I get questions all of the time regarding how can I save money at home using various technologies and so forth. This is my current set-up for my (TechieRN) house and hope this helps you in designing your set-up too.
All I can say is that I had bad experiences using Verizon and wanted to find a way to not use their services and not give them any more money, so the game was on for me to try and figure how to save money on my Phone, Internet and Cable bills and not use Verizon. In the same way; all of the BIG companies like Verizon, Comcast and the list goes on, use bundling such as Phone, Internet and Cable all for one “low” price but there is nothing “low” about it. If you don’t mind going “a la cart” you will find that this article might save you big $$ over the long haul.
Ok so here we go:
How to save money on your Internet Bill
Like stated previously I do not use anything Verizon therefore I used Earthlink but it is actually Spectrum (Broadband) but since I used Earthlink, it is significantly lower priced for the same speed and service you would get with other comparable services but please note you will need a broadband connection to use VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services like Ooma (mentioned below) because DSL will not work with VOIP unless technology has changed since the writing of this but check with your internet service provider before ordering a VOIP service please. In case you were wondering, I prefer Broadband cable over DSL as a rule because of the speed and flexibility it gives me even though Verizon and other companies would argue that point, this is my stage not theirs.
How to save money on your (Landline) Phone and (Landline) Phone bill
Most companies including Verizon now use a technology called VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology and basically this means your phone now uses your internet for making and receiving calls. I tried using Vonage for a while but found I had to sign a yearly contract to get the lower price and found this price became too expensive plus they messed up a few of my bills, so I decided to use a different company.
The company I have used in the past is called Ooma and I have had them now for about 4 years and I have been 100% happy with them and would highly recommend them to you. Are there any catch 22’s? No, unless you mind purchasing the Ooma box which will set you back about $200 up front and monthly regulatory fees under $5. Ooma also does offer a Premier account for about $10 per month if you wish some extra bells and whistles but I just stick with the free service which includes Caller ID, Voicemail, Call Forwarding and a slew of other features. Some people have also done away with their Landline all together by choosing to only use their cell phones but we prefer to have Landline and Cell service both especially at the low cost.
In the same way; if you are interested in a more in depth view of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology, I would recommend an article by my online acquaintance John Hawthorne over at The Network Union website and his article titled “A Simple Guide To Buying A VoIP System” by: Robert Sturt.
How to save money on your Cable Bill
Ok I have to admit that I was a DISH Network subscriber; however if it weren’t for a few various factors (including my wife would have my head if she could not DVR her favorite programs) I would “cut the cord” so to speak. I do own a ROKU though and it provides hundreds of channels including subscription ones like Netflix and Hulu plus and I also have a PLEX account/channel and app that allows me to view media from my PC or Mac. ROKU is a small box that allows me view internet content from my standard or HD TV and a person could “cut the cable cord” allowing them the view hundreds if not thousands of TV content by purchasing a ROKU, price ranges from $49-$99.
Well, there you have it, I hope you are able to save some money with my advice and I hope I made your life simpler, more enjoyable as well.