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Can You Hear Me Now?
That's the sound of your money being sucked out of your wallet by a cell phone plan that doesn't work for you.
Owning a cell phone today is almost like carrying a high-rate credit card with an unlimited balance. As a result, some students are finding themselves deep in debt to their phone company, having to decide whether to buy lunch or pay the cell phone bill. With these simple tips, you can use your iPhone, Razr, or Chocolate and still have money for taco Tuesday:
- Choose a carrier to fit your needs. There's more to buying a cell phone than colors and accessories. The most important decision is what carrier to use. Each company offers different calling plans, discounts and fees. Find one that fits your budget and needs.
- Determine how many minutes you need. Think about how much time you'll spend using your phone. If you sign up for too few minutes, you may have to pay expensive overage fees.
- Look for package deals. Ask if the carrier offers a discount plan for bundled services such as text messaging, photo/video messaging and Web browsing. It's cheaper than purchasing them separately every month.
- Check for free calling minutes. Many carriers offer free minute plans to other phone numbers including calls to other phones using the same service, or even a specific group of numbers outside of the service.
- Read your calling plan carefully before you agree to sign anything. Once you sign the contract, you are bound for one or two years. If you break the contract, you'll have to pay an early termination fee, usually $150 and up.
Be aware: Some carriers use a little trick that lets them extend your contract anytime you adjust your service. For instance, if you're 18 months into a 24 month plan and decide you want to add video messaging, your contract will be reset to 0 months and you'll have to wait 2 more years before you'll be let out of your contract.
The key to avoiding costly cell phone bills is to be smart before you sign any contract. Take your time and don't rush into anything. After all, you're going to have to live with this decision for a few years.
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