Chances are if you have a karaoke machine, you have a cell phone. Here are some handy tips to cut down on your costs.
No one likes to pay bills and the one for the cell phone can be among the most dreaded. Most people know what it’s like to be shocked by a cell phone bill. Sometimes the charge is so astronomical that we chastise ourselves for letting the bill get so big. It’s also common for people to pay a lot more for things that aren’t their fault. Here are some simple tips to make sure your next cell phone bill doesn’t blow a hole in your bank account.
Keep track of minutes
The most obvious thing you can do save money is to talk less on your cell phone. But that doesn’t mean you have to limit your usage a lot. It’s more important to be smart about when and how you use your cell phone. The first step is to keep track of your minutes to get familiar with your calling patterns. It may seem like a hassle, but once you have a visual record sitting in front of you it is a lot easier to manage your minutes effectively. Make a note of your business calls and see how they differ from your personal ones. Chances are you make a lot more personal calls than you think. See how many of these can be shifted to times when you get free minutes. Or if it can wait, then make the call from your home phone instead. This will leave you free to consider business calls a necessary expense that you won’t feel bad about.
Read your bill
In addition to checking your bill every month for usage, make sure to look for where all the charges are coming from. Sometimes there are charges we incur every month that we don’t even know about. A lot of people glance at their cell phone bills without taking a closer look. But take the time to read every line of your bill. If there’s anything that stands out, make sure to ask your cell phone company to clarify why you’re being charged. Most importantly, pay your cell phone bill on time. The charges and penalties add up so quickly that getting your service cut off would actually be the least of your worries.
Pick the right plan
If you aren’t a huge cell phone user, you might want to consider a pay-as-you-go plan. These are a lot less wasteful and you tend to get more value for your dollar. If you choose to go with a contract keep in mind that they have their good and bad points. Most people go with a contract because they come with the latest fancy phones. But keep in mind that new phone may quickly decrease in value as they become more common. If a new phone is the sole reason you decide to go with a particular company then you should look deeper to see what other features you can get.
Fancy phones equal costs
Keep an eye on how many extra things you download for your phone. Remember that fancier phones may have more gadgets, but they also present more ways for you to spend money. For example, you might be tempted to buy the latest applications or games for your phone. Charges for these items are cheap individually but they quickly add up.
Texts
Sending and receiving texts has become increasingly popular. In fact, some people send a lot more texts that they spend time making calls. If you send a lot of texts then make sure your cell phone plan is geared towards that. Texts can be quite affordable as some plans can offer something like a thousand texts per month. But if you have text usage as part of your plan then each text will cost money and that can add up quickly.
Combine lines
Ask if your company has plans that combine two or more cell phones. Some companies have family plans that are very easy to set up. And if your company offers free calls to “favourites” then make sure to take advantage of that. If you only make calls to a few selected people then this feature will save you a lot of money.
Don’t roam
Roaming charges can be very expensive. In fact they can be so costly that it’s best to turn off your cell phone completely if you’re venturing outside of your calling zone. If you need to make a long distance call then a calling card is a good investment. You should only use your cell phone to call long distance if it’s an emergency.
Shop Around
The best way to control your cell phone bill is to use your power as a consumer. There are a lot of cell phone companies out there and they are all vying for your dollar. Shop around before you lock yourself into a plan. And if you don’t find something you like then don’t be afraid to get a prepaid or pay-as-you-go plan. Ask your friends about how happy they are with their companies. There will always be people who are trapped in miserable plans. Then there are those who love their cell phone providers. Talk to a mix of each to form an educated opinion about the best ways to save money.
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