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Start with the nights and weekend minutes. For the most value, you'll want to find a carrier whose plans start early (6 p.m. or 7 p.m.). Some carriers may offer earlier start times for a fee. Figure out when you make the most phone calls, and see if one of these options will help you "sell down" your own plan to less standard minutes.
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Estimate your daily minutes use. Most carriers will allow you to change plans at any time; simply monitor your minute usage through your carrier's online account. If you get close to going over, call your carrier and up your minutes.
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Find rollover minute plans. These are plans that will allow any unused minutes to rollover from month to month (usually expiring after 12 months). Rollover minutes can again be monitored from most carriers' websites.
Check Out Text-Messaging Packages
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Check out text-messaging packages. They can range from $5 plans for 100 messages, all the way to unlimited text plans that can cost up to $20. Remember that sending and receiving messages on many plans costs upwards of $.15 per text, in some cases $.20 per text. As a general rule, if you plan to text more than 50 times in a month, a text plan is suggested.
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See if your carrier offers "free incoming messages." There are not many carriers offering this choice, but it's worth seeing if your carrier of choice is one that does.
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See if you can change your text plan in the middle of the month. This will allow you to monitor your text-message use. If you need to upgrade to a plan-based system or a larger plan, you can do so without paying higher per-text-message fees.
Look Over Data Packages; Request A Prorated Fee If Necessary.
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Look into unlimited data packages, especially if you plan to use a Smartphone with a keypad or large touchscreen, since this increases your chances of higher data use.
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If you realize your a la carte data plan usage is costing you a lot of money, simply call your carrier and tell them they forgot to add your unlimited data plan. In many cases, they'll prorate your bill from the start of the month, wiping out your per/KB use fees.
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Look at "tethered data plans," especially if you plan on using your data plan and tethering your device to a laptop or desktop PC. This can save you more over the other option, which is a second plan with data only.
Receive Better Deals On Your Cell Phones
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Find the phone you want to purchase and examine the cost of the phone--get ready to haggle. In most cases, you can receive an even better deal on the phone(s) you want by simply bargaining with the sales rep. The cellular industry is heavily sales commission-based. If you're going to use text message, they make money; if you add GPS services or other extras, they make money. Simply use all of the extras that you add as a bargaining tool.
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Sign a two-year contract instead of a one-year contract. Two-year contracts give you more money off of your cell phone.
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Send in your mail-in-rebates. Too many customers walk away without rebate forms. It takes a few minutes and saves you money.
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- Remember to shop around. Different carriers in different regions offer different types of packages. Look at the whole picture from these carriers, such as the price of your phone, the cost of minutes, data fees and other fees you may find in your area.
- Remember to shop around. Different carriers in different regions offer different types of packages. Look at the whole picture from these carriers, such as the price of your phone, the cost of minutes, data fees and other fees you may find in your area.
- On a cautionary note, please remember that excise taxes and other fees will be added monthly to your plans. If you are on a budget, make sure to find out from your state offices what those fees may be estimated to cost you. Never in any circumstance listen to a sales rep; they usually don't know the estimated costs or they may not being entirely upfront with you in order to make the sale.
- On a cautionary note, please remember that excise taxes and other fees will be added monthly to your plans. If you are on a budget, make sure to find out from your state offices what those fees may be estimated to cost you. Never in any circumstance listen to a sales rep; they usually don't know the estimated costs or they may not being entirely upfront with you in order to make the sale.
