This year, in the wake of the pandemic, everyone is likely to feel a squeeze on their budgets. If you’re looking to reduce your cell phone costs, keep reading for some handy tips on how to do so, as well as for ways to check that the plan you’re thinking of signing up for fits your needs.
Keep Your Existing Phone for Longer
We may have all gotten used to signing up for a contract and being able to exchange our phone for a brand new model every couple of years…but this may well not be the most cost-effective way to go about things.
Opting for a no-contract plan and paying for a phone upfront may be a larger expense initially but could save you big in the long term if you’re prepared to keep your handset for as long as possible. This may sound untenable, but the sophistication of today’s phones tends to mean that any benefit you receive from switching up is likely to be relatively minor and certainly not essential – and is easily offset by the savings you can make. Because – really – how many camera lenses does a phone need?
Choose Your Plan with Care
Taking some time to research to find the cell phone plan that best suits your needs is not only practical but could mean big money savings, too. To determine the best value-for-money package, think carefully about how you use your phone and how any family members that you wish to be on the plan use theirs. Consider the amount of data you need and any special features that would be useful to have. Be realistic, too: there’s no point in paying for a plan that includes loads of impressive-sounding extras that, day-to-day, you’re unlikely to use.
Another option worth considering if you want to avoid contracts and control costs is a flexible pay as you go sim, which lets you top up as needed and pick short-term bundles that include minutes, texts and data. For people with variable usage or those who don’t want monthly commitments, PAYG bundles can be a simpler, lower-risk way to manage spend. Some providers even include EU roaming or modest international minutes in their top-ups, which helps frequent travellers avoid unexpected charges. Weighing these no-contract options alongside contract deals can reveal where the real savings lie.
Have a look here for some of the best 2022 cell phone plans to help with your decision; you’ll find contract information here, as well as details on speed and the perks offered by each package. Choosing a family plan is often a good way of keeping costs down, but just make sure you pick an option that’ll give you the data you need so that you don’t end up paying a premium to bump it up when the end of the month approaches.
Do You Really Need Insurance?
Consider carefully whether you actually need any insurance you have on your phone. If you’re paying $15 of phone insurance a month, that’s $180 a year you’re spending. It could be a better option to simply transfer $5 a month into a savings account so that, on the off chance that something catastrophic happens to your phone, you can buy a new handset – this would save you $120 every single year.
Decrease Your Data
Firstly, you can check you’re not paying for data you’re not using by logging into your account and checking your usage. If regularly, you’re not using your data allowance, you could look for a cheaper plan with less data as an easy way to save.
Turning background data off when you’re out and about is another way to save – apps like Facebook are notoriously data-hungry and so can eat through your allowance if you use the platform when you’re away from a Wifi connection.
Get organized and download to your phone’s memory any maps or documents you might need when you’re away from home to save data on this score, too.
Switch Carriers
You may be able to find a better deal and a plan that better fits your needs with an alternative carrier. Do plenty of research before making the switch, and read as many reviews as you can, as well as getting feedback from any friends or family members who use the carrier you’re considering switching to.
When changing, be clear about your needs, and ask the new carrier about the best package and price they can offer you – if you are able to find a similar package elsewhere, there’s a good chance they’ll match it, so it’s certainly worth asking.
Just before you do take the plunge and change to a new carrier, consider contacting your current provider and ask them what they can do to keep your custom. You may be surprised at the lengths they’ll go to in order to retain your custom, which could include a discount on your package or some handy extra perks that could save you cash.
Go Paperless
And finally – a quick and easy way to save a little bit of cash on your cell phone bill is to opt for paperless or automated billing. Many carriers offer a small discount on the monthly bill for customers who switch to this option, and over a year, this could add up to a not insubstantial saving.
Caroline is doing her graduation in IT from the University of South California but keens to work as a freelance blogger. She loves to write on the latest information about IoT, technology, and business. She has innovative ideas and shares her experience with her readers.
