A great way to save money without really feeling the pinch is to find ways to lower your phone bill. There are many options available, so how can you find the one that is right for you? Here are some things to consider when trying to save money on your phone bill.
- Limit your long distance — You can try keeping your current pricing plan and simply make an effort to limit your talking time by placing a kitchen timer near your phone. Set the timer when you make a long distance call, and keep track of your minutes in a log book by the phone.
- Look into other pricing options — Your long distance provider may be able to help find a better pricing plan to match your needs. Many offer unlimited long distance. Also, check out offers like 10-10-321, which may give you a better rate without having to switch companies.
- Vonage — If you have high speed internet access, Vonage may be a good solution for you. You can keep your current phone number, try it for one month free, and they have plans starting at just $14.99 per month. They also have many features available like call-waiting, caller ID, voicemail, and more. Click here for more information.
- magicJack — If you have a broadband internet connection, you may want to consider an option like magicJack. Plug the magicJack device into any USB port on your computer, and plug your regular telephone into the magicJack port and you can begin making local and long distance calls for just $19.99 per year. It also has a 30 day free trial, and includes options like call-waiting, voicemail, and more. No more monthly phone bills. Click here for more information.
- Skype — With high speed internet access, you also have the option of using Skype. Skype is free software available for download and offers free Skype-to-Skype calling to people anywhere in the world, as well as free video calls. If you need to call a phone or mobile line, Skype offers great low rates for that as well. The newest version of Skype features improved sound quality and less delay. Click here for more information.
We don’t make very many long distance calls. We don’t even have long distance service on our home phone. Instead, we use our cell phones for long distance calls. I can’t remember the last time we went over our allotted minutes. It’s been several years since we started doing this. We just have basic phone service with no extras.
Another option is to not have a cell phone!
We only have basic service on our home phone (no call waiting, no caller id, etc) and it’s $15.69 a month with taxes.
If I need to call long distance (and that’s rare) I have a pre-paid calling card that I bought for $20 years ago for 2000 minutes. I still have lots of time left on it.