Cell phones aren’t cheap, how to save money
November 14th, 2008, 1:35 pm · 4 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
If your budget is getting crunched and the future looks dire, have you thought about getting rid of your cell phone? Well, if it isn’t that dire, there are several ways to cut back.
The Telecommunications Research & Action Center, a nonprofit that has been publishing consumer guides for 25 years, offers five tips to help consumers save on mobile phones. TRAC’s five tips summarized:
1. Switch to pre-paid service. While calls cost more per minute, you only pay for what you use. With some pre-paid phones selling for as little as $15, this is a much more affordable alternative for those who talk less than 200 minutes a month. For texters, Boost Mobile recently launched a pre-paid plan with unlimited texting.
2. Dump your landline. This is a good option for people who don’t use the landline much anymore and don’t have children at home.
3. Opt for a more basic-rate plan, which could mean blocking text messages. Something obvious: Make calls at night and on weekends if your plan offers free minutes during those hours.
4. Mind the bells and whistles. You don’t really need customized ring tones, games or other software on the phone — especially if you can’t pay next month’s bills.
5. Don’t let telemarketers “steal” your minutes. Sign up all of your phone numbers for the Do Not Call list at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you wish to register.
Read TRAC’s full report HERE.
Other ways to save money on any cell phone:
- Get mobile coupons for your cell phone at CellFire.
- Send free text messages, although your recipient could incur text charges at dynadel.com. Also offers quick check on traffic conditions.
- Don’t dial 411. AT&T charges $1.79 per call. Try 1-800-Free411, 1-800-Goog411, 1-800-CALL411 or 1-800-YELLOWP (from earlier Gadgetress post).
- Track your spending with iPhone-friendly tools like MyBudget, Budget Buster, Google’s Mobile Money or Receipts.
More ways to save money:
- T-Mobile offering free airline tickets
- Free Wi-Fi for iPhone users is back, really!
- How to get cheaper cable TV from Time Warner Cable
- 5 ways to save money on the new iPhone
- BillShrink quickly shows how to save on cell bill
- New free tool to quickly find best credit card deal
- How iPhone users can save money overseas
- Avoid overdraft fees with free mobile-phone service
- How any consumer can ‘test’ a cell phone
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I drove over my cell phone and that solved my high monthly payments.
Very glad that you’re stopping people from dialing 411. The numbers you mention as alternatives aren’t all the same, though.
1-800-FREE411, unlike most of its competitors, offers not only business listings but also gov’t and residential listings. Further, our callers can choose to receive Mapquest driving directions via text message — also for free.
I used to have two cellular contracts with AT&T and my average combined bill/month was about $250. In December I cancelled both plans (and paid for it) and opted for a pre-paid plan with TracFone. Best decision I’ve aver made! No wasted minutes means no wasted money. I buy what I (and my kids) need in terms of minutes and we stick to that. When its over, its done. Now that I know there’s a limit, I’m muh more frugal w/ the calls. The kids are also learning to manage their time much better and are using their minutes more wisely though some times they still make the unecessary calls (force of habit I guess). Pre-paid cell phones are the way to go.
Switching to a pre-paid phone is a great idea. You only pay for what you need and don’t waste money on excess minutes. This article is right…cell phones are NOT cheap, but pre-paid plans are affordable. There is no tricky business when it comes to the bill and there are no contracts.