How to get a cheaper phone deal

We use mobiles now in just about every part of our lives, from dating and working to playing games and streaming TV shows. But many people pay far more every month for their phone contract than they need to.

It’s all too easy to get comfortable with your existing phone deal and go ‘out of contract’.

In fact, according to Ofcom, millions of people in the UK are out of contract, and could significantly reduce their monthly bill just by switching over to a new sim only deal.

If you’re one of those people, then switching your contract is SUCH a quick and easy way to cut your monthly spend.

Did you know sim only deals start from less than £8 a month?!

We’ve split this post into two parts:

• If your contract term is up and you want to switch to a cheaper sim only contract, we’ve got some tips to get you the best deal. Take a look at section 1.
• If you’re looking for a new phone as well, we go through how to find the best deals and compare them properly. Skip to section 2.

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So you’re happy with your current phone, but you’ve come to the end of your minimum contract term.

It’s definitely time to reduce your phone bill with a cheaper new deal!

The good news is it’s SUPER easy to switch, and you’ll likely save a chunk of money every month compared to your old contract.

But there are many sim only deals out there, and it can be a bit overwhelming trying to find the right one! So here’s how to make an informed choice.

First of all, think about what you need in terms of minutes and data. As a guide, check your past phone bills to see roughly what you’ve used. If you’re still not sure how much data you need, have a read of this.

Once you know what you need, use sites like mobiles.co.uk and uSwitch to easily compare multiple sim only deals across all network providers.

Simply find the deals that fit your needs for the lowest price, and the save the best ones so that you can compare them at the end.

Compare all the best deals you find, just like we show you below, then you can easily make up your mind on the best deal for you!

First off, we should say that buying a new handset is never going to end up being a cheap option.

But, if you’ve decided that you absolutely want a new handset, make sure you get the best deal possible.

There are two main options for buying a new phone on a contract:

• Option 1: A ‘package’ deal which bundles phone and contract together.

• Option 2: Buying a sim-free phone, and pairing it with a sim only deal.

Read our explanation below:

Option 1: Phone and contract in a ‘bundle’ deal

With this option, the handset and contract are packaged up as one. It’s often not the cheapest, but there can be exceptions.

Sites like mobiles.co.uk and moneysupermarket will show many offers for these bundled deals from different providers. Usually, these sites actually have cheaper deals than if you go directly to the network provider.

Write down the best deals you find, so you can compare them as we do at the end.

Don’t forget! If you go for this option, you’ll be entering a contract with a minimum term (usually 18-24 months). Because these deals are bundled with the phone, you are paying more each month to pay off the phone cost. So as soon as you finish the minimum contract term, be sure to switch over to a cheaper sim only deal. Maybe set a reminder… in your phone!

Option 2: Buying a phone and getting a sim only contract

Often this is the cheaper option, if you can afford the initial cost to buy the phone outright.

You’ll need to search around for the sim free handset that you want, as different websites have special deals all the time.

If you can’t afford to buy the handset outright, you could look at paying in interest-free instalments:

• Apple offer ‘iPhone payments’, which is interest-free finance to get one of the new iPhones. It’s only available in store, and don’t confuse it with their other finance schemes which do have interest.

• Alternatively, you could use a 0% interest credit card to spread the cost across months, but only do this if you know you can afford to pay it off in time.

Don’t forget to think about refurbished phones as well if you want a cheaper option. Places like Amazon, eBay, or MusicMagpie are all great options for cheap refurbished phones, and they still offer a warranty.

For example, right now on Amazon you can get a refurbished iPhone 8 with a ‘1-year Amazon Renewed Guarantee’ for £283.00. From Apple, a new iPhone 8 with similar spec will cost £479.00, around 40% more.

Once you’ve found the best deal for the phone, you can find a cheap sim only deal to match. Read section 2 below on sim only deals for more on that.

Working out the best deal

Once you’ve found and written down the best looking deals, here’s how to compare them properly.

The key is to work out the total cost over the length of the contract. Some sites already give this up front but, if not, here’s how to work it out.

For example, let’s compare two deals over 24 months:

• A bundled phone contract deal for £50 a month and no upfront cost (option 1).
• A sim free handset bought outright, costing £599, paired with a sim only contract for £15 a month (option 2),

Option 1 (bundle deal): Total cost = £0 upfront + (£50 monthly cost x 24 months) = £1,200

Option 2 (sim-free phone and sim only contract): Total cost = £599 upfront + (£15 monthly cost x 24 months) = £959

In this example, option 1 might look attractive with no upfront cost. But, when you work it out over the 24 months, option 2 is the cheaper deal by about £240!

Make sure you think about the best phone deal for you. After all, many of these deals will be for a year or more, so it’s worth investing the time at the start.

And before you buy, don’t forget to check if any cashback or voucher codes are available, as the icing on the cake.

Got any questions, or just want to let us know how much you’ve saved by switching? Please leave a comment below!

If you buy a new sim, you might want to transfer your old phone number. To do this, you need to ask your old provider for a ‘PAC’ code. Give this to your new provider and they will switch over your number. This article gives more information on the process – don’t worry it’s super easy!

This article first appeared on U.S. News and World Report Money.

Cell phone companies want you to sign up for expensive two-year contracts. Why wouldn’t they? It’s money directly in their pocket. They’ll use every sales technique they can to get you to sign on the dotted line for a new contract.

STACKABLE DEALS – SAVINGS UP TO $450!

Sometimes, that contract winds up being a good deal, but there are several things you can do to make sure that you’re getting the best deal for the services that you need. Here are five tactics you can use to make sure that you’re getting the best deal.

Use multiple methods when shopping around. If you’re at the end of your cell phone contract, the ball’s in your court. You not only have the ability to choose the specifics of a new contract, you can also jump to a new carrier.

Cellular providers offer phones and contracts in a variety of different ways – online, in retail locations, and via flyers as well. When shopping around, don’t just visit their websites to compare deals. Check out the shops of the reputable carriers in your area.

A valuable tip: before you even start comparing carriers, use OpenSignal to figure out which providers have good coverage in areas where you’re commonly going to be using your phone. There’s no point in getting a cheap cell phone if it doesn’t even work in your area.

Include prepaid phones in your comparison. Many people overlook prepaid cell phones when they shop around and compare packages and prices. For many users, prepaid phones are very competitive in their price structures and many of the prepaid providers are tied directly to larger providers (meaning that they use the network of the large providers).

Check out the prepaid offers available on sites like Amazon.com, then research the providers so that you know what kind of network they have. You may just find that a prepaid phone matches what you need at a much lower price – and without a contract.

Negotiate. If you do settle on a particular offer, nothing’s keeping you from negotiating. You can simply tell the provider that you’re considering switching to them – or that you’re currently shopping around with other providers – and simply ask for some perks.

You can cut a significant chunk off the annual cost of your mobile phone contract by making one quick call.

Which? research found that all the major mobile phone companies can be swayed by customers who phone up and haggle for a better deal.

Here, we explain how to haggle to get a discount or better terms – or both.

Best mobile phone providers – see which providers impressed in our regular customer satisfaction survey.

Which mobile phone companies offer discounts?

In our latest haggling research we spoke to more than 5,000 people and asked about their haggling experiences.

We found that mobile phone customers that haggled with their provider saved an average of £72 on their annual bill. What’s more, the majority of those who haggled told us they found it easy.

What mobile phone providers offer customers who haggle

Your provider may offer you something other than a discount to stop you from leaving – more than a quarter of people who successfully haggled over their phone contract were offered a higher extra limit.

But, if you’re determined to get a discount, hold out for one and don’t be blinded by incentives. The vast majority of people we spoke to were offered a discount in the end.

Five tips on haggling for the best phone deal

There’s far more competition in the mobile providers market than there used to be, which makes it easier to haggle for a better deal. If you’re out of contract, you should always shop around to see if you could pay less. Follow our five-step plan:

1 – Know your limits

Haggling for the best deal with your mobile provider takes a bit of preparation. The first thing you need to do is work out how many minutes, texts and how much data you use per month. If you don’t know this already you can find out from your previous bills. Our guide on how to keep track of your data and minutes also offers some helpful advice.

2 – Check the competition

Next, find out how much you could be paying for this size of bundle with other providers by searching around online for good Sim-only deals. These may be on a rolling monthly contract, or a longer 12 or 18-month contract, though it’s always better to stick with the former when possible. Note down the prices and what you get in the bundle.

3 – Call your provider

Now it’s time to present your case. Call your provider and tell them you’d like a discount on your mobile phone contract – wait to see what they offer. If the discount isn’t as big as you’d like, use the other deals you’ve found online as evidence that you could pay less elsewhere.

4 – Good deal? Don’t forget to read the small print

If your provider has come back with a deal you’re happy with, check to see if this involves you signing a new 12 or 18-month contract. Often a provider will offer a reduction provided you sign up with them for a longer period, which isn’t ideal. It’s always better to stick with a rolling monthly contract, which offers more flexibility.

5 – No deal? What to do next

Your provider isn’t willing to budge – but all is not lost. The next stage is to say that you want to cancel and switch to another provider. Ask to speak to the cancellations or retention team, who are often able to give you a better deal. If you still don’t have any luck, you can tell them you’ll think about it and end the call, just in case they get back in touch to improve their offer. At this stage though, it may well be worth switching.

What to say when you call your mobile phone provider

Want some pointers? You can boost your chances of getting a discount on your mobile phone contract by using our tried and tested haggling script.

1 – ‘I’m not sure I’m getting the best deal on my mobile and I’m thinking of cancelling.’

Wait for the initial response as you may be put through to a specialist cancellation team. If you are put through, or even if you are still with the original provider, next say:

2 – ‘I think I’m paying too much. My friend has a much better deal with a better phone and more minutes – so I think I’m missing out.’

Here, it’s better to flag a specific deal that you’ve seen offered elsewhere. Even if you are offered some incentives by the provider to stay at this point, it’s worth pushing a little harder.

3 – ‘Is that the best that you can give me? I was hoping for a bigger saving/more minutes/more texts/more data than that.’

Select which incentive suits you best. If you’re happy with the deal offered to you, you can sign up then and there.

Looking for a pair of heaphones for your new mobile phone? Read our guide on the best wireless headphone deals .

When it’s time to switch mobile phone provider

If all else fails, it may be time to switch. Outside the big four – O2, Vodafone, EE and Three, a wide range of operators are now competing for your business, and some of them offer great value for money on Sim-only deals. Switching is easy, and you should be able to keep your old number:

• Request a Sim card from the new provider. You should be sent this in the post, and it’s usually free.
• Call your current provider and tell them you’d like to leave. Assuming you are out of contract, your service will stop at the next billing date. Check with your provider to find out when this is.
• Request a PAC code from your current provider.
• The day before your contract is due to terminate, register your new Sim card, using the PAC code, with the new provider. You should be sent instructions on how to do this with the Sim.
• On your termination day, when you notice your phone no longer has a signal, swap the old Sim card for the new one. Your phone service, and number, should be picked up automatically, leaving you up and running with your new deal.

Ready to switch? Check our mobile phone provider reviews to see which come out on top.

Apple’s trade-in program makes it particularly easy to get a better deal on the new model.

Your old iPhone could net you anywhere from $45 to $600 toward the price of an iPhone 11.

The big surprise out of Cupertino earlier this week: Apple’s new flagship phone, the iPhone 11 ($599 at Apple) , would not have a starting price of $1,000, or $900 or even $800. Nope, it starts at $699 — and thanks to Apple’s aggressive new trade-in program, you might be able to snag it for less. Possibly a lot less.

Indeed, if you’ve checked out Apple’s iPhone 11 order page, you’ll see that the very first question is, “Do you have an iPhone to trade in?” Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.

As noted on that page, your cost might be as low as $399 with trade-in — but it might actually be lower still. That number is based on a $300 credit for a good-condition iPhone 8 Plus, but you can trade anything from an iPhone SE on up to an iPhone XS Max — the latter good for as much as $600 toward your iPhone 11.

Me, for example, I’m chugging along on a two-year-old iPhone X. I like it, have almost zero complaints, but the battery is definitely providing less life than it used to, and who doesn’t like better cameras? With Apple’s $400 trade-in credit for that model, I’d be getting the new flagship for $299 — not a bad deal.

Something else to consider: Apple is offering these same trade-in options on the iPhone XR, which starts at $599, and the iPhone 8, which starts at $449.

The main benefit here, of course, is convenience: Apple makes it super easy to trade in your old phone and apply the credit value to a new one. You might be able to get more, however, if you sell your old iPhone yourself .

For example, I used SellCell.com — which compares prices from dozens of buyback services — to estimate what I could get for my aforementioned iPhone X. Best bet: $490 from Buybacktronics, and when I clicked through to get an “official” quote from the site, the phone was actually worth $492.

Your mileage may vary, of course, but before you trade your old iPhone to Apple, it’s worth shopping it around a bit.

What do you think? Are you planning to upgrade to the iPhone 11? If so, what’s the plan for your old model?

More from the Apple event

• iPhone 11: New wide-angle camera, 6 colors, faster Face ID for $699
• Apple Arcade, iPad 2019 and everything announced
• Apple’s new 10.2-inch iPad starts at $329
• Watch Series 5: Always-On display, price, specs, compass and more
• Apple iPhone 11 event photos
• See all our event coverage

All the new iPhone 11 models, in photos

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page , and find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.

Smartphones are incredibly useful and for most people an essential part of their day to day life. However, they are also expensive with many smartphones costing anything up to £50 per month.

Thankfully there are some relatively easy ways for you to save money on your mobile phone tariff.

Do you really need the latest smartphone?

New and improved versions of smartphones often mean higher prices.

If there is a new version of a particular phone available it is almost certain that older models will be reduced in price. Think about the main differences between the new model and its predecessor and ask yourself how it will affect you. Is the difference better zoom on the camera? Ask yourself ‘how much time do I spend taking photos?’ Does the new phone have extra water resistance? Is your phone really going to be near water very frequently?

Remove your personal hotspot

This feature allows you to connect your phone to another device and allow it to connect to the internet using your phone’s mobile data.

Unless you actually need and use it, removing the personal hotspot option can save you some money on your mobile phone tariff. Sadly, not all providers allow you to do this but if this in an option definitely consider it.

Reduce your mobile data

I know the thought of having unlimited data on your phone is appealing but do you actually need it? Think about how many places nowadays have free public WiFi including shops, restaurants, gyms and even buses and trains.

You can look up your phone data very easily to check out how much data you use each month. Use this to work out how much data you actually need. Most mobile phone contracts have various options for mobile data allowance including 1GB, 5GB, 8GB, 15GB and 20GB. To give you an idea of how much data this actually is have a look at the following stats:

10GB of data will give you approximately 120 hours of web browsing, 20 hours of video streaming, let you send 10,000 emails and download 250 apps.

1GB of data will let you send around 1,000 emails and send 1.5M WhatsApp messages.

Rather than paying for tons of mobile data you don’t need, why not choose a tariff with less data which will mean a reduced cost?

Ask them to price match competitors

Phone providers will want to keep you as a customer. In fact almost every mobile phone provider has a team of employees whose sole job is to convince customers to remain with them (usually called the ‘customer retention’ team).

If you notice that another phone provider is offering a better deal on the same phone, ask them if they can either price match or even offer you something better. Remember they may say no which leaves you with the decision of either sticking to your current provider or switching to a new one.

Trade in your old handset

Some mobile phone providers will let you trade in your old mobile phone in exchange for cash or a discount on your new phone. The amount you get will depend on the condition of your mobile phone. Scratches, dents or cracks in the screen will result in a lower offer however some providers have been known to pay up to £150 for handsets in good condition.

It is entirely up to you what you do with this money. You can keep it for something else or put it towards your new mobile phone payments.

Had previous poor experiences with your provider? Let them know

If you are considering remaining with your current provider but you have had some issues in the past i.e poor signal, rude staff, long waiting times on customer services call lines or bad connectivity you should bring this up when you are negotiating a new deal with them. They may offer you a better deal or another incentive to stay with them by way of an apology. However, be polite and courteous when you raise these points and do not be tempted to exaggerate/make things up.

• 27 Nov 2019, 10:13
• Updated : 27 Nov 2019, 10:47

• Invalid Date,

MARTIN Lewis has revealed how savvy shoppers can save money on their phone contract this Black Friday, with his top recommended deal costing just £8 a month.

Appearing on his ITV programme, The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live, the MoneySavingExpert.com founder was asked by one deal hunter how he can save cash on his phone bill.

The audience member, called Josh, said he’s currently paying £26 a month but is approaching the end of his contract.

It’s not clear what network he’s on, or how many minutes, texts and data he’s getting for that price.

But Martin singled out Three for offering one of the best deals, including 8GB of data and unlimited calls and texts for £8 a month – or £96 for the year.

It’s a sim-only deal for 12 months, so that means you’ll need to have an unlocked handset to get it.

How to save money on your mobile phone bill

NOT happy with your current mobile phone deal?

If you’re outside the minimum term of your contract then you won’t need to pay a cancellation fee – and you might be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.

But don’t just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you’re currently paying.

Take a look at how many minutes and texts, as well as how much data you’re using, to find out which deal is best for you.

For example, if you’re a heavy internet user it’s worth finding a deal that accomodates this so you don’t end up spending extra on bundles or add-ons each month.

Also note that if you’re still in your contract period, you might be charged an exit fee.

Ready to look elsewhere? Pay-as-you-go deals are better for people who don’t regularly use their phone, while monthly contracts usually work out cheaper for those who do.

It’s worth using comparison websites, such as MoneySupermarket and uSwitch.com, to compare tarrifs and phone prices.

Billmonitor also matches buyers to the best pay-monthly deal based on their previous three months of bills.

It only works if you’re a customer of EE, O2, Three, Vodafone or Tesco Mobile and you’ll need to log in with your online account details.

There’s also MobilePhoneChecker, which has a bill monitoring feature that recommends a tariff based on your monthly usage.

If you’re happy with your provider then it might be worth using your research to haggle a better deal.

If Josh switched to Three, he would save himself £18 a month – or £216 for the year.

He said: “I’m paying £26 a month right now.

“But my contract is about to expire – so where should I switch to next?”

Martin responded by urging Josh to take advantage of Black Friday deals to nab the best phone contract price.

He said: “Off the top of my head, Three is offering 8GB of data for £8 with unlimited everything.

“Virgin Mobile is also offering 10GB data, 5,000 minutes and unlimited texts.

“There’s also Smarty – a product of Three – which is offering 45GB data and unlimited everything else for £15.”

The Virgin Mobile sim-only offer costs £10 a month for a 12-month contract, down from its usual price of £16 a month.

That works out £2 more expensive a month compared to Three, or another £25 over the year.

But as it does include 2GB more internet than the Three offering, heavy mobile internet users might benefit from this package.

The Smarty sim-only deal includes 32GB more internet compared to Three, so you’d need to assess whether the extra data is worth paying £7 a month more, or £84 a year.

It’s also a 12-month contract so keep that in mind before signing up.

It’s time to give serious consideration to a carrier other than AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon.

There was a time when the only real options for US cellular service were AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint. Thankfully, those days are over: Mobile virtual network operators — MVNOs — have emerged as cheap alternatives to the Big Three. (Not Big Four? Sprint merged with T-Mobile last year , and while the former’s network remains, the latter is the surviving name.)

MVNOs lease access from the major carriers and offer similar services at lower prices. That means you can sign up with Mint Mobile, for example, and get a sort of T-Mobile Lite service for less.

The best tech deals

However, you may first need to complete any existing lease or contract with your current carrier, or pay a penalty to exit early. If you bought your phone directly from a carrier, check to make sure it’s unlocked and compatible with other networks. Once you’ve taken care of those preliminaries, you’re free to change plans.

One elephant in this particular room: 5G . Your phone may support it, but not all low-cost carriers do — yet. Most are planning to roll it out soon, however, and we haven’t heard of any planning to charge extra for it.

Not comfortable with switching to a smaller carrier? AT&T and Verizon both offer prepaid plans for a lot less than their widely advertised unlimited ones. For example, if you’re able to prepay for 12 months, AT&T’s 8GB plan works out to a very competitive $25 a month. Verizon has 5GB plan starting at $40 , but it drops to $35 after four months and then $25 after nine.

Still, give these other plans a look. If you don’t consume a ton of data every month (and most people don’t), there are serious savings to be had.

Altice Mobile

As low as $12 per month

Are you an Optimum or Suddenlink cable subscriber? You qualify for an extra $10 savings each month, meaning you can get service for as little as $12. Unfortunately, while Altice (which runs on AT&T and Sprint networks) already supports 5G, the carrier’s unlimited plan runs $40 a month. It was previously $20.

Even if you’re not with one of those two cable systems, a $22 monthly bill isn’t bad.

Black Wireless

As low as $15 a month

Black Wireless leases service from AT&T and offers a compelling unlimited-everything plan: Just $15 a month if you pay for a year in advance (so, $180 up front), or $20 if you go month-to-month. The data gets throttled to 128kbps after the first gigabyte, so this is a plan that rewards you if you spend most of your time on Wi-Fi.

There are a number of other options that are similarly inexpensive, including a Smart Saver plan that includes 500 minutes and 100MB of data for as little as $7.50 a month (again, if you sign up for a full year).

Boost Mobile

As low as $10 a month

Boost’s plans start at just $10, and for a limited time the carrier is doubling the normal amount of data that’s included at that tier: 2GB instead of 1GB. You can also get 4GB (regularly 2GB) on the $15 plan. But that benefit is available only for three months; after that, you’re back to 1GB or 2GB at the same price. You also must bring your own phone.

Either way, your plan includes unlimited calls and texts. Boost operates on T-Mobile’s network and will soon offer 5G.

Hello Mobile

As low as $10 a month

A T-Mobile MVNO, Hello offers unlimited-talk-and-text plans starting at just $10. But the real standout here is the $25 plan, which adds unlimited 4G and 5G data to the mix. You also get free calls and texts to several dozen countries.

Hello is also among a relatively small number of MVNOs that caters to families: You can have up to five lines, with discounts the more you add. For a family of four, for example, the unlimited-data plan would cost just $17.50 per line.

Here’s the only real issue: If you want a mobile hotspot feature, it’ll cost you another $15 a month.

Mint Mobile

As low as $15 a month

Mint takes the notion of “prepaid” cell service to the next level: You get price breaks when you pay for three, six or 12 months in advance. So, for example, a payment of $45 would net you three months on the carrier’s 3GB plan.

The deals get better as you go up the tiers, however. Prepay $360, for example (which works out to $30 a month), and you get 12 months of fully unlimited service. Mint relies on T-Mobile’s network and offers both 4G and 5G: “Whichever is strongest” based on where you’re located.

TextNow

As low as $0 a month

If you’re seeking service for a backup phone that’s rarely used or perhaps a preteen who needs a phone just for emergencies, consider TextNow’s sounds-too-good-to-be-true free plan. All you need is a Sprint-compatible phone and you can get unlimited, totally free calls and text messages. (Everything else requires Wi-Fi, though you have the option of adding a 2GB data plan for $20 a month.)

US Mobile

As low as $15 a month

Although US Mobile doesn’t yet offer 5G service (surprising given that it runs on T-Mobile and Verizon networks), it does offer service plans for just about every conceivable budget. That’s because you can choose from fixed plans or build a custom one. One standout is the $15 plan, which includes unlimited calls and texts and 2.5GB of high-speed data. Bump that to 10GB for $30 a month.

The carrier also offers price breaks on multiple lines. For example, three lines on US Mobile’s unlimited plan would cost $90 a month.

Visible

As low as $25 a month

Visible is for those who don’t want to sacrifice unlimited service. Although 5G isn’t in the mix yet, the carrier’s one and only plan — which runs $40 a month — includes unlimited data on Verizon’s network.

However, there’s an easy way to get it for even less: Sign up for Visible’s Party Pay option, which can bring the monthly rate to as low as $25 per person. This isn’t a traditional family plan; you can do this with friends, co-workers, even strangers you meet on Reddit.

There are other inexpensive options out there, but these rank among our favorites. If you’ve found a low-cost phone plan you like better, tell us about it in the comments!

Originally published last year. Updated periodically to reflect new carrier options and pricing.

CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for deal texts delivered right to your phone. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and even more from hundreds of other online stores. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our FAQ page .

Sarah Basford

With the rise of streaming services offering scores of content for affordable prices, the expensive cable TV services, like Foxtel, have struggled to find new ways to keep up. As more long-time customers realise they can get more for less with other services, Foxtel has resorted to offering huge discounts to keep existing customers. So, here’s how you can score yourself a full package for under $50.

Foxtel Has Jacked Its Streaming Prices By Up To $94 A Month

Foxtel has changed the way it prices its streaming-only Foxtel Now service, and not for the better.

Foxtel customers who’ve threatened to quit, according to a report by Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), have been offered huge discounts on their Foxtel packages in order for them to stay. One customer told SMH he was able to get a $90 Foxtel package down to $55 while another alleged they were able to get their $99 package down to $35 after attempting to quit when Game of Thrones had finished airing.

Foxtel packages start at $69 per month with a minimum 12-month contract, which includes 60 channels including National Geographic and Fox Showcase. The most expensive offering is $139 per month for a minimum of 12 months. While these subscriptions offer hundreds of hours of content, Netflix and Stan offer nearly as much (sans sports) with no lock-in contracts and for a fraction of the price. Even Foxtel Go, its streaming service, offers access to drama and movies for the reasonable price of $15 per month with no lock-in contract.

Kayo Sports, the ‘Netflix of sport’, is partially owned by Foxtel but you’ll have to pay for that separately. If sport is all you want to stream, Kayo Sports is actually better deal at $25 per month, cheaper than anything offered on a Foxtel pay TV subscription.

How do I get a huge discount on my Foxtel subscription?

Customers who threatened to leave Foxtel’s service were offered better-valued prices, according to the article, so that’s where you should start. When it comes time to renew your package, tell them you’re no longer interested in the service as there are better options available for smaller costs.

If they can’t meet your expected discount, consider whether it’s time to actually follow through, cancel the subscription and explore the other streaming services. Either way, you’ll be getting a better deal.

Netflix Slayer: What You Need To Know About Disney’s New Streaming Service

Disney’s new streaming service, called Disney+, will be launching late 2019. And the entertainment company is banking on Loki, Cassian Andor, and other characters in its vast portfolio to lure fans away from streaming champ and soon-to-be rival Netflix.

Kristin Wong

Last month, we challenged you to save money on your mobile phone bill by switching to a cheaper plan. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to switch carriers, though. You might be able to negotiate a better price with your current one.

August’s Money Challenge: Find A Cheaper Phone Plan

We’ve thrown all kinds money challenges at you this year, and all year long, you’ve been acing them. This month, we want to help you save on a specific expense. Your mobile phone bill.

Carriers make it pretty easy to jump ship and port over your number, but let’s be real: It’s still kind of a pain. A much easier option is to call your current provider, tell them you’re thinking of switching, then see if they’re willing to work with you.

Obviously, do your research before you call. Write down how many minutes and texts you use every month as well as how much data you use regularly. This way, your carrier can find a plan that actually suits your needs — there’s no point in paying $20 more for unlimited if you never even need it.

Plus, this info allows you to compare apples to apples when you’re researching other options. So if you have a plan with Telstra, you can tell them exactly how much you would save by switching to a discount carrier based on your actual usage.

Once you’ve researched, it’s time to call and make your case. Over at LearnVest, personal finance author Beth Kobliner offers a few tips for haggling your bill:

Steer Clear of Yes/No Questions: Asking what the company can do for you puts the ball in its court.

Remember That Timing Is Important: “You have the best chance of negotiating with your current carrier near the end of your contract when they’re most desperate to keep you,” Kobliner told us.

Tout Your Allegiance: It costs a company way more to acquire new customers than to hang on to the ones it already has. Use that to your advantage. If you’re a long-time customer, remind the rep of that on the phone and explain that you would rather not switch companies — as long as your current one can move things around in your favour.

Your mileage will vary. Not every carrier is going to budge, but it really can’t hurt to ask. And if they don’t bite, you’ve already done the research, so you can still plan your switch. Again, it’s a little more work than a phone call, but at least you’ll save some cash every month.