How to Lower Cell Phone Bills

If you have a cell phone bill that is sky high, this article is for you!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Read your cell phone bill to see how much you're paying each month. Are you paying extra for text messages? The internet? Are you getting charged for additional minutes each month?

2. Contact your cell phone company and get an all-inclusive, unlimited minutes plan. Most cell phone companies have them nowadays. This way, you'll lower your cell phone costs by not exceeding your minutes and getting dinged with a lot of extra, unnecessary charges.

3. Even if you don't opt for an unlimited minutes plan, do get an unlimited text messaging plan if you spend any time text messaging. Some plans charge you per text message and that's fine if you rarely send or receive text messages. If you are a texter (new word?) unlimited text messaging capabilities will definitely help you cut costs on your cell phone bill!

4. Unless your unlimited plan includes unlimited internet, keep on eye on your cell phone internet use. This is probably one of the costliest mistakes that people make -- using the internet on their cell phone when they could easily use the computer instead.

5. Downloading ringtones and music. These can add up very quickly if you're not careful! I know a few teens who have SEPARATE ringtones for each person who calls! Most ringtones are not free and even if you find a free ringtone, you'll still be charged for the internet access. Games are also expensive so watch out for these items if you want to lower your cell phone bills each month.

Tips & Warnings

• Read your cell bill and look for extra charges.
• If you never use the internet on your cell phone, have your cell phone company block internet access.
• If you don't have unlimited minutes, tell the person who is calling you on your cell phone that you'll call them right back from your land line (regular phone).

[1guyonabike]

on 2/1/2009 Good advice! I wish i had gotten unlimited text before i went way over on my text messages.

[DenaEBolton]

on 1/26/2009 Great tips! 5*

[FrazzledNanny]

on 1/25/2009 Thanks for the great tips. We just updated our cell bill to reduce the charges.

[Doodlebabe]

on 1/24/2009 Great tips! Another bill saver: put your cell phone on the no call list. Now that companies have access to cell numbers as well as home numbers they can send you texts and phone calls. Which can add up if you get charged per text or per minute!

[w8tn4him]

on 1/24/2009 wonderful tips...am struggling with a high bill..will use these and get it down! 5*'s!