Staying connected in today’s day and age has become a necessity for many people. Since it’s a part of our daily lives, consumers often get bombarded with huge bills thanks to the rising costs of everyday commodities.
Thanks to the annual US consumer media spending report for 2024 by ReviewOrg, we’re getting a closer look at pricing data throughout leading telecom services up for grabs across America. This includes a comprehensive survey about spending habits witnessed in 2024.
Some key findings before we get into the depth of the report speak about average monthly phone and internet bills hitting $130. This goes up to an average of $273 when you add both mobile and internet to any other cable television with streaming platforms.
We agree that it’s not an ideal situation, many keep searching for ways to save big bucks without compromising on service quality. Below, we’ve summarized everything you need to know in terms of telecom expenses with some expert tips on how to keep costs to a bare minimum.
For a stable mobile connection, internet, and streaming service, the average American spends $273 every month. In a year, that hits a grand total of $3275. When we look at how much the average American citizen makes in the private sector, the figure is roughly $1216 weekly or $63,200 yearly. When you see factors like connectivity, household expenses in this domain comprise 5% of the yearly total income for a single individual.
When looking at reports from 2023, total costs for home connectivity fell by 3.4%. But despite weekly earnings on the rise and inflation coming down to a slow, this does not equate to a fall in expenses for goods and services over a certain time. In the past 10 years, both internet and cable saw a gradual decline in price rise, with only mobile services witnessing that fall.
Home internet for the average American is thankfully not as much as other necessary expenditures for living like electricity. Still, we cannot deny the fact that it makes a major dent in people’s pockets in terms of monthly expenses. As per the report, Americans are spending $69.4 every month for internet plans which comes down to a total of $833 every year and $49,986 over 60 year lifetime average.
Still, we must add that the type of internet connection in use is also a major deal breaker. On average, most cable internet providers have the lowest prices for internet service. And you’ve probably guessed by now that satellite internet still stands as the most expensive one of them all. Providers for DSL, 5G broadband, fixed wireless, and fiber continue to be cheaper alternatives in the middle-cost range.
While cable internet still stands at the lowest, we must admit that they never have the best deals. They’re usually selling plans with promotional price tags that rise with time. Moreover, there are some packages entailing greater fees than others for the likes of installing it or providing any additional equipment.
Internet comprising fiber-optic is more expensive but ends up being more economical in the long term as there’s no hidden costs or price hikes. Moreover, internet users often get faster internet speeds through fiber as well.
As per this report, we found that cable internet and wireless 5G are used the most while Satellite is used the least. In terms of speed, fiber, and cable perform the best but still, most people consider a cable plan as their go-to service. With time, we’re seeing increasing popularity for 5G home internet that might soon become Americans’ number one choice.
Moving on to tips and tricks from experts in terms of saving money on internet services, it has to do with downgrading internet plans to more affordable but "not so fast" options. Some feature a plan for as low as $50 per month or even below that and the speed on offer is between 100Mbps to 300Mbps. If you ask the experienced users, it’s enough to supplement a family of 2 to 5.
Another great tip to lower internet costs is opting for a 5G home internet plan that features stable rates including router fees on rent. Search for some special offers or see if you can bargain a great deal by contacting customer service and support. Some providers are great and willing to provide promotions when you speak about cheaper options with other providers.
Moving on to mobile phone plans, you’ll be amazed to learn that most popular schemes cost Americans $60 a month. Annually, the price comes to $731, and over a lifetime period, it’s nearly $43,892. Experts do recommend saving big time on such offers by offering deals that provide a limit on data usage. As per the study, the average American spends just 13.6 GB worth of mobile data every month.
Many top mobile carrier alternatives you can opt for include Tello, Visible, and Mint. They offer great plans that are not only simple but cost-effective. With costs that are nearly 36% cheaper, it might be $39 every month on an average basis.
Other tips to save big on mobile plans are signing up for autopay or paperless billing options. You can easily remove $10 this way. Another great tip is getting special discounts when you’re a military veteran, student, or first responder. You’re liable to get special discounts. You can even expand family plans with more lines and that’s bound to make it cheaper. Don’t forget to search for some bundles which combine a phone with the internet. You’ll see how some great plans cost just $50 per month together. Prepaid might be another option worth a visit.
While you might think the world of streaming has taken over cable television, we’re here to confirm that this might not be the case. Live TV services are still very much happening and 40% of all Americans use cable TV while 14% use satellite television options. On average, TV plans cost $89 every month. But with the right tips, you can save a lot.
Always look for plans that offer those channels that you’re keen on watching. Examples include ESPN, CBS, CNN, and Disney. While they are only up for grabs in upper-tier options, at least you’re paying for something you’ll use and need. You can even speak to your provider about any bundle deals where cable TV combines with the internet to get a better offer. Avoiding add-ons is another great way to keep those expenses down to a bare minimum.
Last but not least, we thought it was time to discuss streaming services. As per the study, the average American spends nearly $42 each month on streaming which is $508 every year. Before we forget, the pricing plans have gone down 23% from what was reported in 2023’s report so that’s a bonus.
Some Americans can overwhelmed by the number of options to choose from when subscribing to streaming services. Still, it continues to serve as one of the biggest pastimes in America. You might be shocked to learn that most American households have 2 streaming services and go up to watching four hours each day of their favorite shows.
This is why saving money here can really help your budget in the long run. As per the study, most Americans also share accounts with others to help bring costs down to a minimum. But thanks to some crackdowns by
So as you can tell, a little extra effort and resourcefulness can go a long way to putting those monthly bills down when it comes to connectivity. We hope these tips can save you and your loved ones a little extra cash and what better way to begin the new year than by being mindful, right?
Read next:
• Global Survey Unveils Influencer Aspirations, Social Media Trends, and AI's Growing Role in Content Creation
• Did Apple Keep You in the Dark About Data Sharing in ‘Enhanced Visual Search’?
• Mobile Addiction Soars, Americans Check Phones 205 Times Daily, Survey Reveals
Thanks to the annual US consumer media spending report for 2024 by ReviewOrg, we’re getting a closer look at pricing data throughout leading telecom services up for grabs across America. This includes a comprehensive survey about spending habits witnessed in 2024.
Some key findings before we get into the depth of the report speak about average monthly phone and internet bills hitting $130. This goes up to an average of $273 when you add both mobile and internet to any other cable television with streaming platforms.
We agree that it’s not an ideal situation, many keep searching for ways to save big bucks without compromising on service quality. Below, we’ve summarized everything you need to know in terms of telecom expenses with some expert tips on how to keep costs to a bare minimum.
For a stable mobile connection, internet, and streaming service, the average American spends $273 every month. In a year, that hits a grand total of $3275. When we look at how much the average American citizen makes in the private sector, the figure is roughly $1216 weekly or $63,200 yearly. When you see factors like connectivity, household expenses in this domain comprise 5% of the yearly total income for a single individual.
When looking at reports from 2023, total costs for home connectivity fell by 3.4%. But despite weekly earnings on the rise and inflation coming down to a slow, this does not equate to a fall in expenses for goods and services over a certain time. In the past 10 years, both internet and cable saw a gradual decline in price rise, with only mobile services witnessing that fall.
Home internet for the average American is thankfully not as much as other necessary expenditures for living like electricity. Still, we cannot deny the fact that it makes a major dent in people’s pockets in terms of monthly expenses. As per the report, Americans are spending $69.4 every month for internet plans which comes down to a total of $833 every year and $49,986 over 60 year lifetime average.
Still, we must add that the type of internet connection in use is also a major deal breaker. On average, most cable internet providers have the lowest prices for internet service. And you’ve probably guessed by now that satellite internet still stands as the most expensive one of them all. Providers for DSL, 5G broadband, fixed wireless, and fiber continue to be cheaper alternatives in the middle-cost range.
While cable internet still stands at the lowest, we must admit that they never have the best deals. They’re usually selling plans with promotional price tags that rise with time. Moreover, there are some packages entailing greater fees than others for the likes of installing it or providing any additional equipment.
Internet comprising fiber-optic is more expensive but ends up being more economical in the long term as there’s no hidden costs or price hikes. Moreover, internet users often get faster internet speeds through fiber as well.
As per this report, we found that cable internet and wireless 5G are used the most while Satellite is used the least. In terms of speed, fiber, and cable perform the best but still, most people consider a cable plan as their go-to service. With time, we’re seeing increasing popularity for 5G home internet that might soon become Americans’ number one choice.
Moving on to tips and tricks from experts in terms of saving money on internet services, it has to do with downgrading internet plans to more affordable but "not so fast" options. Some feature a plan for as low as $50 per month or even below that and the speed on offer is between 100Mbps to 300Mbps. If you ask the experienced users, it’s enough to supplement a family of 2 to 5.
Another great tip to lower internet costs is opting for a 5G home internet plan that features stable rates including router fees on rent. Search for some special offers or see if you can bargain a great deal by contacting customer service and support. Some providers are great and willing to provide promotions when you speak about cheaper options with other providers.
Moving on to mobile phone plans, you’ll be amazed to learn that most popular schemes cost Americans $60 a month. Annually, the price comes to $731, and over a lifetime period, it’s nearly $43,892. Experts do recommend saving big time on such offers by offering deals that provide a limit on data usage. As per the study, the average American spends just 13.6 GB worth of mobile data every month.
Many top mobile carrier alternatives you can opt for include Tello, Visible, and Mint. They offer great plans that are not only simple but cost-effective. With costs that are nearly 36% cheaper, it might be $39 every month on an average basis.
Other tips to save big on mobile plans are signing up for autopay or paperless billing options. You can easily remove $10 this way. Another great tip is getting special discounts when you’re a military veteran, student, or first responder. You’re liable to get special discounts. You can even expand family plans with more lines and that’s bound to make it cheaper. Don’t forget to search for some bundles which combine a phone with the internet. You’ll see how some great plans cost just $50 per month together. Prepaid might be another option worth a visit.
While you might think the world of streaming has taken over cable television, we’re here to confirm that this might not be the case. Live TV services are still very much happening and 40% of all Americans use cable TV while 14% use satellite television options. On average, TV plans cost $89 every month. But with the right tips, you can save a lot.
Always look for plans that offer those channels that you’re keen on watching. Examples include ESPN, CBS, CNN, and Disney. While they are only up for grabs in upper-tier options, at least you’re paying for something you’ll use and need. You can even speak to your provider about any bundle deals where cable TV combines with the internet to get a better offer. Avoiding add-ons is another great way to keep those expenses down to a bare minimum.
Last but not least, we thought it was time to discuss streaming services. As per the study, the average American spends nearly $42 each month on streaming which is $508 every year. Before we forget, the pricing plans have gone down 23% from what was reported in 2023’s report so that’s a bonus.
Some Americans can overwhelmed by the number of options to choose from when subscribing to streaming services. Still, it continues to serve as one of the biggest pastimes in America. You might be shocked to learn that most American households have 2 streaming services and go up to watching four hours each day of their favorite shows.
This is why saving money here can really help your budget in the long run. As per the study, most Americans also share accounts with others to help bring costs down to a minimum. But thanks to some crackdowns by
So as you can tell, a little extra effort and resourcefulness can go a long way to putting those monthly bills down when it comes to connectivity. We hope these tips can save you and your loved ones a little extra cash and what better way to begin the new year than by being mindful, right?
Read next:
• Global Survey Unveils Influencer Aspirations, Social Media Trends, and AI's Growing Role in Content Creation
• Did Apple Keep You in the Dark About Data Sharing in ‘Enhanced Visual Search’?
• Mobile Addiction Soars, Americans Check Phones 205 Times Daily, Survey Reveals
