Over the past couple of decades, cell phones have gone from being a luxury that only high-powered businessmen and rich people owned to being a necessity in the lives of nearly every person in the modern world. In fact, over 95% of all Americans today own a cell phone. However, cell phones are no longer limited to merely phone line usage fees. Since smartphones have exploded in popularity and given us access to the Internet and texting on mobile devices, texts and wireless data have also been included in phone bills, causing charges to total more than $150 on average. Luckily, there are many ways to lower your cell phone bill.
Add More Lines to lower your cell phone bill
Believe it or not, many phone companies offer lower rates when you add more lines. Considering more people will be on your plan, this may seem like it will be increasingly expensive. However, the overall rates are lower, and you can split the bill with anyone else that you add.
Switch to Prepaid
Many prepaid phone companies offer good service plans for extremely low rates. In addition, most prepaid plans are so customizable that you only pay for what you absolutely need. Prepaid services work with a wide variety of phones, and the phones sold are paid for upfront without a contract locking you in. If you still have a good and compatible phone, you can transfer it to the service without spending a dime.
While it’s important to always check the coverage of a prospective prepaid service, many prepaid companies rent bandwidth and phone service from bigger contract-based businesses. It’s very possible to switch phone companies without changing service quality, especially since you may change to a brand that uses your original provider's system.
Prorated Termination Fees
Speaking of switching service providers, many big name phone companies offer prorated termination fees. One of the main reasons most people avoid switching is because of the massive termination fees, but if you’ve been with a company for a long period of time they may offer a lower fee due to your loyalty.
Take Advantage of Discounts
Most service providers offer discounts for a wide variety of people such as veterans, senior citizens, government employees, teachers and more. However, many people miss out on these savings due to not being aware of the discount or failing to enroll in it. Do a thorough search on your provider's website to see if you’re eligible for any discounts.
Signing Up for Autopay can also help to lower your cell phone bill
Not only is autopay a very convenient service to help you always stay on schedule with your payments, but it may also save you money. Almost all of the most popular phone companies offer a monthly discount if you sign up with autopay. In addition, autopay negates the risk of late fees.
While our phones have gotten more deeply ingrained into our everyday lives that anyone ever anticipated, it has come with the cost of skyrocketing phone bills. However, with a few changes to your plan and some mindfulness, you can keep the charges to a minimum and lessen the strain on your wallet.
This is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a legal or financial advisor for your specific situation.
References
1Pew Research Center. (February 05, 2018). Mobile fact sheet. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/mobile/
2J.D. Power. (February 13, 2018). 2018 U.S. wireless purchase experience studies — Vol. 1. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from http://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/jd-power-2018-us-wireless-purchase-experience-studies-vol-1
