Phone Plans

How to Save on Cell Phone Plans: The Necessary Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

By
Sara Nuss
June 23, 2023
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It is common knowledge to know that a lot of things that we need can be quite expensive. Whether it’s utility bills, groceries, gas for your car, and other things that are deemed necessary in our society, it usually costs more money because we do need it.

Cell phone plans, although they may not be a necessity to some, can be extremely expensive

If you are searching for ways to make your cell phone plan more affordable, make sure to consider some of the best tips and tricks out there!

Switching cell phone carriers can sometimes be a necessity, and looking into Really can help you with all of your phone services needs! At Really, you can compare phone plans to save more money, and you can see what carriers and plans are in your area, sort by price, best value and more. Really can help you to find the perfect plan that will fit all of your needs and price range.

Why it's Necessary to Save Money On Cell Phone Plan

Cell phone plans can be extremely expensive, but learning why you should look into saving money is essential!

Cell phones can cost a ton of money to have, so it’s necessary to know just why you should think about saving money on your plan. Image courtesy of FOX 61.

Everyone knows just how expensive cell phones can be, so learning new ways to save money on them is crucial. You may have thought that you have selected the best plan to fit your price range, but have you thought about how you can save hundreds of dollars every year just by making a few simple changes?

Here are some simple reasons why we think you should consider looking into saving more money on your cell phone plan!

More Money to Spend on Yourself or Your Family

One of the best reasons why you should consider getting a cell phone plan that can allow you to save more money is to do more with your friends and family, or even just treat yourself to something nice. We always say things like how we wish we could afford the newest game console, go on a nice beach vacation, or even surprise your family on a trip to Disney World, and it can happen by saving money on your cell phone plan.

Put Money Towards Any Debts

Are you someone who owes money to pay off your student loans, or are working towards paying off a mortgage on your home? There are a ton of reasons why someone could be in debt or owe money no matter how small. Just by saving on your cell phone plan, you can add a little more money on each monthly payment to pay off your debts and loans much faster.

Spend Money on Long-Term Investments

For many people, being able to save more money means that they can spend it on bigger and larger investments later in life. This can be anything from purchasing a new car, buying a house, or even just saving enough money to be able to expand your family and give your children everything that they need. Keeping your family in mind when making any life decision is crucial, and money can potentially play an important role in this.

Add More Money to Your Savings Account

If you love the feeling of putting more money in your savings account, saving on your cell phone plan is crucial. For many people, it can be hard to save money if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck. Getting a little extra back each month that was originally going to your cell phone bill will feel better going straight to your savings account.

 Getting a Furry Friend to Cheer You Up

It is said that pets can be some of the best emotional support that you can ever receive in your life, but vet bills can be expensive. By looking into saving more money on your cell phone plan, you can consider getting the pet of your dreams and spoil them with toys, treats, and even make sure that they’re healthy with their annual vet visits. They can also be a great cuddle buddy after a long, hard day of work and something that you can look forward to seeing when coming home.

How to Save Money On Cell Phone Plan

Now that you know why you should consider saving more money on your cell phone plan, here’s how you can do it!

Cell phone plans can be very expensive, but there are a ton of useful ways to save more money on your plan. Image courtesy of Device Magic

Following these tips can save you potentially hundreds of dollars a year and allow you more financial freedom too.

Consider looking into these top money saving suggestions to use on your cell phone plan!

Switch to a MVNO

One of the most efficient ways to save more money on your cell phone plan is by switching to a mobile virtual network operator, or an MVNO. These are no-contract cell phone plans where you can pay by the month, or for an extended period of time ranging from three months, six months, or even for a full year.

The unique thing about MVNOs is that they don’t own their own network that supplies reliable call and text performance, or provides high-speed data. They share off of one of the larger carriers, including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The main downfall is that you may experience deprioritization. This means that you’ll experience slower data speeds whenever their network is congested.

Choose a Set Data Allotment Plan

If you currently have an unlimited data plan on your cell phone, it turns out that you may be paying more than you should be for your plan. Unlimited data plans are deemed unnecessary by a lot of customers.

One of the best alternatives that you should consider looking into to save money on your cell phone plan is by choosing a set data allotment plan. The average person uses up to 6GB of data per month, so by tracking how much data you are using, consider a set data allotment so you can save hundreds of dollars per year. It is recommended to get a set allotment of 6GB and increase or decrease how much data you need according to what you use.

Use Wi-Fi When You Can

A tip that may seem like a no-brainer to some can also be a friendly reminder to others when it comes to saving money on your cell phone plan and that is to use Wi-Fi when you can. While you have to pay to have a Wi-Fi plan just like you do your cell phone plan, it’s important to use it any time you’re home.

If you aren’t in your home, using cellular data is probably what you will use most of, but there are ways to continue using Wi-Fi even when you’re not home. If you are at a local library, coffee shop, or even somewhere that offers free Wi-Fi to customers, connecting to it can help you to save a ton of money before you know it.

Cut Out Phone Insurance

Whenever you purchase a new cell phone through any carrier, they often ask if you want to also purchase cell phone insurance. While this type of insurance can make sure that your phone is completely covered to be fixed or even replaced, it can be very costly on top of your already expensive cell phone plan. 

You may be someone who is very accident prone and known for breaking your cell phone screen very easily, and while it can be great to rely on phone insurance, it can cost more in the long run. It can cost you as little as $10 per month on top of your monthly cell phone bill, but that could be  extra money that you can add straight to your savings account, or even apply towards your bills. 

Bring Your Own Cell Phone

Switching to a new cell phone plan can be nerve wracking when you take a second to consider how much money you will be spending when you have one. While there are so many new cell phones out there that keep getting released every year, bringing your own cell phone to a new plan or not upgrading your phone can save you a ton of money.

It can actually be very unnecessary to get another cell phone and upgrade to the newest one, especially whenever yours still works with no issues. There are some signs to consider an upgrade  to a new cell phone plan that can consist of--the battery running out constantly, your phone not being able to update to the newest software anymore, or even if it is starting to slow down.

Cell phone plans are essential to connect  yourself and your loved ones, but knowing how you can save money on them is crucial. Image courtesy of Liberty Elementary School.

Don’t Do a Payment Plan on New Phone

Whenever you decide it’s time to purchase another cell phone, whatever carrier that you go through will want you to sign up for their own payment plan. It is advised to steer clear of payment plans just to pay off your new cell phone, as they can increase your bill for upwards of two years until it’s fully paid off.

One of the most efficient ways to not have to worry about an even more expensive cell phone bill per month is to avoid signing up for a payment plan and pay it off in full immediately. While paying for a new phone all at once and out of pocket can be expensive for some people, sometimes getting it out of the way first is the best for you in the long run. 

Sign Up for Auto-Pay 

There are so many simple things that you can do so you don’t have to worry about an expensive cell phone bill every month. You can save money on a cell phone by keeping your current one, cutting out unnecessary features, or you can do something as little as signing up for Auto-Pay or paperless billing if plans offer a deal when signing up.

Going green is important to many cell phone companies and one of the best things that you can do is to help make the planet Earth cleaner. By doing something as little as signing up for Auto-Pay, you can ensure that the money for your cell phone bill will come out on time and paperless billing can help prevent more trees from being cut down.

Take Out the Streaming Services

When you sign up for a cell phone plan, a lot of times carriers offer a deal on a different streaming service. While this can be more affordable than purchasing the streaming service on its own, it can definitely cost more money on top of your monthly cell phone bill as well.

Don’t Forget About Background Data

Sometimes we don’t realize it, but there are times where we are often using data when we don’t even notice it. One of the most common ways to do this is by using background data without paying attention, which is whenever you leave an app that uses cellular data open and running.

Background data may not use a lot of data all at once, but it is still using up your cellular data, and could potentially be what makes you go over your monthly allotment. It is important to make sure that you close out of all of your apps whenever you’re done using them and make a habit out of it to avoid using any unnecessary data whenever you’re on cellular data. 

Mobile Hotspots Use Your Own Data to Run

For many people who work on-the-go, something that they can fully rely on whenever they’re not working from home is a mobile hotspot. While many plans only offer a few GBs of it to use every month, they are essential to keep you safe while using the internet outside of your home.

A mobile hotspot uses  your data to form its own connection that you can connect tablets, laptops, and a ton of other devices to with a password that you create. It is important to know that anytime you use your mobile hotspot, you’re using your own data to run it, which can run out quicker than you might think. While it may not matter for someone who has an unlimited data plan, for set allotment people it can potentially cost a fortune. 

Finding the perfect cell phone plan shouldn’t be difficult, but looking for one that is easier on your bank account is a must. There are plenty of easy ways to save money on your cell phone plan that can help you put more money in your bank account and  save up in the long run.

Make sure to consider saving on your cell phone plan with some of these essential tips and tricks to put more money in your savings account, or to even treat yourself with!

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Sara Nuss
Sara Nuss is a journalist from Pittsburgh, PA that specializes in wireless, dewi, phone plan advice & blockchain.

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