Legit ways to save money on your TV, phone and internet bills

The CRTC wants Canadians to know that if they don't like their cable TV deal, they should shop around. The broadcast regulator is even offering an online guideon how to do so.

It also pays to shop around for phone and internet service. There are a growing number of choices out there, including smaller competitors and online alternatives that could help you savebig money on all your telco bills.

CBC News scoped out various options and highlights some here that are easy to obtain and, yes, perfectly legal.

Get freecellphoneservice

Exceeding your cellular plan's talk minutes every month?

Waterloo, Ont., companiesFongoandTextNowboth haveappsthat offer freecellphoneservice usingWi-Fior your mobile phone's data connection.

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Simply download either app toyourcellphoneat no charge and sign up. You'll immediately get a phone number, voicemail and countrywide calling for free.

TextNow also offers free unlimited texting in North America while Fongo charges $1.99 a month. Both apps also have low-cost long-distance deals.

A word of warning, when relying on Wi-Fi, a weak, congested or spotty connection could lead to diminished or temporarily dead service.

But the hiccups don't bother 80-year-old Agnes Thomson in Powassan, Ont. About a year and a half ago, she ditched her home phone and got a secondhand iPhone.

Thomsondidn't sign up for a cellular plan. Instead, she just uses the Fongo app and her home internet service.

Now, her only phone-related expense is two cents a minute to call family in Scotland.

"I enjoy it," says Thomson. "I can talk for a while and won't be getting a big bill."

Get cheaphome phone service

Just can't part with your landline? You might consider getting a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) system for your home phone. It enables you to make calls usingthe internet.

Companies like TekSavvy offer the system for a monthly fee, typically much lower than the cost of a traditional landline.

But you can score an even cheaper deal by purchasing a device like MagicJack or Ooma. You connect it to your home phone and your internet router, and get VOIP service plus features like voicemail for around $4 or less a month.

Stephen Weyman in Moncton, N.B., has been using MagicJack for the past five years. He bought the deviceonline, but you can also find it in stores like BestBuy for about $45. That includes a free year of service.

"It's very easy to use and set up and it's much cheaper than home phone service," says Weyman, who runs theconsumer tips websiteHowToSaveMoney.

He also says the service isreliable as long as your internet doesn't fail.

Share your Netflix password

This tip may sound improper but it's not. Last month, Netflix CEOReed Hastings declared that sharing your password for the streaming service is just fine.

He stated it's something Netflix has to live with, because there's so much legitimate password sharing going on. "So there's no bright line," on the issue, he said.

However, that doesn't mean you can now share your service with your entire extended family.

A standard $9.99 Netflix plan allows watching on only two screens at the same time. An $11.99 premium plan allows for the maximum offour screens playing simultaneously.

Explore streaming and antenna options

Still clinging to cable because Netflix just isn't enough? You have a couple of other streaming service options: BellCraveTV and RogersSportsnet Now.

Cineplex also offers a huge selection of movies that Canadians can download to rent or own.

To get the main Canadian networks for free, try an indooror outdoorantenna. Indoor onesmay pick up fewer channels, but they're super easy to set up andcan cost as little as $20.

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But before splurging,Weymanrecommends checking out the resource siteTVFool,which helps you figureout which over the air channels are accessible in your area.

Weymanalso points out that many Canadian networks including specialty channels likeBravo,HGTVand The Comedy Networkhave content available for free online.Weymanoffers a comprehensiveliston hiswebsite.

And if you don't enjoy watching shows on your laptop, there are simple ways to transfer the content onto your TV.

The easiest method is tobuy an HDMI cable, retailing for around $20. Use it to connect your laptop or tablet toyour television and any online video you play will show up on your TV screen.

For a wireless connection, Weyman suggests getting a Google Chromecast, which costs around $45. Plug the device into your TV set and you'll be able to stream video onto your television, cable-free.

Shop around for TV and internet

There are a growing number of smaller providers offering Canadians TV, internet and home phone services at competitive prices.

Many people have heard about the growing company, TekSavvy which offers internet and home phone deals.

But there are other small companies offering competitive rates including for TV packages. For example, Zazeen, VMedia, and CIK Telecom offer the skinny basic TV package for well below the usualprice of $25. Internet service is required and the companies only serve certainprovinces.

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You can also find internet deals from the big providers' discount brands. Bell's Virgin and Rogers'Fido brands are both currently offering deals for unlimited high-speed home internet.

For help findingthe cheapest plansfortelco services in your area, check theprice comparison websiteCompareMyRatesfor a rough idea of what's available.

Keep in mind that while the site might show services available in your province, not all of them maybe accessible in your community. You'll still need to confirm availabilitywith each provider.

Many Canadians are convinced they can get the best deals by bundling their products with just one company. But with all the options out there, you might find better prices by shopping around and taking the best offer for each individual service.