A cellphone is one thing that most people can’t live without; in fact, many people have ditched their landline phones altogether and now rely exclusively on a cellphone. Having a cell phone, or more than one, can lead to a sizable monthly payment. The good news is there are ways you can lower your monthly cellphone bill. Here are five of the top ones.
Don’t pay for more service than you need
Many cellphone plans these days come with unlimited data as a default, but you may not need to pay for that much. If you don’t use a lot of data, it can make sense to inquire about getting a plan that has a data cap. Plans without unlimited data tend to cost less and could save you a significant amount of money each month. To keep your data usage low, make sure you connect to wi-fi whenever you can.
Go without a contract
Having a contract may get you a discount on a new phone, but it usually winds up costing you more in the long run. Long-term contracts often have higher overall monthly rates, and they also limit your ability to switch to a better deal because they usually have big penalties or buyout clauses if you end the contract early. Getting a prepaid phone can save you a lot of money.
Bundle phones
If you have a spouse and/or children, it can make sense for all of you to get your phone service from the same provider because you often get a discount for each person you add. For example, it might cost you $50 a month for one phone with your service provider, but you might be able to have two phones for $80 a month.
Take advantage of discounts
Many organizations offer discounts on cellphone service to their members. You might be able to get a discount through your employer, a trade group or from another company you do business with such as your internet provider or insurance company. Cellphone providers also sometimes offer discounts on other services such as streaming services. Taking advantage of these discounts can cut 10% or more off of your cell phone bill.
Automate everything
Many cellphone providers offer a discount of $5 a month or more if you sign up for autopay
to have your monthly payment directly deducted from a bank account. Some providers also may offer a discount or waive a fee if you sign up for paperless billing.
Having a cellphone doesn’t have to break the bank. There are a number of ways to lower your monthly bill, and these are just a few of the most common. All it takes is a little bit of research and work on your part.
