If you’re paying separately for broadband, phone and TV than it may be time to look for a package that merges all three into one bill. There are several factors to consider when switching to an inclusive bundle.
The larger your household then the slower your connection, because you’ll have more people and devices using the same broadband. If you live in a house with four or more people, you’ll need to consider a high-speed broadband deal.
If this applies to you and your family than its probably wisest to go for an all-inclusive deal. This is available from most broadband providers and means you can use the internet without worrying that you’ll exceed your data plan and be charged extra.
If you live in a shared home of up to four, an unlimited broadband deal with average download speeds of 10Mb+ should be perfectly acceptable for you. If you download games and movies than you could still benefit from a faster connection, but a standard package would be a cheaper option in most cases.
If you live alone and use the internet for browsing, work or social media, then a low-cost package with a fixed usage limit would probably be best for you. There’s no point in shelling out for things you won’t use.
What broadband speed you need depends on what you mostly use the internet for. If you use the internet regularly, then fibre optic broadband could be better than a standard package.
If some individuals in your house want to stream high quality videos, it’s also recommended to look at a fibre optic deal. Fibre optic generally offers a more reliable connection, so if this is something that you’re interested in then look into these packages over standard ones.
If you only use the internet to check email or social media, then a standard ‘ADSL’ package will be more than enough for you. A standard package generally costs much less than fibre optic, so if cost is a primary concern than this is the package you should look for.
Watching TV and movies uses up a lot of data, so it’s worth thinking about how often you’ll want to watch things over the internet. If you regularly use streaming sites like Netflix or BBC iPlayer, then you need to find a package that will let you use these services.
If this sounds like your usage level, then an unlimited broadband deal is essential. If you’d prefer to spend a little more for a better connection, then looking into fibre optic is a better idea. The high bandwidth will reduce buffering and give you a higher quality service.
That said, if you can’t afford superfast fibre, most standard packages will still work reasonably well. Netflix, for example, recommends speeds of (approximately) 3Mb to stream standard quality video.
Many broadband providers bundle call plans into their packages. But it’s worth thinking about whether or not you need it.
The three most common types of call plan available are pay as you go, evening and weekend calls, and inclusive anytime calls. How much you use the phone is important to think about when choosing your call plan.
If you’re are at home during the day and use the phone a lot, then a package which includes anytime calls is a wise idea. This means you can call anywhere in the UK at any time without a huge bill at the end of the month.
If you work and aren’t home most of the time, or typically make calls after 7pm, inclusive evening and weekend calls is your best option.
If you mostly use a mobile to make calls, choose a pay as you go package. You’ll only be charged if and when you use the landline, so if you never use it you won’t be charged.
Bundling TV with broadband is a great way to reduce your bills if you want to use both services. You’ll only have one bill to pay, so it’ll cut the annoyance of having multiple bills to pay too.
There are five TV services commonly available in the UK:
Each has something a little bit different to offer so it’s worth looking at them online and seeing what’s best for you.
If you want to add and remove channels on a monthly basis as you use them, TalkTalk TV or Now TV is the easiest way to do this. Both providers let you choose which channels you can watch each month.
Which packages you can buy depends on your location. Some providers, like BT, are available in most places, while others like Virgin Media are available in fewer areas. Fibre optic options also depend on whether your area actually has access to it, so make sure you carefully check which providers operate in your area, and which has the best plan for you.
Price is obviously important, only ever get what you can afford. But remember there are lots of factors in choosing your bundle.
Make sure that you look at the features carefully in each plan and think about what your family needs. There’s no point in getting frustrated at slow internet speeds because you went for the cheapest plan without considering what you need.
There you have it. An easy guide to what to look for in crafting the perfect bundle for you!