5 Easy Ways to Save on Your Cellphone Bill

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This post comes from partner site WhistleOut.com.

The key to getting great value on your cellphone plan is to pay only for what you use. Here are five easy things you can do to lighten your monthly bill.

1. Pay only for the data you need

The right plan should give you all the data you need, no more no less. Think of Goldilocks, and go for the “just right” data amount to cover your internet habits. Not sure how much data you use? Not a problem. You can check your monthly bill.

If you’ve got a big monthly bill, but you’re mostly on Wi-Fi, you could be paying for more data than you use. Picking a lower tier of data will likely save you money. Switching to another carrier’s plan may save you even more, especially if you consider one of the value-driven prepaid providers.

If you’re often going over your data amount, you could consider a plan with more data. But before you shell out money for the “upgrade,” consider comparing prices among the providers. Great deals can be found with prepaid carriers that use the major carriers’ networks but offer lower prices.

In any case, it’s always a good idea to check in with your carrier because — yes — you may be able to get more data for less money. Often, the latest deals and promotions are not extended to current customers unless you “opt in.”

2. Pay only for the services you use

Monthly bills may be riddled with extra fees for add-on features, such as additional cloud storage, roadside assistance and technical support that you don’t use, or that could already be covered by your other paid subscriptions. Businesses like Amazon Prime or Costco include these types of features with their paid memberships.

Also, if you’re paying extra on your phone bill to set parental controls on your child’s phone, know that your child’s device probably already comes with restriction options — both Apple iOS and Android operating systems offer basic monitoring options. Third-party software also offers more options such as usage time limits and GPS tracking often at a lower price than your carrier.

3. Drop your phone insurance

If your phone is already paid for in full or is an older model, it may not be worth the extra money for insurance. Before you pay, it’s good to know the ins and outs of phone insurance. Also, you may be able to insure your phone under your home insurance policy.

4. Ditch international rates and try free networking apps instead

Why pay for what you can get for free? Try chatting with your family and friends around the globe on free internet apps such as Skype and WhatsApp, and say goodbye to your carrier’s expensive international calling and text rates.

5. Save paper, save money: Switch to paperless auto pay

Carriers encourage automatic payments by offering discounts — such as $5 per line of service — and often will deduct more if you switch to paperless statements. It’s a win-win: Lighten your eco-footprint, and fatten your wallet at the same time.

As painful as it may seem, it’s always a good idea to regularly check your mobile bill and cut any unused features you’re being charged for.

Remember, if you don’t use it, lose it — and save.

Are you overpaying for your cellphone plan? Share with us in comments or on our Facebook page.

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