Tired of paying too much for cell phone service each month? We hear you! Click here and learn how to lower your cell phone bill today.
Did you know that from 2008 to 2013, the average American customer saw their wireless bill rise almost 1% per line? While other countries around the world have seen declining mobile service costs, the cost in the U.S. keeps on going up.
But if you’re looking for ways to lower your cell phone bill, don’t give up! There are legitimate things you can do to reduce it.
And we’ve compiled 7 awesome hacks to help you make it happen.
Read on to learn more.
1. Analyze Your Data Usage
One of the first things you should do when trying to lower your cell phone bill is to look at the amount of data you use. Many plans still have data restrictions and consumers often unknowingly go over those limits.
On the other hand, some customers are paying for data that they never even use. Make sure that’s not happening to you!
In fact, a Nielsen study found that the average U.S. consumer uses only 733 MB of data each month. So if you’re paying for a few GB of data, you’re paying more than you should.
Another hack related to data is to use wifi whenever possible. Using wifi doesn’t cost you anything, so if you’re in a public place and you’re trying to use your data sparingly, connect to the free internet source.
If you rarely use data, consider switching to a plan with only 1 or 2 GB of data a month. And if you don’t use it all, choose a plan that doesn’t include any data. Those are usually much cheaper.
2. Check for Promotions
Cell phone companies are constantly changing their plans, trying to compete in a very crowded marketplace. You probably see a commercial from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile almost every day.
What this means for you as a consumer is that there are often cheaper options out there because of promotions.
For example, for a long time, Verizon didn’t offer unlimited data. However, they recently brought it back. By keeping up to date on their latest pricing structures, a customer could save a lot by switching to that plan.
3. Another Way to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill: See if You’re Eligible for a Discount
Like many companies, certain cell phone carriers offer discounts to certain customers. Each company differs in the discounts they provide, so check with your company to see what they will do for you.
It’s common to find discounted rates for the following groups of consumers:
- Students (both high school and college)
- Veterans or current military members
- The disabled
- Those who work for certain employers
- State or federal workers
These discounts can lower your bill by 15 or 20% in many cases. This is one of the simplest ways to lower your cell phone bill and all it takes is a simple phone call to customer service.
Keep in mind, however, that these discounts sometimes aren’t available for every plan. Call your provider to find out more details.
4. Think about Switching to a Prepaid Plan
When it comes down to it, prepaid cell phone plans are almost always cheaper than an annual contract plan. Many times they even cost half as much.
The great news is that you can get a lot of the same features. These often come through companies like Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile, or Virgin Mobile.
And just because the carrier is smaller doesn’t mean their coverage is worse. In fact, many of these companies use the networks of the larger companies.
But if you’re more comfortable sticking with a larger company, many of the big brands also offer prepaid plans as well these days.
There are some cons to consider when thinking about prepaid options. For example, there are usually less devices to choose from when going with a smaller company. And the customer service might not be as accessible.
If you’re on the fence, consider using a tool like HandsetExpert which will customize a plan for you and help you decide if a prepaid plan is best for you.
5. Be Careful with In-App Charges
There are a lot of free apps out there. But did you know that most free apps can still charge you?
One of the biggest genres of these apps is games. For example, many times a game will be free, but if you want extra lives or want an extra boost, there is an additional cost.
Not all users realize this — so be careful so that you’re not faced with a big fee when you receive your bill.
If you have kids, this is especially true. Kids often don’t realize they are charging you while getting extra lives. One way to avoid this is to turn off in-app purchases in your phone’s settings app.
6. Double Check Your Bill
It’s no secret that cell phone bills can be confusing. However, if you’re looking for ways to lower your cell phone bill, double check your invoice.
Cell phone companies have been known to include additional charges on monthly bills — things that the consumer had no idea they were paying for.
One of these examples is roadside assistance. Many plans come with this but what if you’re car insurance company already includes it? Don’t pay for it twice.
Instead, contact your company to get rid of any superfluous charges.
7. Switch Cell Phone Companies (Or at Least Threaten To)
If you still want to try to lower your bill, consider contacting your company’s customer service department. Often, the threat of switching carriers can get you additional discounts.
They know that every consumer has many viable options when it comes to cell phone service, so this can be a great way to lower your bill.
Of course, be respectful. It’s not the representative’s fault that your bill is how it is, so be kind but also be direct. This will motivate them to find you every single discount possible.
What’s Next?
Now that you’ve read these 7 great hacks to lower your cell phone bill, try them out. Pick a few and give them a go!
Have more questions? Feel free to contact us.
And if you want to learn more about smartphones in general, check out our blog.
