How To Lower Your Cable Bill: 9 Ways

Even with all the advances to cable and streaming services, the average American still pays over $1,186 per year for cable and internet, according to a recent doxoINSIGHTS Report. If you feel like you are overpaying for your favorite shows, you can try bundling services or cutting back on premium devices or channels to save money.

These nine tips are worth trying out; some of these tips might save you as much as 50% off your cable bill.

9 ways to save money on cable

	Might be right for you if…
Bundle your services	You use multiple services and prefer the convenience of a single provider
Downsize your cable package	You find yourself watching the same handful of channels
Audit your bill	You signed up for your cable package a while back and haven’t crunched the numbers
Negotiate with your provider	You have multiple providers in your area to choose from
Choose a different provider	You don’t mind switching providers for a better deal
Hire someone to negotiate	You want easy savings without the work
Cut the cord	You are tech-savvy and spend more time watching streaming content
Get cash back on streaming	You want a credit card that rewards you for your streaming purchases
Get rid of the DVR (yes, it’s still a thing)	You watch live shows or use streaming services to catch up on missed shows

1. Bundle your services

Might be right for you if: You use multiple services and prefer the convenience of a single provider

You are already paying monthly for your internet and mobile phone bills, so why not bundle them together with your cable to lower your bill. This strategy can save you up to 20% according to AT&T, but you will want to find companies that help you save on what you will use. Some companies still offer bundled deals with landline phones rather than mobile phones, which can be a waste if you won’t use it.

Not only can bundling your internet with your cable bill (plus mobile phone, depending on the company) save you on the combined bill, but you might be able to score a sign-on promotion with more added discounts or add-ons for the first year.

2. Downsize your cable package

Might be right for you if: You find yourself watching the same handful of channels

If you’ve been paying for a cable package for a while, you likely know by now what channels and programs you watch often. If there are certain channels you can do without, consider cutting them out of your package entirely. This could save you heaps of money on your cable bill every month.

Let’s say you added a premium channel, like HBO or Showtime because the new series of your favorite show just started again. If you don’t use the channel much once the TV show has stopped airing, make sure you take it off your package. Otherwise, you’re paying for something you aren’t using and losing money in the process.

3. Audit your bill

Might be right for you if: You signed up for your cable package a while back and haven’t crunched the numbers

Cable bills tend to increase, but it’s not always clear why. If you’re vigilant about checking your bill every month, you’ll know exactly what new charges or fees were tacked on.

If you’re under contract, you shouldn’t see any change in your monthly cable bill. Although, once you’re out of contract, you might start seeing some rising numbers. Keep track of any promotions you signed up for, the equipment you’re paying for, and other miscellaneous charges. As long as you know what you’re supposed to be paying from the very start of your cable bill, you can easily discuss it with your cable company if you need to.

4. Negotiate with your provider

Might be right for you if: You have multiple providers in your area to choose from

The cable company wants your business, and if you are in an area with competitor providers, you might be able to negotiate with your current cable company for a better price. Even if you live in an area monopolized by one company, this strategy is worth trying if you are on the verge of cutting your cable due to high costs.

Start with knowing your reason for calling. Are you calling saying you are thinking of switching companies because you just got a better quote or are you calling saying you will have to cancel because you can’t afford your current bill? Both are good reasons to call customer service, and by remaining polite and asking for the company’s help, you might be able to score a discount, albeit a temporary one.

5. Choose a different provider

Might be right for you if: You don’t mind switching providers for a better deal

Going with a different cable provider is an easy way to save a lot of money on your cable bill. Cable companies want your business, so they’re going to compete against each other to offer the best deals. A common strategy for always getting the best deal on your cable service is to bounce between different companies.

When one promotion ends with a company and your bill inevitably goes up, look into seeing whether their competitors are offering promotional deals for new or returning customers. Then, lock in a deal with the service provider that offers you the most for the lowest price each month.

6. Use an app to negotiate down your bill

Might be right for you if: You want easy savings without the work

If you don’t like to negotiate bills yourself, consider using Rocket Money to help save you money. Rocket Money employs professionals to help get your bills under control, doing all the negotiating for you. If the Rocket Money team gets your bill lowered, it’ll charge between 30% and 60%. Over the past year, Rocket Money saved me $122 ($73.20 after the 40% fee) on my T-Mobile bill. All of this was automatic once I initiated the permission for negotiation.

It works with many popular companies, including AT&T, Comcast, T-Mobile, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon, and I thought it was worth the higher fees because I didn’t have to waste time on the phone with customer service. If you’re losing sleep over money, let the experts at Rocket Money take over and negotiate on your behalf.

7. Cut the cord

Might be right for you if: You watch more streaming content

With the variety of streaming services out there, there’s not as much of a need for you to have cable anymore. Services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+ provide plenty of original shows you can’t get anywhere else, plus they all have shows you might also find on regular TV. Some services, like Sling TV, allow you to customize your channel lineups and watch live TV. Certain streaming services even have partnerships with sports networks like ESPN, so you never have to miss a game.

Most streaming services offer different levels of membership: you can get a cheaper plan if you allow occasional ads. My family will shuffle through which streaming service they favor for the month, which allows me to cancel Disney+ for two months while they are catching up on shows on Netflix.

8. Get cash back on streaming services

Might be right for you if: You want a credit card that rewards you for your streaming purchases

If you go the route of cutting the cable cord and using credit cards for streaming services, there are a lot of opportunities to save even more on your monthly bill. These rewards cards offer great ways to earn cash back on streaming service purchases.

For example, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express and Citi Double Cash^® Card are both worth considering if you’d like to earn cash back on your streaming service purchases. Outside of credit cards, some cashback sites, such as Rakuten, also offer a percentage back on select streaming services.

9. Get rid of the DVR

Might be right for you if: You watch live shows or use streaming services to catch up on missed shows

DVR capabilities can be incredibly convenient when you aren’t able to watch something when it’s airing on TV. Plus, who doesn’t love the perk of pausing mid-show for a snack break or fast-forwarding through ads? Still, you have to weigh the cost of the convenience with how often you use it.

However, many TV networks, including ABC, CBS, and NBC, allow you to watch previously aired episodes of shows for a limited time after their live showing, though you might have to wait a few days or watch with ads. You can easily get on their website or mobile app and see something you may have missed. If this saves you even $10 per month, that’s $120 per year you get to put back into your pocket.

FAQs

Bottom line

Saving on your cable bill will depend on your situation and what you’re looking for. When you're looking at how to manage your money, the best way to save money is likely to get rid of that TV service altogether, but that’s not always the best option for everyone. To find the best solution for your situation, go through the tips we’ve listed and see which ones make the most sense to you. Remember, saving a few bucks a month might not seem like much, but over time that money really adds up.