Business

Get More for Less: Learn How to Save Money On High-Speed Internet

Published

11 months ago

July 1, 2021

admin

These days, internet access is a necessity. In the pandemic, everyone was online to order groceries, work from home, and go to school online.

The one thing that was apparent was that we’re facing an affordability crisis. That’s because high-speed internet is expensive in the U.S. compared to the rest of the world. America ranks 119th of 206 countries, with an average bill of $50.

That’s not going to change anytime soon. You can’t just cut the cord the same way you can with your cable company. You either have to find ways to lower your internet bill or pay a very high bill.

Don’t fret because we’re going to show you what you need to do to get that lower internet bill with the right internet service provider (ISP).

Are you ready to learn how to do it?

Let’s get to it!

Table of Contents

1 1. Your Internet Needs
2 2. Look at Your Last Internet Bill
3 3. Test Your Internet Speeds
4 4. Find Promotions in Your Area
5 5. Bundle Services
6 6. Contact Your ISP
7 7. Sign Up for Government Programs
- 7.1 Lower Your High-Speed Internet Bill

1. Your Internet Needs

You might be paying for too much broadband. Look at how you use the internet and how many devices are connected at the same time.

If you live alone and connect a few devices at the same time, you should be fine with 30Mpbs. That’s plenty for streaming, gaming, music, and browsing.

On the other hand, a full house of people and devices demands much more. You might want to invest in fiber optic internet to get more bandwidth so everyone can stream at the same time.

2. Look at Your Last Internet Bill

If you’re like most people, you don’t look at your internet bill. That’s because internet service providers encourage customers to use automatic withdrawal and electronic billing.

Do you know what you’re paying for? Probably not. This is the time to take the mystery out of this expense. You’ll be able to see what you’re really spending and for what.

Your internet bill will have a number of line items. There’s an equipment rental fee if you use the ISP’s router and modem. There are other taxes and fees, most of which you can’t do anything about.

Look at your internet package itself. It should say what your bandwidth is and how much you pay for that package.

Some providers also have data caps. Look at this carefully because if you exceed your data limits, you’ll see a number of extra charges on your bill.

3. Test Your Internet Speeds

Now that you looked at your internet bill, you should know how much speed your internet actually delivers. Be prepared to discover that you’re likely getting less than what you’re paying for.

You want to run a few internet tests on different devices. Use speedtest.net or the ISP’s internet speed testing site.

Your bill says that you’re paying for 100 Mbps, but the reality is that you’re likely seeing half of those speeds. That’s because you have a wireless router that filters the signal from your modem to your wireless devices.

Connect a computer to your router via ethernet cable. Run the tests again. You’ll be able to get a more accurate assessment of your internet speeds.

You can take the test a step further to see if there are variations at different times of the day. Keep a record of your tests and internet speeds. You can take this to your ISP to negotiate a better deal.

4. Find Promotions in Your Area

There may be very few internet service providers in your area, but they are competitive. They often run promotions to get you to switch providers.

Check your current ISP contract to see if you’re under a special promotional plan. Many ISPs give you a discount for 12 months, but charge the full rate for another year. They charge a penalty fee if you change companies.

5. Bundle Services

Most high-speed internet companies offer so much more than just an internet connection. You can often get phone and cable TV through a singular provider.

At the very least, phone and internet are bundled together at a discount. A great example of a bundle is Windstream Internet Service.

These discounts are usually for new customers, but most companies will let you bundle your services to keep you as a customer.

Like with other promotions, you have to be aware of when the promotional discounts end, and what the full price is.

6. Contact Your ISP

If you find it too painful to research ISPs in your area and sign up with a new provider, you can contact your current ISP to lower your bill.

If the ISP has great customer service, they’re flexible. Their interest is to keep you as a customer, so they might be able to roll your account into another promotional program.

7. Sign Up for Government Programs

The pandemic caused a lot of financial upheaval for so many families. State and federal governments responded with a number of ways to help people get through difficult times.

The media did a great job covering stimulus checks and small business loans. Did you know that there are programs for high-speed internet bills?

If you qualify as a low-income household, you can get $50 off of your internet bill through the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. It’s a program run by the FCC to help people get access to the internet.

If you qualify for this program, you may get a $100 subsidy towards the purchase of a new computer or tablet.

A separate program called the Lifeline benefit can reduce your phone and internet bill by $10 a month.

Lower Your High-Speed Internet Bill

You have to save money in every possible area of your life to meet your financial goals. High-speed internet often costs a lot more than it should, and you can lower your internet bill.

You need to analyze what your current internet needs and speeds are. Look at promotions in your area and see what your current service provider can do for you. If you meet resistance, it might be time for a new ISP.

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll like the other financial and lifestyle articles on this site. Check them out today!

Business

5 Incredible Benefits of Hiring a Personal Chef

Published

5 days ago

May 17, 2022

Akshay Sharma

Did you know that studies show Americans eat 5.8 times a day when they’re at home?

There’s nothing wrong with that, but we know that eating healthy requires planning. And that gets complicated when you’re trying to do it all every day.

That’s where a personal chef comes in! It lets you get great food without the hassle of planning so you can enjoy it. Still not convinced?

Then read what’s below, there are tons of benefits of hiring a personal chef.

Table of Contents

1 1. Convenience
2 2. Flexibility
3 3. Customize Meals
4 4. Nutritional Benefits
5 5. Cost-effectiveness
6 Hire A Personal Chef Now!

1. Convenience

Hiring a personal chef is very convenient. Especially for those who are living with a lot of people and those who are always busy.

It is convenient for them as they don’t need to cook or buy food anymore. If you hire a personal chef from cuisinecrafters.net it will be easy for you to eat meals every day.

2. Flexibility

The benefits of having a personal chef don’t only apply to you. It also applies to the personal chefs.

Because their work is very flexible. They have the opportunity to tend to their personal needs. They can also cook comfortably because they are working from home.

This is also a good thing for you. Because, as an employer, you also have to consider employees’ needs.

3. Customize Meals

A personal chef can help you customize your meals to your specific dietary needs and tastes.

They can also help you save time by doing the grocery shopping, cooking, and cleanup for you. Besides, a personal chef can provide an added element of fun and excitement to your meals by trying new recipes and cooking styles.

4. Nutritional Benefits

A personal chef can help you eat healthier. This is beneficial for people who live alone.

Because sometimes after work at dinner time they might not have the energy for home cooking. So they would prefer to eat ready-made food.

Yet, most ready-made foods are not healthy. So, a personal chef can prepare you a healthy meal.

5. Cost-effectiveness

Hiring a personal chef will also be beneficial for your budget. Because the cost of your meal will be related to its effectiveness. The quality of your meal may also relate to your cost-effectiveness.

Your personal chef will be the one in charge of your groceries so they will be part of the cost.

Costs will also differ on how big your meal is. For example, when you have a dinner party. The amount of food that will be cooked will also affect the cost.

Add-ons usually increase the cost of your meal. Yet, the cost of a personal chef is indeed worth it.

Hire A Personal Chef Now!

If you’re looking for a way to improve your quality of life. Hiring a personal chef is a great option. A personal chef can help you save time and money, as well as improve your health and well-being.

Contact the best personal chef today. Learn more about how they can help you live a healthier, happier life!

What are you waiting for? Hire a personal chef now!

To find more great tips on personal chef services. As well as other great homes, finance, travel, and technology articles. Check out our blog page today!

Business

How Do I Choose the Best Junk Removal Company in My Local Area?

Published

4 weeks ago

April 27, 2022

admin

Over 11,000 junk removal companies operate in about 14,000 locations in the United States. The many options make choosing the best junk removal company a daunting task.

Professional junk removal might be an effective way of getting rid of all that excess clutter and saving you time and hassle. Sadly, nothing is more aggravating than dealing with junk removal companies who fail to keep their promises when it comes to moving.

However, the secret here is to choose the best junk removal company in order to get the service you require.

Keep reading to learn the tips for hiring a good junk removal company.

Table of Contents

1 Equipment and Supplies
2 Research
3 Reputation
4 Hire a Junk Removal Company

Equipment and Supplies

Like other professional cleaners, junk removal experts must have the right work equipment. The right junk removal equipment saves both the company and clients time.

Many pieces of junk removal equipment and supplies are costly. So, hiring an equipped junk removal company will save you a lot of cash.

There are several types of junk removal equipment to check out. The first category is transportation equipment. Commercial and residential junk removal companies should have dump trucks and trailers.

Shovels, garbage bags, safety work gloves, and trash buckets are other supplies to consider. Such equipment and supplies also protect the workers from injuries and other safety risks.

Research

Proper due diligence is fundamental when hiring junk removal services. Good research will help you know the status of the company you intend to hire. You will know if the company is reputable and reliable.

There are things you should research about. One of them is the services provided by junk removal companies. The services depend on the types of junk the company removes.

Examples of junk are expired food, damaged furniture/appliances, and miscellaneous scrap. You can hire Stress Free Junk Hauling, a reputable company that can help you get rid of any junk from your place.

Ensure that you also research the company’s expertise. Hire a company with well-trained people who do their jobs safely.

Reputation

You should hire a company you can trust and rely on. Get recommendations from your neighbors or other businesses that have hired the services before. Ask them about the prices charged for junk removal services.

You should also know if the company you’re hiring is environmentally conscious. An environmentally conscious expert will not damage your surrounding environment.

The company’s online reviews will also enlighten you about its reputation. Reputable junk removal companies do not have a trend of negative reviews/testimonials.

Authentic junk removal companies also have legal certifications. Licensing proves that the company has well-trained workers and follows the OSHA guidelines.

Hire a Junk Removal Company

A lot of junk will reduce your residential or commercial house’s curb appeal. Clutter can also reduce your place’s space, causing disorganization. Hiring a reputable junk removal company will help you get rid of waste in an efficient way.

Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed reading this article. Check out the other blogs for more information on business products & services.

Business

Ways to Prepare for Retirement

Published

4 weeks ago

April 23, 2022

admin

It’s always a good idea to start preparing for retirement early. One main part of this process will be to ensure you have your finances in order. It will always be best not to put this off too long and plan well in advance so that you start looking forward to a retirement that will allow you a lifestyle that you can enjoy. Author of the bestselling book Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey, lays out for us a financial plan that can help us out when preparing for retirement.

The 7 Baby Steps and financial planning do’s and don’t from Dave Ramsey are set out here below:

Step 1: Set aside $1,000 to start off your emergency fund.

$1,000 is a great amount since it should cover the cost of any emergency. This will help prevent you from falling into debt and ensure you can stay on track with your retirement savings plan.

Step 2: Pay off your debts, aside from your mortgage, using the snowball method. Start off with your smallest debt first and work your way towards paying off your biggest ones.

Step 3: Put away between three and six months worth of expenses in your emergency fund. You’ll want to try and increase your savings to a sufficient level so that if any emergency does come your way that you’ll need to make a payment for, you’ll have the funds to do so.

The reason why it’s good to have three to six months’ worth of expenses saved is that not only will it mean you’ll be well covered in case of an emergency, but it will also return you better on your investment.

Step 4: Invest 15% of your total household income into your fund. It will be within your best interest to start preparing for your retirement as soon as you begin employment. Save into an IRA retirement account and invest in EFTs, mutual funds, and index funds.

Step 5: Invest money into an account and plan for the future of your children’s education. If you have children, start saving for their college funds. Just make sure to plan this well so as not to leave yourself short for your retirement. By balancing them, both you and your children will be well looked after and can enjoy your future plans for life ahead.

Step 6: Finalize your mortgage payments sooner. By making mortgage payments early, you can enjoy financial freedom later. Imagine the flexibility that can come with having more money in your retirement fund for when you finish off your career, while being able to invest more into your children’s college funds too.

Step 7: Watch your funds grow. Now, you can reap the benefits of watching your retirement fund build more quickly while having more savings become available to you.

Final Words

As shown here, preparing for your retirement can come easy by putting a few simple steps in place.

To recap, these are:

Save $1,000 for starting your emergency fund.

Pay off your debts.

Add savings into your emergency fund.

Invest 15% of your household income.

Save for your children’s education.

Pay off your mortgage early.

See your savings grow.

By following Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps, you can watch your funds grow bigger while planning your finances better for later. That way, you can enjoy your retirement the way you’ve always wanted and can have more flexibility when your time at work has come to an end.