Does your monthly cell phone bill send you into shock? It doesn't have to. Here are fourteen ways to save money on your cell phone bill.
Track Your Talk Time
Do you go over your minutes each month? Then, it's time to start tracking your talk time. Sign up with overmyminutes.com, (a free service) and you'll receive an e-mail or text message to let you know when you're about to run out of minutes.
Use the Same Plan as Friends and Family
Many cell phone service providers offer free in-network calls or allow you to choose a small group of in-network friends and family that you can call for free. So, get all of your most-called people on one plan, and you could save big.
Don't Use Your Cell Phone for Toll-free Calls
Toll-free calls aren't free when you make them from a cell phone; so save your 1-800 calls for times when you access to a landline. After all, being put on hold is painful enough when you aren't paying for it by the minute.
Don't Use 4-1-1
Dial 4-1-1 from a cell phone, and it could cost you $1 or more. Crazy! Fortunately, you can skip the charge and still get the information that you need by calling 1-800-GOOG-411, a free 4-1-1 service provided by Google.
Another free 4-1-1 number to try:
1-800-free411
Bundle Services
Move all of your services – cell phone, cable/ satellite, Internet and home phone to one provider, and you're likely to be rewarded with a bundled service discount.Go Prepaid
If you only use your cell phone for occasional calls, a prepaid plan may be the cheapest service option for you. Shop around, and you could spend as little as $20 every three months. Now that's a deal!
Pick a Plan that Matches Your Talk Times
Do you make a lot of calls in the early evenings? On the weekends? Mid-day? Examine your phone habits; then, pick a plan that best matches them.
Switch to Unlimited Texting
Text messages can cost as much as 10-cents a piece (or more) to send and receive. Youch! If you do a lot of text messaging, a plan with unlimited text messages is definitely the way to go.Ditch the Extras
Phone replacement insurance, road side assistance, ringtone downloads, games, video streaming, e-mail, web surfing capability – there are lots of cell phone extras to choose from, but in the end they all do the same thing: add to your monthly cell bill. Stick to the basics, and you'll receive a more basic bill.
Be Realistic About Your Phone Use
When choosing a phone plan, people generally do one of two things: choose too small of a plan or choose too big of a plan. Be realistic about how often you'll use your phone, and you'll avoid paying more than you need to for service.
