Technology may be getting better, but the cost of using a
cell phone continues to rise. Many American families spend well over $1,000 per
year on their cell phones but would like to spend less. Aside from the obvious
advice of comparing prices of similar plans from different carriers, there are
actually several ways to reduce your cell phone-related expenses.

Ditch the Contract

If you use your cell phone irregularly, don’t like committing
to contracts of two or more years, or want a simpler service option without
having to worry about rollover minutes and confusing calling plans, then you
might consider ditching the cell phone contract route and either go with a
prepaid calling card or pay on a month-to-month basis. The latter option is
generally more expensive than the contract if you want the same number of
minutes and text messages each month, but if a cell phone company’s minimum
minutes plan is excessive for your calling and texting needs, then this could prove
a more cost-effective alternative. Prepaid cards are also popular among those
who use very few minutes each month but still want a cell phone for practical
purposes like occasionally calling friends and family, as well as for
emergencies.

Get Rid of the Frills

Rarely does cell phone insurance make sense, financially
speaking. For $10-20 per month (on average) you can pay a smaller fee (usually
$100-200 for smart phones instead of full price) to replace your phone if it’s
lost or damaged, but since cell phone companies have strict guidelines as to
what circumstances they’ll cover, you might have to jump through quite a few
hoops before benefiting from monthly insurance, thus rendering this option
relatively worthless for most cell phone users.

Extra data and minutes that you may or may not use should
also be cut out of your monthly bill (if you risk going over on your data
usage, make a conscious effort to utilize Wi-Fi more often and don’t download
anything unless you’re connected to Wi-Fi to preserve your data). Got apps? The
primary difference between free and paid version of apps is usually just the
amount of ads displayed. Sure, it may look cleaner, but if you’re trying to be
frugal, then go with the free option and possibly upgrade later on if the app seems
worth it.

Save on Accessories

Cell phone accessories are a major component of the overall
industry and companies are always innovating new things we can decorate our
phones with. There are cell phone charms, customized cases, specialized headsets
and dozens of other accessories available on the market, but most of them
aren’t really necessary for everyday phone usage. If you truly want a case or
other accessory for your phone, then look for discounted products on Amazon or
eBay, or check SumoCoupon for coupons
before dropping a bunch of money to deck out your phone.

Use Free Call and
Texting Apps

If you own a smart phone and have limited minutes and text
messages each month, did you know you could use free apps to help you reduce
your monthly usage? Apps such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber allow you to make cost-free
calls and text people all over the world (usually if they have the same app). If
you’re planning on going abroad, you can also use these apps while connected to
Wi-Fi to stay in touch with family and friends back home without paying
exorbitant international fees charged by cell phone carriers. 

Kelly Kehoe is a staff writer for Money Street Smart and works with SumoCoupon.com, a site full coupons and coupon codes.