give you the best deal out there. If you want a good deal, you need to shop different service providers. I know many people think of DSL as slow, but for others DSL speeds will be the same or close to that of cable TV. Every few years I switch back and forth to make sure I get the best deal. They are always willing to welcome you back and will give you a deal you could never get if you stayed with them.
Now don’t just assume you don’t have options. For example, if you have AT&T home Internet, look into resellers like Toast.net. Also look to see if you have a wireless Internet service option. Very quickly wireless Internet options are rolling out.
Soon 5G home Internet options will be rolled out in many areas. Also, SpaceX and Amazon are both working on new Internet options from low earth orbit. SpaceX hopes to start selling home Internet later this year or early 2020. So, do some research and don’t just assume you know all of your Internet options.
#5 This Is Not Your Grandpa’s Antenna TV
You may remember your grandparents had an antenna back in the day and may have had three or four stations. Over-the-air TV has come a long way since then.
Now, on average, cord cutters get 30 channels including ABC, CW, CBS, FOX, and NBC 100% free! Wondering what you could get for free over the air? Check AntennaWeb to find out what you should pick up with an indoor or an outdoor antenna.
Do you have a cord cutting tip? Post it in the comments so everyone can learn about it.
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