How to Prevent Going Over Your Anytime Minutes

If you do not have prepaid cell phone service, and in some cases if you do, unlimited anytime minutes on your cell phone plan are a little too much for your pockets. Incorporate these simple tips into your cell phone usage to ultimate save yourself from going over your anytime minutes and risking an expensive cell phone bill.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• cell phone plan with anytime minutes
• discipline
• desire to save!

1. Track your minutes.
   Most cell phone companies allow you to do this online, or even through text messages or calls on your cell phone.
   Tracking them every day, or every couple of days, will assist you in making sure you are no where near your anytime minutes limit.

2. Unlimited texting.
   It seems most people have this beautiful feature nowadays, but if you don't, and you text just about everyday, or if you have teens on your plan on do - then you may want to invest in this. Think about it - 15c per text, or anywhere from $10-20 extra a month for unlimited text on one line or on a family plan.

3. If you have a home phone, USE IT.
   A lot of people I know prefer to have the unlimited text so they is not necessary, or because they don't have a landline. If you do have landline phone service, use it while you are on anytime minutes (daytime minutes).

4. Don't take calls until your minutes are free.
   This is not the ideal solution for most people, but if you are busy throughout the day or if you work during the day, this may not be too hard for you to incorporate into your cell phone usage.
   I say this is the most extreme step.

5. Look into how much of a difference it would be to switch to the next highest amount cell phone plan, i.e. from 700 anytime minutes to 1400 anytime minutes. It may be well worth the extra bucks, depending on your need. If you often go over your minutes, this may be your best option - it works out much cheaper than paying .35-.45 per extra minute!

Tips & Warnings

• Step 3 - if you are interested in land line phone service, but don't have it, Magic Jack is a great option (see link below). You dont even have to have a whole bunch of features on it, just the ability to answer. landline service may be surprisingly cheaper than you think.

[CCrock]

on 8/24/2009 Great tips, going over your minutes can end up costing SO much money!