Nifty & thrifty, including how to bag a great deal on broadband and Tara’s top tip of the week

Fed up with that spinning wheel? Vix Leyton, from broadbandchoices, explains how to get the best deal for you

1 Check how many people will be using it

The more people at home, the slower it will be. If you have a large family or live in a shared house with four or more, look for packages that are fast enough to accommodate everyone using it at once. That said, unlimited broadband – up to 17Mb – should be good enough in most cases, with some deals starting at £18.99.

2 Think about what you’re using it for

If you regularly tune into on-demand TV and film services, or play games online, then you’ll need a package to accommodate it. Video guzzles gigabytes, so unlimited usage is essential. If you can afford it, we’d recommend fibre, as the high bandwidth will minimise buffering and allow for high-definition quality. Fibre speeds can range from 38Mbps to 300Mbps.

3 Ask about extras

Many broadband providers bundle call plans into their packages and it’s often better value doing this if you use your landline. The most common three types of call plan available are: pay as you go, evening and weekend calls, and inclusive anytime calls. You can also get mobile and international calling plans from some providers, so be prepared to haggle!

4 Remember, location matters

The packages you can get depend entirely on where you live. Use our postcode checker to find out which providers and speeds are available where you live: broadbandchoices.co.uk/ broadband/check-my-area.