Brought to you by Primus - a smart choice for your Internet and Home Phone services.
Sometimes it’s worth it to switch. If it’s painless and there’s more than one company offering a service, why not do a little research, see who offers the best inexpensive service, and shop around? Often, switching from a big brand to a smaller one can save you money because the bigger brand doesn’t feel the need to compete for your business. In fact, the Canadian Government’s competition bureau says that Canadians can save $1,860 each year by switching from expensive telecom, insurance, and banking plans to cheaper ones. Where can you save some money?
Internet
When it comes to cheaper Internet, there are a couple of approaches.
First, consider a new provider. It’s easy to get stuck on one of the big names in the business, but smaller providers such as Primus operate in more areas than you’d think and can offer better plans and bundles.
Second, be sure you’re getting as much speed and data as you need. It is always worthwhile to figure out what you need in terms of speed and data and then upgrade or switch to a better Internet plan. The more streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and other internet-heavy activities you do, the more speed you’ll want.
For example, if you measure your home Internet usage (see above linked article) and find out that your two-person, six-device household really only uses about 120 Mbps at a time, a 150 Mbps plan is probably good enough for you. An upgrade might be nice if the price difference to a better plan isn’t too big, but there’s no need to go overboard. A 1 Gbps plan is the Cadillac of Internet plans, but if your provider charges a lot more for it and you don’t need all the extra speed, why pay all the extra cash?
By contrast, if you have the super-discounted 50 Mbps plan and you’re struggling with issues, it can be worth upgrading. After all, low speed can impact your quality of life—especially if you’re working from home.
Switch to the best possible Internet plan as soon as you can—it’ll take a load off your mind.
TV
Like Internet, TV service is easy to sign up for and then forget about—only to find out many years later that you’re paying too much for an outdated package. Take a look at the new plans your current provider might be offering, and also check what other providers are advertising. Keep in mind that smaller providers such as Primus can offer the exact same content as the bigger players at a lower rate.
TV services can also be more inexpensive when you bundle them with other digital services like Internet and home phone. Why save on only one front when you can save on three at once?
Home Phone
Home phone services are still useful but shouldn’t cost much. You should only spend around $20 or less a month. Or you should bundle your home phone with other services like TV and Internet.
Cell Phone
Especially if you have a family plan with multiple numbers, it’s worthwhile to call other providers and see what deals they can offer. Keep in mind that smaller wireless providers, such as Primus, may offer better plans and add-ons than bigger companies. It’s always worth it to shop around and see what you can save.
Landscaping
There are lots of small businesses offering landscaping services, so you can get a deal by shopping around. Be sure to ask your neighbours who they use. Not only will you get good referrals, but you might get a decent offer from a company that wouldn’t mind more business in the neighbourhood.
Snow Removal
Same deal as landscaping. Be sure to ask your neighbours and local businesses who they use. You might find that there’s a snow removal company out there wanting to make it more worthwhile to be in your neighbourhood, so they’ll be happy to have you as a client.
Home Cleaning
There are lots of cleaning services out there. Why not pay for a one-time cleaning from each prospect on your shortlist and get the best possible person?
Streaming
You can’t call up Netflix and get a deal. But what you can do is pay for the service for a month or so, watch what you need, and then cancel Netflix and activate another streaming service such as Disney+. If you’re one of those people who really wants content from a lot of streaming services but can’t justify paying for seven or eight of them at a time, just start switching month to month (or so). You’ll get all your content in and not pay through the nose for it.
Home Insurance
It pays to do your homework when it comes to home insurance. Ensure you understand what’s covered, collect quotes, and make sure the salesperson you’re speaking with understands that you’re collecting quotes from others—don’t rush into a decision. With the right amount of patience, you can probably switch to a more affordable plan.
