Is it time to lower your cell phone bill? Millions of Americans are spending almost $1,000 per year – or more – on cell phone service. Unlimited plans for phone service can cost close to $100 a month with a lot of the major carriers like Verizon Wireless, T Mobile, and AT &T. There are actually many ways to save hundreds of dollars every month on your cell phone bill!
So, do you want to learn how to save money on your cell phone bill? You’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started.
How To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill
Just like saving on internet, ultilities, and clothes, saving money on your wireless bill is possible! Read below for some great suggestions for lowering your cell phone bill.
Switch To A Different Cell Phone Carrier
Unlimited wireless plans from major cell phone providers are the most expensive and the most popular. One of the main reason customers are willing to pay these higher prices for cell phone plans is because of the great network coverage they receive. The cell phone providers like AT &T, T-Mobile, and Verizon wireless, however, all own discount brands that use the same towers and charge lower monthly fees.
Many of these relationships are with low-cost cell phone providers, oftentimes prepaid carriers. These companies are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). They do not own any cell phone towers themselves, but they partner with companies that do to offer affordable wireless service per month with a good data plan. A few of these are listed below.
Many of these relationships are with low-cost cell phone providers, oftentimes prepaid carriers. These companies are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). They do not own any cell phone towers themselves, but they partner with companies that do to offer affordable wireless service per month with a good data plan. A few of these are listed below.
- Verizon owns Visible.
- AT&T owns Cricket Wireless
- T-Mobile owns Metro by T Mobile
Some of these mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have inexpensive plans that start at $10 per month!
Try A New Plan With Your Current Provider
If you really are not interested in switching providers in order to lower your monthly cell phone bill, you can still save money by considering other plan options. The major cell phone companies have all shifted heavily to unlimited data plans and unlimited talk. However, not everyone needs unlimited data!
Many people are connected to wi-fi at home and at work. Therefore, they aren’t using as much data as they are paying for! Track your usage and you may be able to save money with a fixed data plan. Paying for a fixed amount of data per month may be just the ticket to lowering your monthly cell phone bill.
Shop For Deals On Your Phone
Make sure you wait a few weeks or even a month after a new phone model has been released before buying a new phone. You can also find great deals on used phones.
Sites like eBay often have great used phone prices. Make sure to look for sellers with as close to 100% positive feedback as possible. Also, look for phones with a warranty and a return policy.
Wherever you decide to shop for your phone, it’s important to remember that your cell phone carrier is probably not the best place to buy a phone. When your carrier adds the cost of your phone in with your cell phone service, your cell phone bill can quickly get out of hand.
If your old cell phone is worth anything, you may trade it in and get either a discount off of a new phone or cash back. It’s worth a try!
Join A Family Plan
If you have several family members who can share cell phone service then a family plan presents another way to save. Family plans are cheaper than buying services per line or by themselves. Visible offers a service called party pay. These types of carrier deals allow you to put multiple people on one plan with separate accounts and separate bills.
Cricket Wireless and Metro T Mobile carriers offer four lines of unlimited cell phone service for $100 per month. That amounts to $25 a month per line for each of the four lines!
Remember though, if a family member decides to switch off of your family plan to a single line (and get their own phone line), that may throw your phone plan off.
Check Out Special Discounts To See If You Qualify
Seniors, members of the military, and teachers are often offered discounts through several of the major wireless providers. Your employer may also offer discounts. For example, at T Mobile – customers 55 and older can save big by getting two lines for $70.
Sign Up For Auto Pay
Use auto-pay with a credit card and not a debit card to be safe. When you do, you can get at least a $5 discount – maybe more. For a postpaid account which is called auto-fill for pre-paid customers, this may be one of the easiest ways to have a payment plan save you money on your cell phone bill. If there is any dispute, a credit card will make it easier to challenge it. With a debit card, your money is usually gone at the time your cell phone bill is paid.
Get Free Cell Phone Insurance
If your mobile phone sales guy continues to pitch cell phone insurance to you – ignore it! The mobile phone protection sold by the carriers can add up to $10 to your monthly bill for one device!
If you are paying for your cell phone bill with a credit card, you may already be covered. Not all credit cards will pay to replace or your stolen or damaged phone but many do! Free cell phone insurance is offered on a lot of credit cards. Check to see if yours is one of them.
You have to pay your monthly cell phone bills with the particular credit card in order to receive the mobile phone protection benefit.
To Sum It Up: Saving On Your Cell Phone Bill
The best ways to save on your cell phone’s monthly bill are switching providers and waiting for good deals on your phone. The amount of money you can save for cell service can save you hundreds of dollars per year! For example, if you cut a $90 bill down to $45, that’s a savings of $540 per year! That’s great news!
