How to Save Money on Cell Phone Services

save money on cell phonePeople are starting to realize just how much money they are spending on their cell phone services and they are looking to cut the cost.  From cell phone contracts to prepaid cell phone service there are many different ways that you can save money.  Of course there are things you need to pay attention to such as how much you use your phone service.  Here are many different ways that may help you to save money on your phone and still get the services that you have.

Forget The Contract

Most cell phone companies work on a contract.  What this means is that if you sign a two-year contract you will possibly be able to get a cell phone for free.  What they do not tell you is that when you sign the contract you will end up paying more than the cost of the phone over the length of the contract.  Basically, you are paying to lease the phone.  You are spending less in the beginning but will end up paying for it over a long period of time.

Luckily there are other options for you.  One option is to opt for a phone service that is prepaid and does not require you to sign a contract.  This could be the perfect option if you do not use your cell phone very much.  You pay for what you use and avoid paying a large cell phone bill.  However if you use your phone a lot there are cheaper plans that might work better for you as well.

save money on cell phone

Unfortunately if you wish to have one of the newer smartphones such as an iPhone or a Galaxy you will need to opt into a contract because you will need a 4G data connection.  A prepaid plan will probably not be your best option in this case.

Phone Options

When you select your prepaid service or contract free service you will probably need to purchase a phone as well.  There are many options for you to choose from.  You will find a basic phone, which will probably be your bottom of the market Android phone.  This will be your least expensive option.  There is also the top of the line iPhone, which you can get directly from Apple and then have activated by your carrier.  Or there is your final option of using an existing cell phone that you already currently own.  In this case you will probably need to purchase a new SIM card from the carrier you select.  The later option will probably save you the most money.

A newer option that many people are now turning to is the Google Nexus phone.  This can be the perfect way for someone who would like to own a smartphone but wants to pay up front with no contract to sign.  Google offers the Nexus 4, which is one of the top of the line smartphones for a price of between $299 and $349.  There will be a newer Nexus 5 to be released soon that will cost a little bit more.  Even though these prices sound a little steep they are still cheaper than the option of purchasing one of the most expensive smartphones such as the iPhone.

Service Options

The cost of your service can vary depending on what you select.  When you set out to choose your service you need to consider exactly what you will use.  If you do not use your phone very often you will want a plan that will cost you very little each month.  If you are always within range of Wi-Fi you may not need a plan with a larger amount of data.  Therefore you can keep your costs low by having a small amount of data on your plan.  There are plans that you can get that have unlimited talk, texting, and data usage.  If you use one of the larger carriers you will find that it might be less expensive for this than a pay as you go plan.

Saving money on your cell phone all depends on the plan that you choose as well as the type of phone you select.  When picking your service be sure to consider the amount of usage that will be right for you as well as the network coverage in your area.  This might take some research on your part.  If you decide that a prepaid option is better for you the option is there to switch if you do not like it without paying an early termination fee.  Do not feel like you are stick with only one of two options.  Consider what options are there are make the best financial decision for you.

Image credits to : espensorvik