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 to charge you for it. Most people don't even realize they can do this, or that those wrong number calls do cost them money.
9. If you have Caller ID, don't even pick up the phone for telemarketers or numbers you don't know. Let the answering machine pick them up before you do, because 90% of the time, they will be nonsense calls that will save you money if you don't answer.
10. If you go out of town for a long period of time, especially if it's for a month or longer, have your phone service disconnected for the meantime. You don't want to pay for a service you're not even using.
11. Anticipate the number of calls you will probably be making each month. Doing this can help you choose out the best plan, and will give you a rough estimate of what your phone bill will cost.
12. If you have children, DO NOT buy them their own home phone. Give them a limit on how long they can talk, when they can talk, and to whom they can talk. Your children will probably be the biggest threats to your phone bill, so always have their talking on the phone under control. Since teens love to text, get them unlimited texting, as it will definitely save you money on the next phone bill.
13. Know your phone provider's discounts. Some providers like to offer discounts to those who pay by credit card rather than check. Others have special promotional times and deals which can become useful. When you get your bill for the month, go over it extensively. Check for any mistakes that may have been made, and don't be afraid to call customer service about it. Know where your biggest problem is on the bill, and try to fix it before the next bill comes.
The phone bill is something that can easily be reduced. We all need water and we all need electricity, but talking on the phone, especially in the computer and social media generation in which we live, we can do without. By keeping these simple tips and tricks in mind, you won't have to fret about the phone bill the next time you see it in the mail.