How To Save Money On Your Cell Phone Bill

Kiplinger.com reports that the average person spends $60 per month on their cell phone. That’s a whopping $720 per year. And if you’re addicted to texting or downloading the newest ringtones, that number’s even higher.

While many of us have been going through our utility bills to find ways to cut costs, our cell phone doesn’t seem as urgent for some reason. Perhaps people think that this is a cost that can’t be trimmed down, or that cell phone companies won’t negotiate.

Well, I’m happy to report that there are plenty of ways to save money on your cell phone bill, and not all of them involve fierce haggling or threats (although, admittedly, some do…)

Sidenote: I do not receive any compensation from companies mentioned in this article.

Tip 1: Save Money By Evaluating Your Minutes

Are you paying for 600 minutes, but you only use 100? Or, are you paying for tons of minutes but you only end up talking at night (when your minutes are free)?

Take a good look at your calling habits and ask yourself if you really need all those minutes. Better yet, if you don’t use your cell phone very often switch to a “pay as you go” plan.

For instance, Verizon has a plan that’s 99 cents for every day you make a call. So, if you don’t make a call on Monday and Tuesday, you pay nothing.

Now, if your cell phone company doesn’t offer a plan that really fits your needs (such as “pay as you go”) then analyze the costs and benefits of leaving your carrier for someone else.

For instance, Verizon charges around $200 if you cancel your contract early. But, if you’re paying $60 per month for a cell phone you never use, you’ll be saving money after 3.5 months. So it may hurt to drop that $200 to get out of your contract, but in the end you’re better off.

Tip 2: Stop Texting

Most plans charge 10 cents or more for each text message (and that includes those coming in and going out). One of the easiest ways to save money on your cell phone bill is to stop texting altogether. If you can’t give up the habit, then make sure you’re on a “texting plan” that will give you unlimited texts for a set rate.

Tip 3: Go Over Your Bill With A Fine-Toothed Comb

Are you still paying $5 per month in “cell phone insurance” that you signed up for years ago and forgot about? Is your carrier charging you another $5 for “emergency roadside assistance” that you didn’t sign up for at all?

You’d be surprised at how often these “accidental” charges find their way onto your bill. And if you’re not paying attention, you’re just giving that money away. Make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for; if there’s something on there you’ don’t understand, then call up customer service and ask.

Tip 4: Trim Your Cell Phone’s Extra Services

Are you paying $15 per month to watch TV on your cell phone? $15 to surf the web?

These extra features really add up month to month. Remember, there was a time when we survived without watching Comedy Central on V Cast. Hard to imagine, I know…

Tip 5: Ditch the Custom Ringtones

Admittedly, I am a complete novice when it comes to ringtones (I’m still using my very first cell phone, which I got back in 2002). I knew those ringtons cost money, but I almost fell over when I saw how much they were.

$2.99 for Kenny Chesney’s “The Road and the Radio”? $1.99 for Beyonce’s “I’m A Survivor”?

Yes, I know in the scheme of things $3 isn’t going to break the bank. But, many people buy several different ringtones every month, which quickly adds up. If this is you, and you want to save money on your cell phone bill, then learn to love what a simple ring sounds like. It’s not so bad.

Tip 6: Jump On the Bandwagon

If your friends and family are all on Verizon and you’re still on T-Mobile, you could save a lot of money by jumping on their bandwagon. The reason is because many large carriers offer free in-house calling. This means that if you have Verizon and you call someone else who has Verizon, neither of you have to use your minutes for the call. It’s free.

You can save money when you switch by getting the plan with the lowest amount of minutes, and then talking to all your friends and family who are in-house.

Tip 7: Don’t Be Afraid To Compare

If you’re thinking of switching companies, then check out MyRatePlan.com. This site allows you to compare different company’s phones, plans, and other benefits.

By typing in your zip code, you can choose the features you really want (like in-house calling, or free nights and weekends), and then see an easy to understand chart that covers the biggest carriers.

Tip 8: Call Up and Haggle

Sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I personally have not haggled with my carrier for a better rate (although after doing research for this article, I realized I’d save a lot by switching to a pay as you go plan, which I’m doing tomorrow. Some haggling might be involved…)

The point is that it never hurts to give it a shot, especially if you’re willing to cancel your service and go to another company for a lower rate.

Tip 9: Analyze Your Plan On Validas

Validas.com is an online service that will analyze your cell phone bill for you.

For $5, they’ll look at all your charges, see if any of them are bogus, and come up with a detailed list on ways you can save. They’ll also provide different plan comparisons compared on the plan you currently have, as well as give you other tips and tricks for saving money on your cell phone bill.

They claim to save the average customer $504 per year, so it might be worth it to give them a try.

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