We tend to think that the internet and mobile phone rates we have in Spain are absurdly expensive, but in many cases this is because we hire services that do not correspond to our reality and needs. And it is not the same as contracting high-speed systems, which are much more expensive when, for example, the amount of contracted data does not reach our home or contracting a system that includes more mobile phones than we have at home.

It’s equally important that we don’t go for the first offer we see on TV or that pops up in one of those annoying pop-ups while browsing, and we’ve done a little research using either internet and mobile comparator or manual comparison after searching on the net, although it may certainly take us much longer. In any case, here are some tips that could help you choose the best rate for you and save you month after month.

• Analyze your connection type: How many hours a day do you spend on the Internet? Are you more computer or mobile? If you usually use your mobile more, do you do it at home or in places with free Wi-Fi? Are you using your data heavily? Don’t rely on your perception as much as your actual consumption. This is very easy to check as it will appear on your account as well as on your mobile terminal.
• Analyze the frequency and type of calls: Do you make a lot of calls on the phone? Are you calling landlines or mobiles? On what schedule? These and other details are important to consider, as knowing your tariffs can save you a significant amount of data and help you choose rates that suit your habits. For example, if you’re one of those people who don’t pick up the phone, you might want an unlimited rate that doesn’t charge you for any calls.
• Why do you want to change companies? Maybe it’s because you need a service that isn’t offered to you, or maybe because you feel that the prices are too high, or because you found out that an acquaintance or relative has a much better price than you. Analyzing the reasons why you want this change is just as important as analyzing the frequency of calls and internet usage. Perhaps your company is the most optimal, and your acquaintance has other needs that allow him to pay less money.
• Hire what you need: Don’t get carried away by those rates that offer you absolutely everything, with TV packages, extra mobile lines and more. If you don’t use these services, why will you pay to rent them? Likewise, don’t try to save by taking a rate that is very fair to you in terms of talk minutes or data. It’s possible that you’ll end up spending so much that the bill will rise much more than you originally thought.

In any case, it is clear that if you want to save, you will have to compare different companies, their costs, benefits and, above all, if they suit you. With a realistic plan tailored to your personality and your reality, you will surely manage to save at the end of the month.