As a blogger or small business owner, the internet is our most valuable tool. But what can you do if you have sucky internet? Let me tell you I am getting to a ‘pro’ at managing horrible internet service! I am going to share with you how I manage to survive all while still blogging and running my eBay and Etsy shops.
Not to sound like I am tooting my own horn, but I am crazy busy, and almost all of it revolves are using the internet. But, we live in a rural area, and our internet company will not upgrade the service out here. Yes, I know I choose to live here… Yes, I know it’s a rural area… But, when you have three blog posts due, five Etsy orders to ship, and a couple of eBay orders to manage, you cannot just wait for the better internet to appear instantly.
How Horrible is My Internet Service?
On a good day, my internet speeds are 0.8 downloads and 0.3 uploads. On a bad day, I may get a third of that! Yes, I do frequently call and report this, and no, it gets me nowhere except making me extremely irritable (and wanting a stiff drink).
Oh, and guess what there are no other providers in my area! Yeah, it stinks to be me. I have even tried to get Satellite Internet and guess what it is not available either. The companies I have called say one of two things; they are not available in my area (what? Your commercials told me you were everywhere…cough***liar**) or they have already reached their limit.
A little more ranting, because this seriously hacks me off. I pay twice as much as internet service providers charge just 2.5 miles from my home, which seriously is a pet peeve of mine! My hubby and I are even willing to pay more if we knew it would result in better service.
I also know we are not the only ones in our area who complain about Windstream. Yes, I did link to them in hopes it shames them a little bit. If you look on their Facebook page, you will see TONS of horrible reviews from users just like me.
So, what this internet loving girl do?
How to Survive with Horrible Internet Service?
It is sad to say I have found MANY ways to survive my horrible internet service. Some work better than other, but this girl has to stay in business! Here are a few ways I make due and maybe it will help you out to0.
Affiliate links are sometimes used on Haley’s Vintage which means that I make a small commission when you make a purchase, at no cost to you.
Use a Mobile Hotspot
Using a mobile hotspot is my go-to choice for light duty work. You want to be careful about doing some tasks like uploading a 1080p video to Youtube or uploading a lot of photos because this will burn through you data allowance for the month. I connect my Macbook Pro to my iPhone 6plus, and it works like a charm! And, I get decent speeds by doing this. Just for reference, we do use AT&T for our mobile service provider, and we love them!
Bum a Free Wifi Connection
You do need to be a little careful what you do on a free wifi connect. I personally never do any banking while on these… So just use a little common sense, but you can go here for even more wifi safety tips. You may want to try a few places out to get the best connection. You can use services like testmy.net to get speed test results.
My Favorite Public Wifi Places:
- Starbucks
- McDonalds
- Panera
- Apple Store
- Whole Foods
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Barnes & Noble
Other Places To Consider:
- Hospital
- Local Coffee Shop
- Public Libary
- Parks
- Some Airports
You can even do Google search for ‘free wifi near me’ to find new places close to you. Insider Tip: You don’t always need to go into these locations to use their free wifi. But, you will need to park as close as possible. Keep in business do provide free wifi in hopes you will purchase something.
AT&T does offer free wifi hotspots at select locations for their customers. I LOVE this added benefit with my account! If you are not a customer, you can pay a small fee for a one-time use.
Bum a Friends Wifi
Going to a friends house is my absolute favorite solution! Grab the kids and head to your BFF’s home. But, don’t be rude and spend your whole time on the computer. Don’t expect them to be a babysitter either. I would suggest bringing lunch or snacks to sweeten the deal. Your friend will appreciate the gesture. Tip: Remember they are generously letting you use their wifi so don’t abuse it.
Conclusion
Having slow or horrible internet service does not have to stop you from achieving your goals. So start your Etsy shop, sell on eBay, write a blog, or whatever is your heart’s desires are; because you can succeed no matter what. You may just need to be a little flexible.
Bonus Tip: You can use apps to run your business or blog, but they cannot always do what you need.
Let’s Talk: How do you survive internet outages? Do you like your service provider?
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