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7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill

By U.S. News & World Report

Whether you’re binge-watching shows on Netflix or just trying to keep up with your friends on Facebook, a good home internet connection is a necessity. Unfortunately, many people get tricked into thinking that they have to carry a bloated cable bundle in order to score affordable internet service. However, the truth is that you can cut the cord from cable and still get affordable internet service. Here are several ways to trim your bill.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

1. Arm yourself with competitor prices. The easiest way to lower your internet bill is to do your homework. Use a price comparison tool, such as the one at CutCableToday, to compare internet service providers, also called ISPs, in your area. Find out how much each ISP charges for standalone internet. Armed with that price information, contact your current provider and let the customer service representative know what the competition is charging. Your provider doesn’t want to lose your business, so it might be willing to offer you the same deal to keep you as a customer.

2. Check on promos. If promotional pricing is available, you may be eligible for a temporary price break. This could give you six months or even a year of a lower price on your account. Often, you can renegotiate this deal when your promotional price is ending.

[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]

3. Lower your speed. You might think that it’s best to get the internet package with the highest possible speed, but for most homes a high-speed account ends up being a waste of money. For example, when you’re streaming Netflix, you only need around 5 megabits per second, or mbps, per stream. So, if you have two people in the same home watching Hulu and Netflix at the same time, you’d need about 10 mbps. Most homes can get away with between 20 and 30 mbps of internet speed.

4. Keeping cable? Consider the bundle. Cable companies love to tell you that you save money with bundle offers, but that isn’t necessarily the case. A lot of the time, people end up with more than they need or want in a bundle, and it costs them more than it would’ve if they’d just ordered the basics of what they wanted. However, there are some fair deals out there if you search carefully. Just remember, the quoted price often leaves out hidden fees, so ask for the price with everything included. Also, consider what your bundle price will be once the promotional period ends.

5. Get your own modem and router. When you sign up for service, your equipment is given to you, but it’s important to realize that you don’t own the equipment … you’re renting it. Your modem/router combination will cost you around $10 per month. So, if you buy your own modem, you can shave that price from your bill. You’ll likely find yourself spending around $150 to get your own modem and router, so it will take you about a year to realize the savings.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

6. Threaten to cancel. Whether you plan to cancel or not, sometimes suggesting that you will is enough to get your internet bill lowered. Most major telecommunications companies have specific customer service departments that focus on keeping their customers. It’s these agents that have the power to offer you discounts, special deals or even lower your bill. In many cases, they want your business bad enough that they’ll buckle to keep it. So when you call, ask for the retention department.

7. Use a bill negotiation service. Don’t feel like calling and negotiating? There are several services out there that will help to negotiate your bills, so you can get a lower price. The process is pretty simple — you send them your bills, and they call and renegotiate on your behalf. If they save you money, they charge you a percentage of your savings. If they can’t you don’t pay. There’s really nothing to lose.

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7 Ways to Save Money on Your Internet Bill originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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