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HOME broadband, line rental and phone calls have all risen in price over the past few years putting significant pressure on families already feeling the pinch as a result of stagnant wages and higher energy bills.

However, broadband and calls prices have, by no means, increased equally across the board.

There are still plenty of deals which continue to offer good value for money and, with some clever tricks, most subscribers could start paying less with a minimum of effort.

Our cheapest broadband postcode search is a good place to start finding the deals available in your area but, to nab the best deals, it's worth knowing a little more.

Here are five secrets of those paying the least for their broadband and calls.

1. 'Budget' providers aren't always cheapest

Here's a big broadband secret: marketing yourself as a budget provider is one thing, actually being the cheapest is another.

Providers like Plusnet and TalkTalk lure in subscribers with long half-price deals or similar special offers but set-up fees, high line rental costs and, of course, the actual prices once the offers are over conspire against those taking the provider-first approach.

In addition, most of the cheapest broadband and phone providers vary their prices by geographic areas and consumers served by the least competitive exchanges are likely to have to pay more.

Consumers will need to check availability in their area before assuming that they'll be able to get the prices as advertised which are, of course, also the lowest ones.

2. Mix and match broadband and calls

The same 'don't assume' principle applies to taking home phone alongside broadband in order to save money.

Many of the budget providers actually have fairly high line rental costs, just below BT's £14.60 a month, which is the highest monthly cost on the market.

Minimising line rental costs

The cheapest PAYG line rental is only offered through two providers:

• O2: £7.50 a month
• Be: £10 a month

However, this and other slightly cheaper line rental deals can end up being a false economy.

One 60 minute landline call with O2, for example, would be £2.88 (4.6p/min + 12.8p connection), almost as much as just moving up to the evenings and weekends deal.

Similarly, be cautious of bundle deals which only offer inclusive weekend calls (as BT and Virgin Media do as standard, for example) splashing a few pounds extra a month might be cheaper than the initial monthly saving.

It might also be worth considering whether you could save with a Voice over IP (VoIP) service like Skype, see the end of this guide for more information on that.

Are TV bundles cheaper?

Broadband users generally pay a premium for going elsewhere for home phone and many of the cheapest broadband deals are only available with digital TV.

However, just as the movie has taught us, sometimes trying to get 'cheaper by the dozen' can end up being more, rather than less, complicated.

Pick apart the savings and bundle deals tend to swiftly unravel. Once you factor in potential additional costs, they'll never really save money compared to standalone deals.

So instead, like the Gilbreths, focus on getting what you really want first and then make it fit your budget. Adding TV won't be worthwhile unless you actually use it.

3. Usage allowances: go low

According to one November 2011 study, 85% of Britons with broadband pay for more usage than they really need.

The study was a little flawed - you might well go for an 'unlimited' deal for reasons other than its being unlimited - but its point was well taken: many broadband users overestimate the download allowance that they'll need.

The study's 85%, for example, was made up of households which said that they didn't use the internet for downloading films or carrying out other high speed activities.

Without generally carrying out those activities, users need not pay more than around £5 a month for their broadband, the price of the cheapest deals which come with a 10GB monthly download allowance.

See our usage allowance guide for more information on download limits.

4. Long contracts

As you might expect, taking a longer broadband contract usually means taking a cheaper deal.

Most contracts currently last 12 months, with just a few bundle providers still insisting on an 18-month tie-in.

This is, increasingly, also true of calls.

Not only do many providers that bundle calls and broadband insist that the line rental contract also lasts for the minimum term, as line rental costs go through the roof providers are increasingly offering 'pay upfront' deals.

As you can see below, these offers knock a considerable amount off the monthly price of line rental but the lump sum amount you pay is non-refundable, so you're effectively tied in for a year even though the minimum contract may have ended.

• BT: £14.60 a month or £120 (effective £10 a month)
• TalkTalk: £13.80 a month or £114 (effective £9.50 a month)
• Plusnet: £12.99 a month or £113.88 (effective £9.49 a month)

5. Even cheaper broadband and calls:
free wi-fi and VoIP

However much you cut the monthly cost of broadband and calls, you'll still be paying at least about £15 a month for a connection.

And, as we've seen above, that assumes that you're happy to be locked into a long contract.

If you often move house or only need access to the internet very occasionally free wi-fi could be an even cheaper way to get online.

Finding free wi-fi

Thousands of cafes and pubs across the UK offer free wi-fi to their customers.

As well as thousands of independents, that includes some of the biggest brands - McDonalds, Wetherspoons, Walkabout and Pret a Manger are just four examples - but it's worth considering that shelling out for a few coffees a week to use these connections could soon add up... perhaps even to £15 a month.

Sites such as free-hotspot.com can also help you find free wi-fi in your area.

VoIP calls

Those looking to cut down on call costs could also do worse than looking at free VoIP services such as Skype and Sipgate.

Users need to download the software (free from their site), choose a user name and then just find the username of another Skype users.

From set-up to speaking takes just a few minutes and, as long as you don't exceed your data allowance, it's totally free.

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