As of 2019, 93% of households have internet access. More people than ever are using the internet. Getting good value for money is so important to millennials, especially when you consider how many things we have to pay for (even those who still live at home): there’s phone bills, subscriptions, insurance, rent or mortgage, etc. The cost of living has increased so much and so when it comes to something such as choosing the right home broadband provider, this decision is major. So what is the best broadband to get?
In this post, I’m going to be talking about things you will need to consider when you are searching for a good broadband deal:
Speed
There is nothing more frustrating than a slow broadband connection with poor average speeds. Remember dial up?! Slow broadband connections cut into our productivity and they make it difficult for us all to visit our favourite websites. And don’t even get me started on download v upload speed. Download speed is the rate at which data is transferred from the internet to the user’s device and upload speed is the rate that data is transferred from the user’s computer to the internet. When searching for the best broadband deal, the last thing you want is to spend half an hour trying to access an article that can be read in five minutes. Speed is unpredictable but providers who are signatories to the broadband speed codes of practice can give you a speed estimate on their website. Price comparison websites can also provide this information too in relation to your area.
Bundles
When it comes to choosing a broadband provider, you may find that it is cheaper to bundle your internet service with phone calls and even a TV subscription. You’ll need to do some research to figure out whether this is the right choice for you. Taking broadband, phone and a TV subscription from a single provider can prove to be more cost effective in the long run. It’s also more convenient to have one bill that you can keep track of. Additionally, if you are going to get ‘the big three’ from any service provider, then don’t be afraid to negotiate. Say that you’ve come across another provider offering a cheaper deal. No business wants to lose a potential customer so they will do all they can to ensure you are getting the best service possible.
Customer recommendations
Probably one of the most sought after means of information after word of mouth, recommendations are everything. You never really know what something will be like until you hear from others and you eventually try it yourself. Everyone will have had their own unique experience with a broadband provider so it’s always worth reading reviews online in order to find the best cheap broadband deal for you. If similar issues, such as connectivity, have been mentioned more than once then it’s probably not a good idea to choose that provider. There are also broadband comparison websites that will do all the hard work for you including price comparisons for providers. Customer service can go a long when it comes to choosing broadband services – how will they handle a problem?
Any additional charges
Once you have agreed to use a broadband provider, they will send you an agreement. Agreements, as important as they are, still aren’t read thoroughly by a lot of us. When you are signing an agreement that you are going to be bound by for a significant amount of time, reading every single thing is necessary. For example: if you sign an 18-month contract with a broadband provider and by the 12th month, the prices have gone up. Was there a clause in your agreement that stated this would happen? If you are someone who struggles to understand the terms of an agreement, ask someone you know to explain it to you. Alternatively, you can make Google your best friend and get everything simplified. Make sure you check your contract length and have there are any penalties to pay should you need to cancel before the contract is up.
Learn the lingo
To add to the last point, understand what you are getting into once you agree to use a broadband provider. Research has shown that almost half of the UK’s broadband users don’t understand the words that providers use when they are promoting their deals. If you don’t know your upload speeds from your download speeds and your megabits from megabytes, then it’s definitely worth doing your homework. You’ll be able to make a more informed decision if you are clued up on the kind of language that providers like to use.
Pay for what you need
There’s no point in paying for unlimited broadband if there is a cheaper package with a limit that is sufficient for how you use the internet. The more benefits you agree to, the more money you will spend. The type of broadband package you will go for is dependent on a number of factors such as the number of people who live in your home, for example. It’s highly likely that every individual who lives with you will need internet access. Ensuring you go for a broadband package that is compatible with your online activity is essential.
Do you have any tips on how to get cheap broadband deals? If you do, then please do share them by leaving a comment below xo
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