Tips to save on wireless/Internet/Cable - Basics 101 (Current July 2009)
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Location: God's own country
Posted on: 05-07-09 23:38:33
Hello CD's,
Being on EI and with limited income, I am compelled to make some drastic changes and would like Cd's to instruct me on the same cost cutting measures. My EI will end in Jan 2010 and the job market is not expected to create jobs until the later part of 2010 (optimistic forecast).
My expenses are as follows :
1. Rogers TV $ 30 a month. Already cancelled it. Any cheap alternatives. Just a few channels would do.
2. Bell phone : $ 40 a month (Basic line with voice mail)
3. Bell Internet (High speed) : $50 a month (High speed alternative is required for SAP system access, VPN connection etc...) - Is Primus Internet the same as Bell high speed?
4. SEARS long distance to India at a Flat $28 a month (I am looking to cancel this. Any alternatives?. Also I will not be needing the mandatory 800 mins. to India.)
5. FIDO prepaid cellphone card : $23 a month (Used for interview calls , personal calls while away from home). A cellphone is needed essentially by me.
6. 10-10-256 - (long distance to cellphone to India) - Around $ 12 a month
All this works to around $183 a month (incl. taxes). Can CD's suggest alternatives to bring it down?
I am sure that this post will act as a templete to other CD's who may otherwise not be aware as to how communications form a large part of expenses and how these communication / TV / Wireless companies
are just ripping us apart.
I really need your help as I continue to be in debt month after month. If only I can restrict all my bills to $80 to $100 a month (incl. TV), It would take me out of debt (atleast until I get / find a job)
All honest answers appriciated.
Peace by TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
1. Please try FTA channels . One time expense of $50/- to $100/- and you get 15 channels . Search 'FTA antenna' in charcha under my user id .
2. Try negotiating with Bell . Connections a Bell Agent provides home phone to me at $25/pm for 1st 12 months ......... I read somewhere , if you threaten to quit , they lower price / give better deal . Try and find if Rogers is offering a better deal and then negotiate .
3. Not sure if high speed is needed for VPN access . Try lowering your speed to 500 kbps for a couple of days and if there s no difference , why not use 500kbps . I use that , and find no impact on my browsing . Otherwise try Acanac.ca .
Yes Primus is Bell connectivity and they offer you home phone and internet for $40/- in a sweet deal . Alternatively you can try comwave and vonage which perhaps offer better savings wrt calling internationally . But they are VoIP
4. I switched from Sears to Call Select long time back as I could nt use the 800 mins .... plus CS charges me same rate of 3.9c/m variable to usage . I have observed that localphone and raza.com are offer 1.9c/m calling to India these days .
5.Virgin gives you 200 anytime min for $20/month and gives you a $5/- credit as well . You can always switch to a 30c/m plan when you wish to . Currently selling LG Rumor (a good phone ) for perhaps $50/ .. online .
6. CS charges 3.9c/m for both land line and cellphone to India .
I think every one should try and restrict their costs on these items and shop around . I didn't realize that I was getting lousy home phone from Rogers or 6mbps internet which I didn't need or cable TV which I could switch with an FTA antenna .
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Fido.
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My expenses are as follows :
1. Rogers TV $ 30 a month. Already cancelled it. Any cheap alternatives. Just a few channels would do.
2. Bell phone : $ 40 a month (Basic line with voice mail)
3. Bell Internet (High speed) : $50 a month (High speed alternative is required for SAP system access, VPN connection etc...) - Is Primus Internet the same as Bell high speed?
4. SEARS long distance to India at a Flat $28 a month (I am looking to cancel this. Any alternatives?. Also I will not be needing the mandatory 800 mins. to India.)
5. FIDO prepaid cellphone card : $23 a month (Used for interview calls , personal calls while away from home). A cellphone is needed essentially by me.
6. 10-10-256 - (long distance to cellphone to India) - Around $ 12 a month
1. FTA Antenna or free dish should work..one time expense.
2. Vonage Phone : $ 25 with all features : Call Vonage and tell them I am getting from primus or techsavvy phone line in 25$ they will lower. All longdistance US and canada free
3. Techsavvy High Speed : 30$ + dry loop 10$ = 40 and you get unlimitted no cap.
4. Localphone.com : 3.9 Cent per mintues and then depend on your usage.
5. Fido : $25 incoming free option is best. When you are not at home, you can forward on vonage your all call to fido and you can receive all home phone on the road as well.... also, when vonage dont work by any reason of internet or anything.. server still forward all calls to fido..and fido income its like our 2nd home line to not miss any calls.
You can also tell fido or rogers about your usage and if it is lower you can minimus.
Also, you can buy from craigslist...ppl selling their good plans..
I have MY5 plan with rogers all over canada only in 20 including tax...which they sells..40 + tax. I called 5 times to disconnect and they keep on lowering amount
check on craigslist ...very good plan people are selling.
Like me, Now I have my5 with rogers only in 20 $, if I had to disconnect I will sell someone.
6. You can use your localpone.com ..even to call from your cell phone to india. No need.
Total somewhere ... $100
For home phone dont use vonage.. u will face latency issues as it is a voip over internet
1. TV Over Use the air antenna , if u have a LCD/Plasma HD tv u can get 10-18 channels with great clarity
2. Rogers home Phone : Classic value plan 30$ plus tax, gives 800 free usa and canada long distance
3. Rogers Ultra lite internet : 30$ plus tax
4. Reliance india call for calling india.
5. FIDO prepaid cellphone card : $23 a month (Used for interview calls , personal calls while away from home). A cellphone is needed essentially by me.
6. 10-10-256 - (long distance to cellphone to India) - Around $ 12 a month
~100$
Quote:Dump the TV altogether, IMO
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
1. Rogers TV $ 30 a month. Already cancelled it. Any cheap alternatives. Just a few channels would do.
Quote:Too high.
2. Bell phone : $ 40 a month (Basic line with voice mail)
Some of their newer packages give you caller ID, call waiting and voice mail for much less than $40.
VM is expensive - if you are ok with just caller ID, you could get that package for $25.
And if you can live without any of these frills, just the basic phone is $19.99.
I can see from my bill that the montly total with taxes is $23 and change.
Quote:
3. Bell Internet (High speed) : $50 a month (High speed alternative is required for SAP system access, VPN connection etc...)
You can get cheaper alternatives.
Also, Bell's recent speed capped packages are cheaper too.
Some of them will qualify for a $5 discount if you sign a 2 year contract.
So just by staying with Bell, you can still come down to $45 including taxes.
Quote:$5 phone cards?
4. SEARS long distance to India at a Flat $28 a month (I am looking to cancel this. Any alternatives?. Also I will not be needing the mandatory 800 mins. to India.)
Quote:If you are getting into debt because of these utility bills, then you can't afford frills like voice mail and dish TV, IMO.
I really need your help as I continue to be in debt month after month. If only I can restrict all my bills to $80 to $100 a month (incl. TV), It would take me out of debt (atleast until I get / find a job)
Get rid of all of that stuff.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
For internet, try Teksavvy. Like another user said, you can get high speed DSL (5m/800k)for 29.95 + tax if you have regular phone line and without contract. There is also acanac which offers the highspeed internet for 18.95 (including tax) per month if you sign up for a year.
I use raza.com service for calling India. For 20 dollars you get close to 5 hours talk time and is normally good for us for atleast 2 months.
I also dont have cable or home phone(I pay 8 dollars extra on my internet to have the dry loop setup). I plan to get FTS receiver once the nagra 3 is cracked. I am currently using an internal antenna I bought from CC for less than 50 dollars which gets me most of the local channels. Hope this helps. Like the previous poster said, if you are feeling the pinch, try cutting down on extras.
Take care.
Assuming that "job" is your No.1 priority...
TV : Dump; as said by pratickm.
Cell: Use pay-as-you-go.
Long distance/India Calls: Use phone card or pay-as-you-use. Pay only for your usage. Control your usage.
Internet: Use local library. They have books too!
Once you get into the job you want, stick to this simple lifestyle.
