Working from home and having an online-based hobby means that I spend a lot of time on the internet. Having a fast reliable broadband service is vitally important to me but so is saving money. When I decided to leave employment and stay home with my kids I knew there would be a lot of financial sacrifices but I was more than up for the challenge of finding ways to save money so I could make it work.

When it comes to choosing a broadband provider I’m always looking to find the best and most cost-effective package to suit the needs of our household. I thought I would share with you some of the tips I follow to find the best broadband deals possible.

Always Compare

My biggest tip is to always use a comparison website when looking for broadband providers.  Sticking with the same broadband provider year after year without ever making a comparison could be costing you a lot of money. Never let your current contract rollover, you can always save yourself some money by doing some research and shopping around.

Choose A Package That Suits You

Before you start looking around think about the sort of package that will suit your needs. You need to think about the size of your household, what speed of broadband you need, and how much you want to be able to download.

By knowing exactly what it is you need from a broadband package you will avoid paying for data you might not use or end up being charged extra for exceeding your limits. I recommend always checking each service provider’s fair usage policy too before you make a decision.

Although the aim is to save money and get the best broadband deals you still need to choose the right package for your needs, not just the cheapest deal you can find.

Introductory Offers

Lots of providers will offer you broadband deals with a special introductory offer for switching, make sure you fully understand the terms and period of these offers. Find out how long will you have to pay the standard cost until your contract ends then compare the price with other competitors. Never just accept that an introductory will save you money, do your homework and find out if it really is the best deal.

Look For Incentives

Very often broadband providers will offer a nice juicy incentive when you join them. I recently got a £100 cashback and an Amazon Echo Dot when switching my supplier. Providers often offer a range of incentives ranging from free activation, gift cards, electronic items, and cashback.

Incentives are great but don’t let them tempt you into paying extra for the deals if the package on offer is genuinely good and there’s a freebie then go ahead and take it.

Read The Small Print

I know it’s boring and tedious but I highly recommend that you always read the small print before making any kind of switch. Make sure you check and understand the monthly and yearly cost breakdown, you need to know exactly how much you will be paying.

Check how the provider’s cancellation policy works, will there be a cancellation or exit fee? will you need to return the hardware at the end of your contract? Look for any hidden extras that might cost you extra money.