In 2016, it’s pretty much impossible to exist without a smartphone. Most of us take that a step further and add on an expensive data plan as well.
Your phone doesn’t have to cost $100+ per month. Here are some easy ways to pay less.
Get unlocked
Cell phone companies offer discounts on new phones to sign up with them. The customer is then locked in an expensive contract.
By paying outright for the phone to begin with, you’ll get the freedom to move to a different carrier whenever you want, saving money in the long haul.
Don’t be picky about the model, either. Dealers trying to liquidate can have some nice deals.
Shop around
The internet makes it easy to compare the plans of many different providers. Or, if you prefer the human touch, you can go to one of many kiosks that deal with all the major providers.
They’ll help you find a decent plan at a good price. Remember, not every provider is covered by those kiosks. Plenty of smaller providers exist who, occasionally, offer fantastic deals. Make sure to include them in any search.
I’ve found the best time to shop around is close to Christmas.
Cull your plan
Most people get way too many minutes or data, concerned about going over their limit.
You can avoid this by relentlessly keeping track of your actual usage. If you pay for one gigabyte of data and you only hit 400 MB consistently, go down a tier to 500 MB. It’s the same thing with unlimited minutes or other perks.
