Tips to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

By in Spend

I’m sure I’m not the first to mention cell phone bills are getting more and more expensive.  I’m a proud user of an iPhone and I’ll be the first to admit it isn’t cheap.  But, I do love it.  It provides me all sorts of benefits and efficiencies when it comes to blogging and staying up on personal finance news.  All of this of course is to bring you more money savings tips such as the ones I’m about to share!  :)

I moved to Dallas 12 years ago and I didn’t have a cell phone when a I got here.  In fact, it was a year and a half later I decided to make the move to get my first cell phone.  I remember I was carrying around a huge phone in which there was no way it would ever fit into my pocket.  I think I put it in my glove compartment most of the time.Tips to Save Money on Cell Phone

Well, as you know cell phone’s and cell phone bills are here for good and as the latest gadgets become available I would expect consumer’s bills to increase even more.

But, not so fast!  There are some good tips you may want to take into consideration before you cell phone bill takes over your budget.  Here are some good tips from a Money Magazine article I recently read.

  • Downshift service  – Ask your carrier for a usage summary going back 12 months to see if you could get by on a cheaper plan.
  • Ask about affiliate discounts - If you work for a large company, government agency, or university, you probably qualify for a discount.
  • Cancel coverage – Unless you have a disaster-prone teen, insurance that covers your phone for loss or damage is usually a waste.
  • Say you’re leaving – Carriers don’t want to lose customers, so if you tell them you’ve found a better plan, you could get a break.
  • Prepay the piper – If you use less than 300 minutes a month, they [prepaid phone plans] can be an economical choice. 
  • Monitor your minutes – Check your usage weekly – online or via the dialing code provided by your carrier – and limit your calls accordingly.
  • Get 411 for free – Use Google’s no-cost option instead:  Just 800-GOOG-411.
  • Dialing abroad over WI-FI – If you often make international callas and have an app-capable smartphone, download the Skype app.

Here are some thoughts on some of these tips:

  • I do like the idea of possibly downshifting service.  You’ll definitely want to pay attention to your minutes each month.  If unused minutes don’t roll-over to the next month and you consistently have minutes left-over; seriously consider a cheaper plan.
  • Yes, I’m paying a good penny for the AT&T iPhone service, but it’s with a company discount.  Yep, I researched, asked and received!
  • If you’re serious about leaving the carrier it’s okay to tell them so.  Otherwise, don’t lie to try to get a discount!
  • I must say my favorite tip is to monitor your minutes.  As I mentioned, I have an iPhone.  AT&T provides and application that allows me to monitor my minutes which helps me stay on track.  We actually have a family plan so my wife and I can stay on top of usage. 
  • The next tip close to home is using Google 411 to save money.  On past bills we were using information services several times a month which unecessarily added such extra charges to our bill.
  • I haven’t tried Skype, but have heard of people saving a lot of money using this service. 

What tips have you found helpful in saving money on your cell phone bill?

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About Jason

Jason started blogging in 2009 when he created One Money Design. Since then it has grown into a group of writers with unique personalities and a common goal of helping people on the journey to true financial freedom. Jason is an IT project manager by day, but you’ll find him blogging about personal finance and exploring web entrepreneurship late at night and the early hours of the morning. He’s also actively involved in a financial coaching ministry in his community where he shares principles of biblical stewardship and helps people learn to manage their money wisely. Jason enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and two awesome children and lives in north Dallas. Twitter | Facebook | +Jason Price
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  • kt

    if you have a good internet connection, you ca use free call services online whenever you can. I do this from time to time and saves me a bundle of cash, particularly when making international calls. Tips above are also very good and practical
    .-= kt´s last blog ..Liar’s poker by Michael lewis- personal book review =-.

    • http://www.onemoneydesign.com Jason Price

      kt, which online call services do you use?

  • http://blog.findthebestcarprice.com Car Negotiation Coach

    Had no idea about the Google 411…will definitely be using that!
    .-= Car Negotiation Coach´s last blog ..Dealer Add on’s &amp Extras – what they don’t want you to know =-.

    • http://www.onemoneydesign.com Jason Price

      I love Google 411. It’s definitely helped save on those silly information charges.

  • Paula

    I changed to Net10 prepaid from a contract and I’m saving about $500.00 a year that way! I would love an i-phone but got a lovely SamsungT401G with a full slide-out qwerty keyboard from Net10 for $79.99 and I love it! My calls cost me 10c per minute and my texts 3c each and to phone my family overseas costs me 15c per minute which is a pleasure! No roaming fees, overage charges or nasty bills at the end of the month makes Net10 a pleasure!

  • http://www.moneyedup.com/ Moneyedup

    Using Skype can be a great way to save on your long distance bill. You can also make video calls over MSN or other instant messaging systems. Texting can be a huge addition to your phone bill, so if you text a lot you should get an unlimited plan.

  • Spy Bubble

    To lessen what you pay on your cell phone bill, what you need to do is very simple. Call or text someone if it is really important. When you are at home use Yahoo Messenger to call or send short messages to your friends.

  • http://myblog.livingfinanciallyfreeministries.com Greg

    I don’t have an iPhone so apps aren’t an option for us, but I have found a Firefox addon for our verizon service. I shows usage from my web browser without ever visiting the verizon website.
    Greg recently posted..Turning finances into an extreme sportMy Profile

  • edwin

    There are some great tips here. I already use skype and Google 411 but the biggest saving I found has been by switching to prepaid. I use Net10, with a pretty basic phone, and it lets me pay for what I use plus (essentially) role over any minutes I don’t. It means I save almost $60 a month on what I was paying with my contract phone before.

  • Andrew

    My best tip? To switch over to Net10′s prepaid cell phones. No contracts means that YOU are in control of your bills. I made the switch about a year ago and am in love. I am saving so much money!

  • Creed

    I have to agree with Andrew. Net10 is just awesome and so cheap.

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  • fins2010

    You know, I got tired of asking my cell phone carrier for help with the bill. First, I would spend too much valuable time waiting to speak to a live person, and then they were just useless. My friend told me about trying a prepaid cell phone and I just dismissed it. That was a mistake. I switched to Net10 and got a great phone and even 300 minutes and 60 days service with activation. It has been about 4 months and so far so good. I can still call internationally and text messaage very reasonably. It is great knowing exactly what I’ll spend on my phone each month with no hidden charges or lengthy contract.

  • cindyh

    Oh you have to decrease your cell phone plan. ITs seriously the most important thing. I was on sprint for YEARS. they were wonderful yeah.. the cost was rising.. the bills the contracts.. i know i know. I got a tracfone prepaid because I couldn’t afford it anymore. It was just ridiculous how much they were taking advantage of me. It took a bit to figure out how it works.. but once i did.. it was on. Customer service was very sweet and helped me and now I do the exact same thing and talk and text the same I did on sprint.. but I save literally 50 percent!!!!

  • http://unlimitedprepaidphone.com Cornea503

    Saving considerable cash on your cell phone plan is very simple. Switch to prepaid. There is a plan available for every usage habit, from 0 minutes a month to unlimited at a fraction of the cost. The hard part is getting people to convince themselves that a phone is not a status symbol and apps won’t solve all your problems. Why else do people pay $100 a month for their beloved iPhones just so they can look kewl while sipping a $7 cup of Starbucks coffee? Me, ill keep paying my $19.99 every 3 months for my Tracfone.
    Cornea503 recently posted..New Straight Talk Smartphones Nokia E71 and Nokia 6790My Profile

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    hi – nice blog, just shopping around some blogs, seems a reasonably nice platform you use. I’m currently using WordPress

  • Juliet

    I started off this new year on the right foot…I got myself a prepaid cell phone. Instead of spending $100+ on a contract Smartphone, I got myself a prepaid TracFone. For $45 a month I am reaping all the benefits of a contract phone without the high prices! Thanks TracFone!!

    • ShappyR

      Juliet, How many minutes do you get with that plan? I looked at tracfone and since I have higher usage requirements, this didn’t work for me. One of their branch companies, Net10, is a better option with their unlimited monthly plan. Since usage is unlimited, you never worry about going over and you pay the same ever month. They provide nationwide coverage on either AT&T or Verizon. You really need to check with customer service as to which one will work in your area, that’s what I did. They also told me that this works in Puerto Rico as well.

  • Vincent

    Great tip! A great way to save money on your cell phone bill is to go with prepaid. Prepaid and unlimited is best. Straight talk has an unlimited plan for only $45 a month. This way you know what you are paying each month and there are not overages and other charges. There is no contract and you can go by a Straight Talk phone at your local Walmart.

  • gabrielle

    So I am trying to choose which prepaid provider to go with and I read on another website that NET10 may be coming out with a touchscreen 3G phone next month. That really makes me want to go with their coverage over the rest!