Since technology is such an important and large part of our current lives, I needed to do two blog posts on it. Please check out Stripping Away Technology (part 1), 3/21/21 for the topics of smart phones, computers, and software/apps. As mentioned, technology is a wonderful thing that has changed our lives and the world forever. However, since technology costs (outlay and monthly) can be so high, it is so important if we can help our household cut expenses in this category.
INTERNET
The Internet is a phenomenal tool of technology that has allowed us to “connected” to our friends/family and all over the world. I went to undergraduate school when there was no Internet and did things the old-fashioned way. I spent hours in the library hunched over books doing research. Only 5 years later, I attended graduate school when the Internet was omnipresent. The whole college experience was completely different AND BETTER. It made research and studying, in general, so much easier. Not only was it easy to do research, but also easier to contact other students any time of the day or night for questions about a team project. Everyone was “connected.”
If you are extremely tight for money, you CAN do without an Internet connection. I know, I know, it’s almost sacrilegious to say that, but it is possible. The library is a wonderful source for Internet access that is FREE. Yes, I’ll say it again. FREE. You can get free email from Gmail and yahoo, as well as others. There are also Internet cafes around large cities. If your money is so tight that you’re not able to pay your bills, cut your home Internet and try to access WIFI areas around your city—most restaurants and coffee shops have free WIFI. It may be a slight inconvenience, but you can probably save up to thousands of dollars per year. Even if you only do this temporarily, it will make a huge difference in your bottom line.
If you choose to have an Internet connection, you still can choose a low-cost provider. Check out https://www.allconnect.com/internet/cheap to find one close to your area. Another savings could be choosing a lower amount of Mbps. It may be slower, but you’ll still have access and availability. In addition, you can choose the cheaper provider. So many people are now working from home it may be possible that your employer is willing to cover the cost of your connection or at least part of it. You can’t get something if you don’t ask for it. The worst thing they can say is no, but…they could say yes.
Your Internet bill is another line-item expense that you should evaluate at least once a year. Programs are updated and more competitors may pop up. Always check to see that you’re still getting the best deal and have the best program. Typically, many providers also bundle items like phone and cable, so you may get a price break by getting all services from one provider versus separate ones.
CABLE/SATELLITE
I remember when cable became available in our area. It was 1982 and I was 12 years old. I thought it was the best thing in the world. Pre-cable, there were so many nights when I woke up to “snow” on the TV after the star-spangled banner had played. Those days are long gone. What do you think? Is cable a necessity? I think some would say yes and others would say no. I was consulting a friend who was about to lose her home to foreclosure and she still wasn’t ready to give up her cable. She talked about it being her only escape and entertainment. Some people don’t feel as dedicated to cable as she was.
We personally didn’t have cable from 1998 to 2008. No one could believe that we didn’t have cable. Did we miss it? Surprisingly, not too much. There were a few times of the year (March Madness NCAA playoffs and during football season) that I wish we had cable, but rarely. We watched the main channels as well as a lot of videos and DVD’s during that time frame. It helped that we had young children who didn’t really care about current and pop culture. The money we saved by not having cable overshadowed the fact that we missed it a couple times a year. Also, we had several friends with either cable or satellite and we could always go to their house to watch big sporting games or go to the local bar.
Many people are giving up cable/satellite nowadays due to the high cost. They are cutting the cord and using Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Disney+ and other streaming devices. The younger generation rarely even watches on a traditional TV. They are now watching on tablets and other mobile devices. Many even use a TV, like Roku TV, just for streaming. We are lucky enough to have cable included with our HOA (home owner’s association) that we have to pay regardless if we use cable or not. If you have a large community, you may check to see if that’s a possibility with a specific provider. If not, you may also decide to ditch the cable altogether. Even many local channels can be streamed nowadays. If you are adamant in keeping your cable, make sure you review the channel options and keep it to the lowest packages. You can save hundreds of dollars per year by just keeping the base package. Cable is also one of the items that you need to revisit annually to make sure that you’re still on the right plan for you and the needs of your family. Even if you want to stay on your current plan, you can express that you are struggling with the cost and they may be willing to negotiate with you. As a customer, you do have power.
TELEPHONE
We already touched on cellular phones, but now let’s handle your home telephone line. We haven’t had a home phone for 7 years. Most families don’t even have them anymore. I think we “technically” have a home phone to get a bundle discount, but we don’t even know the number. If you still currently have a home phone, check with your provider if you can save money but getting rid of it. If not, no harm, no foul. Keep it if you get a bundling discount. The benefit of having your cellular phone for your main contact is that you don’t have to worry about multiple numbers and it’s portable when you go anywhere—including if you move. No needing to notify everyone about a phone number change.
Technology is definitely here to stay and constantly evolving. Try choosing an older version of the latest and greatest equipment and waiting until a new version comes out to get the older version on the cheap. One of the biggest monthly expenses in a home can be technology, so definitely keep a sharp eye on the expenses and always be on the lookout of any deals or specials. Certain times of the year are better to buy technology. For example: TVs before the Superbowl. There is generally a cycle when items tend to be cheaper. Check out this link about items to purchase in which month to get the best deals. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/what-to-buy-every-month
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