7 Ways to Lower Your Cable Bill

Cable bills never seem to get less expensive. Instead, they might jump $5, $10 or $20 without warning or a clear reason.

Those small increases can really hurt, especially considering the average cable bill already tops $100 per month, according to an annual survey by Leichtman Research Group.

But you can take control ofyour budgetand your cable bill. Here are seven ways to lower it right now.

1. Get rid of extras

It’s hard to say goodbye to HBO, but doing so can shave as much as$20 off your monthly billwith some providers. Let go of Showtime and you could saveanother $5 to $15 per month.

Farewell doesn’t have to be forever, though. If you can’t live without “Game of Thrones” or “Homeland,” remove the channel when the season wraps.

Premium channels aren’t the only extrasyou can trim. Additionalreceivers oftencost $3 to $12 per month. Maybe the receiver in your bedroom isn’t necessary after all.

2. 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. Trading in your DVR for a standard digital receiver could trim $10 or more off your monthly bill.

3. Question your 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 forHD technology, by tweaking your plan.

4. Downsize your plan

Trimming your cable package to include just your must-haves can save you as much as $40 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, American adults watch only about 20 channels, though they getaround 205.

5. Bundle up

Pairing your cable and internet servicewith some providers willsave you more than $1,000 over two years.

Just don’t gettalked into bundling services you don’t need, such asa premium cable package when you onlywant local networks or blazing-fast internet service that you only use to watch Netflix. Thesemay indeed be great deals for some users, but that doesn’t make them great for you.

6. Negotiate a lower rate

Don’t be afraid to haggle with your cable provider.

“Knocking down the price is as simple as taking the time to call and ask — politely,” says personal financewriter Andrea Woroch.

Woroch practices what she preaches. She recently called her cable company to ask about new promotions. The result? “A $50-per-month savings by bundling my services and switching to autopay.”

Negotiating requires persistence. If at first you don’t succeed, call back and talk to someone else. Woroch suggests asking for a supervisor or manager if necessary.

7. 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 both streaming services start at $7.99.

Those looking for a less drastic option can trySlingTV or DirecTV Now. Packages start at $20 with SlingTV and $35 with DirecTV Now. Both offer access to live and on-demand TV without all the extra fees of cable.

Whether you go bold or make small cuts, the savings on your cable bill will add up over time — giving your budget more breathing roomso you can treat yourself in other areas.

Kelsey Sheehy is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: ksheehy@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KelseyLSheehy.

The article 7 Ways to Lower Your Cable Bill originally appeared on NerdWallet.