|
 | |
Gems of Consumer Wisdom
Health • Safety • Financial Freedom |
|
|
How To Slash Monthly Bills
|
Lower Those Monthly Bills
Question Your Phoning Costs. The site
most recommended by consumer advocates is SaveOnPhone.com. They compare and rate a wide range of
phone companies. A good second choice
is the Cognigen Rates Calculator. You can
also check for better rates on cell phone costs, and perhaps lower
your local phone bill by switching to a measured-rate plan.
Satellite TV Is Now Practical.
Satellite TV can
be installed almost anywhere nowadays, even apartments
and condos. Dish Network starts at
$19.99 per month. Installation is free
and you'll receive a credit on your bill of $100 ($200 if you sign up for HDTV.)
If you sign up today, you'll also receive a free digital video recorder
and a free movie channel package for the first three months.
DirecTV starts at $29.99 per month.
Those prices are for 40-channel packages; most people
will choose to pay about $40 to get more channels at either
site.
Explore Your Internet Alternatives.
Here are three ways to save big:
|
|
| 1. DSL Service. |
Broadband DSL is available in almost all non-rural areas from Verizon
DSL for about $18/month. Their
site says "$14.99 per month" but in practice their taxes and
surcharges will tack on a few more dollars. Apply online and
get a $25 Target gift card and your first 30 days free, with modem included.
A survey by J. D. Power (article) shows that Verizon DSL's
customer satisfaction is significantly higher than average.
|
| 2. Cheap Dial-Up. |
Sites that offer unlimited dial-up service for about $10 per month include
NetZero,
PeoplePC and
Netscape. A survey by J. D. Power
(article) shows that consumer satisfaction is highest for PeoplePC.
|
| 3. Free Dial-Up. |
Free dial-up service is unusual now, but it's still available from
Juno.com.
You can also use your local library.
|
|
(Next Gem: Insurance Today)
|
|
 |
| | |
Life