How to Maximize Benefits for Paying $60/Month for Internet Fee?

Hi OzBargainers,

I have lived in Australia for 5 years. In 2015, I paid TPG $60/month for the unlimited ADSL package. At the same time, I paid Vodafone $35/month for 3 GB data using by my phone.

Now, I am still paying TPG $60/m but upgrading ADSL to NBN, meanwhile paying Boost $12.50/m for 6.6 GB/m (using deal $150 sim). I used to be a SIM hopper between Catch and Kogan with 20 GB/m just for $5/m.

So, it is easy to see the fee for phone data drops significantly but I am paying the same price for Internet at home. I did a search but could not find a better option for Unlimited Internet.

Please give me your suggestion so that either I can pay less or if I can maximise advantages from $60/month (e.g. a contract with WIFI router using sim card…)

Thank you for reading :)

Comments

  • What is your speed requirement ?

    • Just enough to watch Youtube on my 14" laptop.

      • +4

        I use Telstra 5GB sim which slows down to 1.5 Mbps after 5 GB. So, it can be considered as a 1.5 Mbps unlimited connection.
        I pay only $5 per month (also with $45 cash back from CR) from a previous OzB deal but typical price is $15 per month.
        I watch Netflix, Youtube, Binge (got for free from Telstra deal) upto 720p 30fps (or 480p can be more realistic) and do typical web browsing.

        • Is 1.5 Mbps really enough to watch YouTube 720p 30fps???

          • +1

            @Blue Cat: Not in my experience. Would very regularly buffer.

          • +1

            @Blue Cat: As I remember it worked when I was not doing any other thing and I think it depends on the video. 720p 60fps and 720p 30fps with speeds higher than 1x didn't work well and buffered . Also I have set "Always prefer AV1 codec" in settings. Realistically, I watch at 360p or 480p. For Netflix and Binge, I have set to "SD" quality.

  • +2

    The answer to your question depends on what you use the home internet for and how many people in your household use it

    If you are just one person using the home internet and you really need to keep your home internet then you could look at getting one of those mobile data plans which get throttled to 1.5mbs for the rest of the month after a certain data usage. Or you could just get a bigger mobile data plan and hotspot your home tv or computer to your mobile phone

    If more than one person is using the home internet then you really do need to pay the NBN $60 per month. You could start sim swapping again to save some money and offset it against the price of the home internet. But it is a bit of hassle sim swapping all the time.

    In my opinion, home internet and mobile internet are very essential. They have an impact on my quality of life. If I want to watch a show, or if I want to browse something, then I don't want to see any buffering or lag, that absolutely pisses me off. Therefore I do not cut corners on these two. I try to make up for these costs by reducing costs elsewhere

    I hope this helps!

  • +1

    Cant really save on essentials

  • +2

    Download every Linux iso ever created.

    • Leave your torrent client running 24/7 with unlimited upload speeds to give back to the community!1


      1. Uploading completely legally acquired Linux ISOs of course. 

      • +1

        Uploading completely legally acquired Linux ISOs of course

        Is there another use for bit torrent? I do not know of one.

  • Thank you everyone.
    I agree with @aardvarks, can not save much, just accept it and make it up by doing something else as @ashdays :)
    Thanks :)

  • +1

    The cheapest unlimited plan I found was Superloop for $44.95 a month for 25 Mbps (I believe it was a Promo for 6 month with $10 off). When this ends I will jump to another provider, but agree Internet in Oz is very expensive.

    I am considering the 100GB mobile plan from Circles.Life as my home internet.

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