By Christopher
BillSavings.com Brief: Stop paying too much for your phone bill! Take the time to read about five simple ways that will help lower your phone bill. Discover alternative calling options like using your internet as a phone line, smart suggestions about choosing the best phone plan for your lifestyle as well as ways to find a great bargain on your next phone bill.
Finding simple and effective ways to lower your monthly phone bill is a great way to reduce your overall monthly budget. The reality of a roller-coaster economy is that consumers must adapt. If one aspect of a budget increases, then another must lower.
However, as millions of budgets are already extremely tight, finding a way to reduce even $50 a month, presents a difficult challenge. While most costs are out of consumers’ control such as the price of food, electricity, gasoline, and mortgage prices, there are a many ways to reduce these costs through careful planning, research, sacrifice, and the utilization of consumer power.
One of the easiest ways to reduce your budget is to explore your monthly phone bill. While this bill does not typically exceed $100 for a majority of Americans, those with families or small businesses can spend a small fortune each month just for talking on the phone. To begin, take the time to look closely at your current phone plan and monthly bill. Take note of how much long distance you use, how much of the extra features you use on a daily basis, and most importantly how much, if any, you exceed your monthly-allotted minutes. Once you have a clear idea about your phone bill, use the following suggestions to help find a better, and most cost efficient way to keep in touch with your friends, family, co-workers, and clients.
Choosing the right plan
There are many ways to make a phone call. Some choose to use a traditional home phone, some a cell phone, while other more technologically advanced consumers choose to make their phone calls over their internet connection. Whichever method you prefer, it is vital that you choose the right plan for your situation.
For example, if you or your family has gone over the monthly-allotted minute usage from your phone plan more than once in the last few months, then you need a different plan. Another example of when you need a new phone plan is if you have a cell phone, but do most of your long distance calling at home. Other tell-tale signs that you or your family has the wrong phone plan includes plans that do not allow for rollover minutes especially if you do not use a substantial amount of your monthly minutes, a plan that whenever you open the bill you tell yourself that you pay too much, or a plan that doesn’t provide adequate reception. If your plan falls into any of these scenarios, it is time to find a new phone plan.
Comparing prices
One of the most efficient ways to lower your phone plan is to compare prices from other phone companies. This is where the power of the consumer comes into play. Take the amount of your monthly phone plan and compare it with a variety of other phone companies at least twice a year. Use the other prices you find as a negation tool to receive the best and least expensive plan. While certain phone plans (especially cell phones), require a contract there are still ways around this commitment. For example, typically there is a termination fee associated with your cell phone contract. If you find a phone plan that provides you or your family with better coverage for a less expensive rate, it may be worth it to pay the termination fee to avoid the continual use of a plan that is not right for you. Your new plan may also provide you with a free month or waived connection fees to entice you to switch.
Cell phone vs. home phone
Cell phones helped revolutionize communication throughout the world. They are relatively inexpensive and allow users to talk wherever and whenever they want. However, as much as cell phones are beneficial, they also have financial risks. For example, while most home phones do not have usage limitations, cell phone plans, with the exception of expensive unlimited packages, do. This can cause users to exceed their minutes and leave them with potentially hundreds of dollars in overage charges.
Before you decide whether you want to use either a cell phone, home phone, or a combination of both, look at your total monthly phone costs. If you notice you mostly call long distance when you are at home, it might be in your best interest to use a combination of a small cell phone plan, and a home phone service. If you already have cable or an internet connection in your home, ask your provider about combining multiple services including a home phone to maximize your savings.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Voice over Internet Protocol allows users to make phone calls using their broadband internet connection rather than through using a traditional, analog, phone line. When the user of a VoIP speaks, their voice translates into a digital signal, which then converts back into a regular signal before it reaches its destination. There are multiple ways consumers can utilize the Voice over Internet Protocol system. They can use a headset attached directly to a computer, use a special VoIP phone, or even attach a traditional telephone set to their modem using a phone adapter. However, all users of the Voice over Internet Protocol must have an internet connection. VoIP service providers also have varying regulation and prices.
Advantages
- Price: If you already use a computer with a broadband internet connection, the cost of adding VoIP is much more affordable than you may think. It is also less expensive to call long distance including international calls using the VoIP system.
- Convenience: The VoIP system allows users to talk over the phone while still utilizing their computer, which allows consumers to not only multi-task, but also avoid paying a separate charge for an additional phone line. In addition, VoIP users with mobile broadband capability on their computers are able to use VoIP wherever they receive a signal.
Disadvantages
- Limitations: Because the VoIP method is relatively new, there are certain limitations including not all systems connect directly to emergency centers like 9-1-1. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does require VoIP providers to:
- Deliver all 911 calls to the local emergency call center
- Deliver the customer’s call back number and location information where the emergency call center is capable of receiving it
- Inform their customers of the capabilities and limitations of their VoIP 911 service
In addition, the quality of sound may be limited depending on the service providers. Service providers may also require that the person you call use the same service.
- Usage: When your cable goes out, your VoIP system disables as well. This can frustrate users, and also prevents them from contacting emergency services during outages.
Reduce extra featuresWhile the allure of call-forwarding, three-way calling and call-waiting may seem appealing, they are not always necessary. For example, how many times do you really use three-way calling? For the most part, talking to more than one person at a time creates more stress than it does convenience. Take a long look at your phone plan and decide what you need versus what you want. You may find that you could easily live without a few extra features that in turn, would reduce you phone bill.
6/19/2008
