It’s nearly impossible to imagine a life without cell phones. Staying in touch even when you are nowhere near home is a luxury that many people have become accustomed to. One thing that many wish they weren’t used to are those pricey bills that come in the mail each month. While it’s extremely easy to feel trapped and as though there is no other solution for you, there are many simple changes you can make that don’t necessarily mean switching providers and paying hefty, early cancellation fees.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Usage
First and foremost, it is imperative that you pay very close attention to your phone usage. Know your current plan inside and out, taking full advantage of those free night and weekend minutes. Many customers feel pressured to opt for unlimited minutes and texting simply because they don’t like the hassle of counting minutes and watching their usage closely. However, in many cases, you don’t actually need that kind of plan and could save money by instead selecting a reduced number of minutes, texts and gigabytes instead. When you are at home, minimize your data usage by turning on your phone’s wifi. You can also make free calls via your wifi connection with applications such as Skype so you can keep in touch without feeling guilty.
Discounts and Reduced Rates to Look Out For
There are many businesses that offer their employees reduced monthly rates on some of the most popular cell phone companies on the market. These savings generally range anywhere from 10-30%. Such deals aren’t always advertised so speak with your human resources department or current provider for more information.
When many people hear the term ‘family plan’, they assume this is something only available to individuals that are blood related. This, however, is not the case. You’ve probably heard that bundling a number of services (such as your phone, internet and cable) through a single provider can save a pretty penny and so can adding multiple lines onto your account versus paying separately. Many companies only charge a small amount each month ($10-30) for each additional line, depending on the type of phone you select. When you share the monthly bill with others, everyone gets to enjoy savings. Worried about going over? Many companies offer locks that will not allow certain lines to talk during specific times of the day (such as your child during school hours). You can also sign up for email or text alerts when usage is reaching its peak to avoid overage charges.
Keep Your Current Provider on Their Toes
Even when you are happy with your current provider, it never hurts to pay attention to other cell phone companies and what they are offering their customers. Oftentimes simply calling your provider and speaking to them about lower prices you could get by switching to another company will be the nudge they need in order to give you a great deal. The website SaveLoveGive is a great tool that helps individuals looking for deals by analyzing their current bills and providing them with recommendations on how they can continue to use their phones the same without paying more than necessary. The site has already saved cell phone users a few million dollars.
Author Bio: Today’s guest author, Dawn Anderson, is a financial consultant at Money Saving Angels, an insurance company based in England. Her profound knowledge in the field and the years of experience has made her an expert in handling various financial issues. To know more about her and the company, click here.