Okay, so you’re sick and tired of internet that’s barely faster than dial-up speed, and you’ve decided to take the plunge and start shopping around for a new broadband package and provider. This is all well and good, except for the fact that shopping for broadband is like wading through quicksand at waist height. There are so many variables to consider, so many providers, so many deals, so many packages, and so many pitfalls to watch out for that you may wish to quit before you’ve even started and stick with your super-slow internet instead. To make your broadband shopping experience that little bit easier, here are 4 common mistakes people make when buying broadband. Make sure you don’t make these same mistakes, and everything will run a whole lot smoother.

Not shopping around

Nobody wants to pay more for something than they have to, and if you’re looking for broadband that doesn’t cost the earth, you’ll need to shop around and take your time. Virtually every household now has broadband, and when you consider the fact that the internet plays such an important role in everyday life, it’s easy to understand why. Because of this, there are now more broadband providers than ever, and each one offers their own unique deals and perks.

Going for the cheapest option

While it pays (literally) to be savvy with your finances, sometimes it’s worth spending a little more when looking at the bigger picture. You see, some people that shop around for broadband, literally base their search purely on the cost of the broadband deal itself. You get what you pay for in this world, and if you go with super-cheap broadband, there’s a strong chance that it will not be up to scratch. Competitively priced broadband is one thing, but if it’s ridiculously cheap, it will likely be plagued with issues. You needn’t spend a fortune, but don’t base your search purely on price alone.

Not considering data usage – If you’re a large household, or if you stream a lot of content and download a lot of things, you’ll get through a lot of data. Therefore, an unlimited broadband data plan will be more beneficial to you. If however, you don’t download very much, you might be okay with a data allowance. These packages will likely be cheaper than unlimited data packages and so you’ll save yourself a bit of money in the process.

Not considering bundles

If you have Sky TV or Virgin, it might be cheaper and more beneficial for you to go with a bundle deal instead of an individual broadband package. Bundles tend to include line rental, the TV package you’ve purchased, and the broadband, all rolled into one. If you need all three things anyway, it could be cheaper and easier to go with a broadband bundle deal instead.