9 ways to lower your cable bill

Return the cable box in your bedroom and eliminate your DVR to save money on your monthly cable costs.

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Cable bills never seem to get less expensive. Instead, they might jump ₹50, ₹100 or ₹200 without warning or a clear reason.

Those small increases can really hurt. But you can take control of your budget and your cable bill. Here are nine ways to lower your bill right now.

1. Cut back on premium channels

It’s hard to say goodbye to HBO, but doing so can shave as much as ₹60 off your monthly bill with some providers. Let go of Showtime and you could save another ₹15 to ₹45 per month.

Farewell doesn’t have to be forever, though. If you can’t live without “FRIENDS” or “The Office” remove the channel when the season wraps.

2. Pare down cable boxes

Premium channels aren’t the only extras you can trim. Additional cable boxes often cost ₹9 to ₹36 per month. Maybe the equipment in your bedroom isn’t necessary after all.

3. Pay attention to fees

Call your provider’s customer service line and question each fee on your bill. Some will be unavoidable, but you can sidestep others, such as those for HD technology, by tweaking your plan.

4. Nix the DVR

Miss your favorite show? There’s a good chance you can watch it on-demand the next day. Even local news segments live on via the stations’ websites.

5. Downsize your plan

Trimming your cable package to include just your must-haves can save you as much as ₹200 per month with some providers — and you probably won’t even miss the extra channels.

A September 2016 report by Nielsen revealed that, on average, adults watch only about 20 channels, though they get around 205.

6. Bundle cable and internet

Pairing your cable and internet service with some providers will save you more than ₹62,000 over two years.

7. Negotiate a lower rate

Don’t be afraid to haggle with your cable provider. You may be able to negotiate a better deal by talking to customer service and asking for a discount.

8. Seek out cheap cable

Compare the rates at each provider in your area. As long as you won’t face a sizable cancellation fee for switching away from your current service, you could end up with a cheaper alternative.

9. Cut the cord

Still not satisfied with your cable bill? Eliminate it altogether. You can still watch broadcast TV with the help of a digital antenna and binge on your favorite series with Netflix or Hulu. Subscriptions for Netflix start at ₹199 per month, while Hulu’s base plan is just $5.99 per month.