Mobile phone bills can be a huge monthly expense. Smartphones
are obviously important in today's world, but not if you are saddling yourself
each month with a hefty bill, or even worse being
one of the 500,00 people who are overpaying for their contracts!
* Collaborative post
If you think you might be paying over the odds, you should
know that there are ways you can lower it. Here are some useful tips...
Look for the Best SIM-Only Deals
SIM-only contracts are increasingly becoming popular because
of their value and flexibility. You receive a specified amount of minutes,
texts, and data at a set monthly cost, and they are usually the most
inexpensive way because there’s no subsidised phone included in the deal.
This option is great if you are coming to the end of your
mobile phone contract, and you want to continue using your current phone. All
you just need is to get a SIM, no need for a new phone.
Skip Phone Insurance
Insuring your mobile phone may seem like a good idea,
especially if you poured a lot of cash when buying it. However, in most cases,
phone insurance is not worth the cost. You might not receive all the cover that
you actually need.
Instead of insuring your device, it is better to invest in a
strong protective phone case and a screen guard, and take great care of
your phone. Moreover, you can put the money you were planning to use on
insurance, on buying a new phone.
Opt for Family Plans
If you require to have more than just one phone on your
monthly plan, you might want to ask if your network provides family plans. BT
Mobile come out on top in most family mobile plan reviews as they knock off 20% for each extra sim.
All these plans offer significant savings or perks for extra sim cards. Go for
family plans if you have teenage kids, and they're using smartphones to
minimise your expenses.
Minimise Your Data Usage
You can be able to lower the amount of data you use in a
month by using secure Wi-Fi wherever you can, especially if you engage in heavy
data activities such as watching YouTube videos. You should also watch out for
the auto-downloading videos on Facebook and other sites, as they can eat up a
lot of data.
Setting data limit on your smart phone can also help you in
controlling the amount of data you use per day. It is better to track your
daily usage and pay for the amount you actually use instead of going for the
unlimited data plans. Compare plans offered by different carriers and don't
forget to read the small print.
Negotiate with Your Network Provider
Network service providers face stiff competition from rival
networks and MVNO’s who will often beat them on price. As a result, they might
be open to make a deal to keep you as their customer. Call your service
provider, tell them your monthly phone bill is too costly and that you think
you might switch to another service provider as you have seen a better deal. In
this case, your current provider will try to convince you to stay if you have
been a long-time customer who always pays their bill on time.
Take advantage of
this opportunity to negotiate for a better deal. If they can’t match a deal you
have found elsewhere on one of the comparison sites, then don’t be afraid to
switch provider, it’s simple to keep your number.
Choose a New Tariff That Reflects Your Monthly Usage
A study done by Billmonitor.com shows
that 8 out of 10 people are using the wrong phone tariff, with just thirty
percent utilising their full call minutes and texts. As a result, these people
end up paying more than they should every year. Phone users end up on the wrong
tariffs because they are not aware of their usage needs when shopping for a new
phone.
When looking for a new deal, pick a tariff that best
reflects the amount you use every month. Your mobile phone bill shows you the
amount of minutes, texts and data you use monthly. By analysing your monthly
usage, you can be able to know the tariff that can help you save money.
Look out for In-App Purchases
Many apps and games out there are "free-to-play"
but they come with in-app purchases. Downloading the app or game might not cost
you any money, but you may be required to pay for features after you have
started to use it. To avoid being strapped down by huge bills every month,
monitor what your children are downloading and playing on their devices, and
read the fine print that comes with these games and apps.
In addition to that, apps can do some auto-downloading even
when they are not open, so do not forget to restrict background data settings
on your phone. This could save you on the amount of data you're losing every
day.
What tips do you have? Let me know in the comments.
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