Lower Your Cell Phone Bill And Save…Five Strategies!
I about choked the last time my cell phone bill arrived…in my inbox, snail mail and a reminder text to my phone. My husband had recently upgraded his phone and they were charging us for the upgrade, an activation fee, additional taxes and the like. This had me scouring my provider’s website for ways to cut back on our bill. We all rely on our phones for so much, but the cost of plans, phones, insurance, cases, extra chargers and the like is blowing my mind. I need a better plan!
Lower Your Cell Phone Bill With These Five Strategies
- Consider canceling your insurance. I sussed out just what my insurance was good for. We all dread cracking our beloved phone screens and so insurance is an easy up-sell. What I found out after researching my policy is that I still have a $130 deductible for getting my phone replaced. There is a shop by my house that will replace your screen for $75. So I cancelled my insurance to the tune of $22 a month for our plans. That is over $250 a year. I am going to take my chances!
- Keep your phone as long as possible. My husband was easily “woo-ed” by new advances in technology, faster speeds and larger screens. And as much as I am picking on him, I get it. New stuff is cool. The way that some popular phone companies are structuring their plans makes it even easier to be sucked in. Want this cool $1000 phone for only $30 a month, no interest? Seems like an okay idea. Companies are also offering trade-ins and all kinds of “deals” to keep you in the latest and greatest. The most obvious way this costs you is that you NEVER get rid of your payment. Hopefully there comes a time in your life where you aren’t paying for a phone each month. I have decided to make that sooner, rather than later!
- Buy durable accessories and do not switch them on a whim. But I want that new sparkly, magnetic, fun looking pop socket! Just say no. Invest in a durable case that will protect your phone if you drop it and keep that case until you wear it out.
- Turn off your background app refresh and use wifi when possible. All of these handy apps are setup with an automatic refresh built in, among some other tech “benefits” – so I always go through the permissions carefully when setting up an app. This will help you to use less data and help to keep you safe!
- Shop around to other carriers. We all get attached in one way or another to our phones and phone numbers. But honestly, it isn’t the end of the world to switch. Just like anything else…you should periodically price shop and sometimes take the opportunity to get a new service! It is easy to take advantage of new savings and lower your cell phone bill.
