How to save money this year, cable’s not the answer.

What better way to start the year off than with a nice increase on your cable bill. When everyone else is getting a break cable customers get a bigger bill, which is the last thing anyone needs now-a-days. The good news is Time Warner’s dispute with Viacom worked out in the customers’ favor. There was no interruption in programming so it could’ve been a lot worse. The bad news is the price of cable has gone up, in some cases it could jump as high as $11. These increases will also be seen with RoadRunner subscribers as well. For instance, RoadRunner ’Lite’ customers get a $2 increase to $26.95, equivalent to an 8 percent increase. For broadcast users — that includes just the basic TV channels like CBS, ABC and NBC — the monthly bill will jump 21 percent a month.

These hikes have a lot of people considering their options. The first response is usually to call and ask why your bill has gone up and see what you can cut back on, if anything. Sometimes by threatening to switch service providers you can get them to lower the bill but if they don’t want to cut you a break, maybe a switch is necessary. It’s definitely a smart move with so many deals out right now that could possibly cut your bill in half. Switching to a low cost satellite provider is one of the more popular options with some packages out there for under $20. Now that is the way to kick off the New Year, especially if your New Year’s resolution is to save money.