For millions, the cell phone has become a necessity of life, and shelling out cash for a new phone, or to pay the monthly bill, has become something that most of us have learned to deal with, just like making car loan and utility payments. But there are countless different options in cell phone plans, and understanding your choices, as well as your individual needs, can help you save money on you next service contract.
Michelle Jones is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a master's degree in clinical psychology. In 1997 she began working for Consumer Counseling Credit Service (CCCS ) in Atlanta, a charity that provides free counseling and money management assistance to financially distressed families and individuals. Today she is the organization's Vice President of Counseling. Here she offers strategies for saving money on cell phone service plans:
- Ask yourself the important questions.
The first step in selecting a cell phone and contract is asking yourself a few simple questions. How many calls are you going to make per day? Will they be local or long distance? Will you travel outside of the coverage area often? What are your day-to-day calling needs? Are you happy with a basic phone, or do you need the latest high-tech gadget? The answers to these questions will go a long way towards helping you sort out competing cell phone plans.
- Read the fine print on contracts.
Make sure that you read the fine print and understand every part of the service contract before you sign. You don't want to any surprises of hidden fees to jack up the total cost of service.
- Ask about termination fees.
Many contracts include a substantial fee for discontinuing the service early. Know the cost of getting out of the plan as well as getting into it.
- Consider incoming calls.
You should also consider the cost of incoming calls. There are some plans that don't charge you for calls you receive on your cell phone, and this can be a great money saver for some people.
- Get help from customer service.
If you currently have a wireless provider ask for a bill analysis from customer service. They'll examine your bill and compare the cost with other plans to see if they can save you money. It's especially important to do this when you're getting ready to renew your contract, as you may be able to lock in substantial savings based on your particular style of phone use.
For more information about saving money on cell phones and service plans, check out the following organizations or websites:
CCCS
www.cccsinc.org
CNET: Cell Phone Reviews
www.cnet.com
Let's Talk: Service Plans
www.letstalk.com
ZDNet Reviews: Cell Phones
www.zdnet.com
How to Choose a Cell Phone Plan for Your family
www.pcanswer.com
Epinions: How to Choose the Right Type of Mobile Service Plan
www.epinions.com
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