by Nick Somoski

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 17, 2011

The phone bill is just one thing people are trying to lower nowadays. That one pesky bill - or two, or three, or four -  takes a big chunk out of a person's monthly income, and while money-crunching is still in fashion, reducing it is a top priority. Here are a few ways you can easily do so.

1. Set up a plan with your phone service provider. Many providers offer family plans, so if you have a family of 4 or more, doing this is highly recommended. Plans can also include unlimited texting, long distance calls, and free minutes, so if you're a big phone talker, setting up a plan will be beneficial in the long run. "Friends and Family" plans can also be made if you're only going to be talking to a few select people.

2. Only use your cell phones when needed. Cell phones should only be used when you need to talk while on the run. If you're home and you plan on talking on the phone for awhile, always use your land line, as it will be much easier and less expensive.

3. If you want to make a quick call, resist! If you just need to let someone know something and don't want to spend your day talking on the phone, send them an email or text message. There are times when I'll call my mother to tell her something, planning to talk for a minute or two, but I'll end up on the phone for at least an hour. It's times like those I wish I'd sent an email instead!

4. Stay away from long distance. If you must make a long distance call, though, keep it short and to the point. On the same line, avoid calls that require you to talk to an operator, which will always cost you extra money.

5. Make a personal limit to keep your phone calls to 5 minutes or less. This is an important one, because most of us talk on the phone about nothing anyways, when we can talk to that person about the same things in person. Let your friends and family know that you're trying to cut back on the phone bill and want to keep all calls short and sweet.

6. Make the majority of your phone calls in discount rate periods, which can be after 7pm, after midnight, on weekends, or on holidays, depending on your plan and your phone provider.

7. Plan your phone calls in advance. Know who you're going to call and what you're going to talk about. Most importantly, don't talk endlessly about nothing! Some areas have unassisted 1-minute calls that will cost you relatively nothing.

8. If you end up calling a wrong number, always make sure to immediately call the operator afterwards to let him or her know not

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