Top tips to get better value broadband and mobile deals: how to make your money go further
Every household in the country is watching their pennies these days, trying to find inventive ways of making budgets go further.
For the Masters family from Ashford, Surrey, the desire to save money had to be balanced alongside keeping in touch with family and friends, and still being able to do the things they love. They found doing solid research into their mobile and broadband provider helped.
Mum-of-two Becca, who looks after school and business group bookings at South Western Railway, said: “When we joined EE, we took the time to figure out which package suited us best. My husband is a massive gamer, so we researched gaming bundles and ended up getting a free Xbox Game Pass. By choosing the right package from the start, it means we’re just paying for what we need and getting the best value for money.”
Watch out for deals
“It’s always worth looking into what extra deals you can get from your provider – the results might surprise you.”
Becca joined EE as she works from home full-time and wanted a provider that was reliable, fast and good value.
The family also makes use of the EE family account which allows parents Becca and Daniel, who works in payroll, to move spare data to different members of the family.
Becca said: “It’s really handy being able to give my daughter extra data when we’re out and about or on a long car journey. Having a family account also gets us multi-line discounts. This gives you money off your plan when you add other accounts - meaning we’re able to get even more value out of it.”
Stay on top of what you use
Becca also says that keeping track of data usage is another way the family saves money.
She said: “It’s such an easy thing to do, but just keeping an eye on your data usage means you can save up and avoid buying extra data at the end of the month. I use the EE app to keep track of all of our data, as well as checking what apps are using data in the background and turn them off if we don’t need them. And as a family we always use free Wi-Fi hotspots when we’re out to save our own data for when we need it.”
Providers can help you in person
“The key to finding good value through your provider is being savvy, making sure you’re on the best package for you and your family, and keeping an eye out for any extra add-ons available. There are so many great deals online but I’ve also found going to the store and chatting to someone face to face is often the best way to do it because you find out little hints and ideas that can really make a difference.”
The team at EE are committed to helping all their customers, old and new as right now, everyone needs something they can count on to get the best value for the products and services they use every day.
Expert advice
Sharon Meadows, Director of Broadband and Mobile at EE, has put together some top advice to help customers squeeze the most value from every connection in their home.
She said: “There are lots of ways to get extra value out of the services you already pay for like family packages, phone trade-ins and repairs, which can all help make your money go further.”
Sharon has put together her top tips on how to get more value for money with EE.
Smart Data Usage – Work smarter, not harder. Use your providers’ app to keep tabs on your data usage to make sure you’re not left short at the end of the month. Buying extra data can be costly, so managing your usage can save money by avoiding more add-ons. Head to your settings to see what apps use data in the background and check your overall usage regularly.
Top tip: You can even make the most of free Wi-Fi hotspots around the country, like the 150,000 hotspots that EE customers can access.
Make your tech last longer – Repairing devices rather than buying new can help shave some money off your bills. Taking good care of your mobile and gadgets will reward you in the long run.
Top tip: Consider investing in a good quality case, making the most of EE’s annual device check-up, or even go in-store for a rapid repair service – this is included in EE customer contracts.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – If you’ve just received a new phone then why not recycle your old one? Rather than letting your device clutter up drawers, you can exchange your device for some easy money. Trade in your old phone, tablet or watch for EE to securely refurbish or recycle - you could save an average of £140.
Top tip: if buying new isn’t your bag, why not go for a refurbished device? Expertly refurbished tech can save you money in comparison to new devices.
Bundle up – Think about exactly what you need from your provider and look at their options. It’s important to check what added extras you can take advantage of. If you’re an avid gamer, look for gaming bundles like our recently launched EE packages where you can get an Xbox Game Pass or save money on a new PS5. Netflix is available as an Inclusive Extra when you take any Android phone, SIM, or any tablet/laptop on a pay monthly plan which gives you access to award-winning series, movies, and documentaries on demand. Or, if you’re a sports fan see where you can get the best access to live events such as BT Sport.
Top tip: Bundle TV or home phone deals in with your broadband – paying for all the services from one provider may give you more value.
Share the love by gifting unused data – Most, if not all members of a household will be tech lovers. Make the most of your family’s time online by syncing plans so you can spread data across each user. Utilising the EE family account means you can move spare data to different plans so you can get the best value whilst keeping the whole family connected.
Top tip: Have you heard about multi-line discounts? That way you get even more value when you share the love.
Get a great deal more on your broadband – If you select EE’s Norton Security Premium feature then you can protect up to 10 devices, including PCs, Macs®, smartphones and tablets with EE. This comprehensively prevents viruses, spyware, malware and other threats and gives you 75GB of secure PC cloud backup and a Secure VPN for your loved devices.
Top tip: Who doesn’t love something for nothing. The security package is worth £79.99, but with EE Broadband you get it included at no extra cost, for a year.
Sharon added: “It’s always worth asking about offers, our colleagues genuinely want to help you find the best deal, either in person or online.”
For expert advice and help all year round, visit www.ee.co.uk