Tech Tips – 7 Ways to reduce your cell phone bill

How many times have you opened your cell phone bill and been shocked to see amount due? (And not because it's too little!) It's the one bill that most customers know the least about, and – admit it – most of us have no clue what to expect when we open up that envelope!

Yet it doesn't have to be that way. There are a number of things we can do to bring the cell phone bill under control, or at least reduce the shock when it comes time to write that check!

Here are 7 ways to start saving:

1. Switch to a pay-as-you-go plan, so you never pay for minutes you don't need and you never have to worry about those dreaded overage charges. Most of the big carriers have pay-as-you-go plans and smaller players like BoostMobile and PagePlus Cellular offer stand-alone no-contract plans to suit most budgets. Some carriers will let you keep your own phone and switch to a pay-as-you-go plan when your current plan expires. Others will insist you buy a phone but that can still end up saving you a bundle.
2. Understand your existing plan, so you know exactly how many minutes you are charged for each month. Most people blindly pay their cell phone bills without checking the charges. Cell phone companies do make mistakes and have been known to add in extra charges that aren't in the contract.
3. Consider a family plan. If your spouse or kids have cell phones, it often pays to switch to a family plan, where minutes are grouped and family calls are free. All the main carriers have family options and many of them will throw in a second or third phone for free when you sign up.
4. Consider roll-over plans. If you have months when you use the phone a lot and other months when you make far fewer calls, consider rolling over unused minutes. AT &T has the best-known rollover plan but the other carriers also have plans that will allow you to carry minutes forward.
5. Make use of free minutes. Virtually all cell phone plans now have unlimited free calling on nights and weekends. If you can defer calls to these unlimited calling periods, you can save those precious daytime minutes for when it matters the most. Even if you don't directly save on you cell phone bill, you can often save on your house phone bill by using your cell phone to make those weekend calls to friends and relatives.
6. Set up text alerts. Your carrier can alert you when you get close to your monthly minute total, which is a lot easier than trying to understand the minute counts on your cell phone display!
7. Shop around. Make sure you compare plans when your contract comes up for renewal. Visit several stores and tell them exactly what you are looking for. Competition is fierce and you will be surprised to see how much each company will be able to improve on your existing deal.