Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill

Use the Same Plan as Friends and Family

Many cell phone service providers offer free in-network calls or allow you to choose a small group of in-network friends and family that you can call for free. So, get all of your most-called people on one plan, and you could save big.

Don't Use Your Cell Phone for Toll-free Calls

Toll-free calls aren't free when you make them from a cell phone; so save your 1-800 calls for times when you access to a landline. After all, being put on hold is painful enough when you aren't paying for it by the minute.

Don't Use 4-1-1

Dial 4-1-1 from a cell phone, and it could cost you $1 or more. Crazy! Fortunately, you can skip the charge and still get the information that you need by calling 1-800-GOOG-411, a free 4-1-1 service provided by Google.

Another free 4-1-1 number to try:
1-800-free411

Bundle Services

Go Prepaid

If you only use your cell phone for occasional calls, a prepaid plan may be the cheapest service option for you. Shop around, and you could spend as little as $20 every three months. Now that's a deal!

• The Prepaid Cell Phone Plan Chooser

Pick a Plan that Matches Your Talk Times

Do you make a lot of calls in the early evenings? On the weekends? Mid-day? Examine your phone habits; then, pick a plan that best matches them.

Switch to Unlimited Texting

Ditch the Extras

Phone replacement insurance, road side assistance, ringtone downloads, games, video streaming, e-mail, web surfing capability – there are lots of cell phone extras to choose from, but in the end they all do the same thing: add to your monthly cell bill. Stick to the basics, and you'll receive a more basic bill.

Be Realistic About Your Phone Use

When choosing a phone plan, people generally do one of two things: choose too small of a plan or choose too big of a plan. Be realistic about how often you'll use your phone, and you'll avoid paying more than you need to for service.

Pick a Plan with Rollover Minutes

If you've determined that a minute-based plan is best for you, choose one that allows you to rollover unused minutes from month to month. After all, you've paid for those minutes, so you should get to keep them.