11 Easy Ways to Slash Your Broadband & Home Phone Bills

More than ever before, our homes have become a media hub of activity. So if digital TV, phone and broadband are a must for you here's how do you find the best deal to make sure you’re not paying over the odds.

Here are 11 easy ways that you can make substantial savings on the cost of your broadband and landline without too much effort! :

1. Decide: Do you need a landline phone?

Checking when and where you call is a must when it comes to paying as little as possible for your landline.

If you only receive incoming calls then go for a landline-only deal, if you only call in the evening or on weekends then there's no point paying for an 'anytime' call package - get an evening & weekends landline package and you'll see big savings.

If you get unlimited calls with your mobile contract then you could save significantly by simply using your mobile instead!

2. Consider: Do you really need unlimited broadband?

Ask yourself, does your usage really warrant paying for an unlimited package or could you make do with a more basic option?

Unless you regularly download movies, stream content or use your computer for online gaming you may find that unlimited downloads would go unused and cost you more than you actually need.

Check your current broadband usage over the course of a month (you should be able to get this information from your broadband provider), compare it to the download allowance you get on your current deal, and switch if you're paying for bandwidth you're not using.

3. Try: Using VOIP to make free calls

VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is a great way to save money on calls whether you're dialing people in the UK or abroad.

Most VOIP services let you make computer to computer calls for free - so you can chat to people on the other side of the world without paying!

You can either use the service with a webcam so the person you're speaking to can see you, get a VOIP handset or even download an app so you can make VOIP calls via your smartphone.

Skype is the most well known VOIP provider, but you could also try, Viber for free smart phone to smart phone calls, and Vonage for international VOIP calls.

4. Do: Pay by direct debit

A very easy way to get discounts on broadband deals from many providers is to pay by direct debit - this is because it helps them cut their management costs.

You may also be offered a discount for switching to an online-only account and this is definitely something to look at as it's not only good for the environment but also your finances!

5. Consider: Using a call override provider

As long as your landline provider lets you, using a call override provider could mean big savings on your phone bill, especially if you need to call overseas or a premium rate phone number.

All you need to do is dial an override number before the number you want to call to be diverted through at a cheaper rate.

Companies like 1189 (for calls to landlines) and 18185 (for calls to mobiles) are worth checking out.

Some call override providers will make you listen to a short advert before your call connects, but these generally only last seconds and are worth it for the savings.

6. Do: Find out when your peak is

Most providers now only consider calls made after 7pm and before 7am off-peak and therefore included in off-peak evening bundles.

This means that if you opt for weekend and evening calls that you need to may sure you’re not calling anyone before your free period kicks in, especially if you get home before 7.

7. Do: Find out if unlimited really means unlimited

Home phone deals that include unlimited free calls aren't usually unlimited as most limit the amount of time you can stay on the phone before being charged extra.

Many limit unlimited calls to around an hour so it's easy for your phone bill to spiral if you make a long call. To avoid this, make sure you find out what time-restrictions apply and hang up and redial so you’re not charged extra. Setting a timer when you dial can prove useful!

Most broadband providers will limit the amount you can download on unlimited packages too, especially during peak hours. Find out what your limit is, if there is a 'free for all' period overnight and if so time your big downloads accordingly.

8. Try: Calling 'outside UK' numbers for big companies

Rather than calling premium rate phone numbers only to be placed on hold for 20 minutes, try calling one of the customer services numbers provided for customers overseas.

These are likely to begin +44 and be followed by a local UK phone number so you escape premium rates while you wait to speak to a member of staff.

9. Consider: Do you really need added extras

Extra services like call divert and an answer phone often come at a cost.

Find out how much you're paying for these add-ons, then consider whether you really need them and investigate whether you can get a better, cheaper option elsewhere.

10. Decide: Is TV really worth paying extra for?

Digital TV can cost a bundle and isn't always worth it.

Think about how much you watch the TV channels that you pay extra for and the specific programmes.

Then check out whether Freeview and on demand TV and film services will actually work out cheaper for your usage.

It’s now possible to watch loads of movies and TV shows online legally so pay per view can sometimes work out much cheaper.

11. Do: Read reviews

Checking other people’s experiences with a company is a must before you switch because it’ll help you get an idea of the service you should expect - reading reviews is the easiest way to do this.

You do need to approach reviews with a balanced outlook though as you tend to get very happy or very unhappy people writing them as opposed to people who are just satisfied.

Take a look at money.co.uk Reviews for other users' opinions on broadband, TV and phone companies.