By Andrea Hargraves 
With the return to school and the end of the holidays, many Portuguese are faced with the need to adjust their household budget, including fixed costs such as energy and communications.
According to the latest data from ANACOM, Portuguese consumers spend, on average, €38.51 on communication packages. These costs are 5.2% higher than the EU average and have registered a significant increase.
In July 2024, telecommunications prices in Portugal rose by 0.2% compared to the previous month and by 7.1% compared to the same period last year. Since the end of 2009, telecommunications prices in Portugal have increased by 22.7%, while in the European Union they have decreased by 8.6%.
To help mitigate the impact of this increase, Selectra recommends several savings strategies:
- Assess your real needsAdjust your communication package to match your actual consumption and avoid unnecessary expenses.
- Compare offers from different operators: Check the prices and conditions offered by different operators to find the most beneficial option.
- Pay attention to the end of the loyalty period: Use the end of the contract to renegotiate or switch to an operator offering more competitive offers.
- Take advantage of seasonal campaignsDuring back-to-school and holiday periods, operators often launch special offers that can represent significant savings.
- Review your mobile data and Wi-Fi usage.Consider cheaper options if your package includes more mobile data than you need, and take advantage of Wi-Fi whenever possible.
- Use of alternative communication servicesApps like WhatsApp, Skype or Zoom allow you to make free calls and messages, and are especially useful for international calls.