Save Money in a Tight Economy: 5 Easy Steps to Cut Your Phone Bill in Half

In this tight economy, families are looking for ways to cut their spending and to save money. One easy way to save on monthly costs and stretch your budget is by cutting your phone bill down to size.

The Telecommunications Research & Action Center (TRAC) has just published their guide to slimming down your phone bills, which can save you up to half on your phone service.

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The Penny Pincher’s Guide to Slashing Cell Phone Bills:

1. Switch to a prepaid plan. If you can drop your current cell-phone plan without paying a penalty, a prepaid cell phone will save you the monthly service fee, plus the charges for extra minutes. Prepaid phones can be found for as little as $15, and you aren’t locked into a contract.
2. Cut the cord. Do you really need a landline and a cell phone? If you can drop your landline and switch to a prepaid cell phone, you can pocket the difference. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but if you can do it, you’ll only have one phone cost, not two. Or drop the cell service and just have a landline.
3. Switch to a basic plan. Cut out the text messaging option, limit your long distance calls to nights and weekends, and set limits for your family’s phone usage.
4. Simple phones are cheapest. Don’t buy the hot new phone with all of the extra features if you don’t need it. For most of use, a simple phone that only makes and receives phone calls is sufficient. Do we really need custom ringtones? Games? A camera?
5. Cut out the telemarketers. Sign up with the Do Not Call list online, or call 1-888-382-1222 from your phone. Don’t let the phone spam eat up your minutes. Keep your cell number private, and don’t give it out to retailers or web forms.

Go to the TRAC website for additional consumer tips, including top tips to save on your long distance phone bills.

Image: Joe Shlabotnik at Flickr under Creative Commons License

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