Saving money on the phone bill?

**Kathryn32** · 10-19-2008, 12:13 PM

Ok I am determined to start cutting costs around here and the phone bill is a place I need to start. Does anyone have any tips to cut costs on the phone bill? We are unfortunately stuck with the phone company that we have so switching companies is not an option.

Thanks!
Kate

**jacqueline** · 10-19-2008, 12:22 PM

if you have broadband internet you could get magicjack i ordered one and it does work (call long distance for free) i paid ~$50 for mine and it's good for a year
or shop around for a good cell phone deal with a family plan--if you don't use the phone that much you could do the prepaid cell phone thing and pay as you go
or see if your phone company has a thrifty caller plan (that's what i have thru verizon) check out their website if they have one too....you might find some other options
good luck

**Araceli** · 10-19-2008, 06:41 PM

I got a plan that allows me to make calls for 50 minutes per month, so I always have to make sure any call i make is fast and for emergency only. It has worked miracles. Maybe you could check if there is a similar plan with your current company.

**BlessedMomof2** · 10-20-2008, 09:39 AM

We switched our phone services in August, and saved ourselves $7.00 a month and just got a kickback from them this last week... A check from them in the amount of $50. We called them and told them them we wanted to get a cheaper phone plan and asked what they could do for us with the extras we still wanted. We had our phone bill right in front of us when we called and compared the prices and went with the new plan that still worked for us and saved us money.

If you have extras on your phone (caller id, call waiting, voicemail, etc) you could get those cancelled and only have basic phone. Or try lowering your minutes allowed. That is something we did too, we went from unlimited minutes to 500 minutes a month and come far from using them each and every month.

Good Luck!!

**PAVallygrl** · 10-20-2008, 10:58 AM

I have a bare bones home phone plan. Cost approx $17 a month. The only thing I use it for is the DSL, if I do need to use it I would get a Phone Card. We have a family cell phone plan that has free nights and weekends and I tend to either make my calls to other people who have Verizon cell phones (they would be in network and therefor NO charge at any time) or wait till after 9pm or on weekends to make any other calls.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 10-24-2008, 12:14 AM

If you have a cell phone I would get the average for the past three months minutes that you have used an see if you can lower the minutes on your phone. Also, some companies if you go below let's say 500 minutes they cut our your free nights/weekends. As for home phone, I stick with the basic package an use the cell phone for long distance calls at night. But if you are making a lot of long distance calls on your home phone you might want to look into unlimited long distance (which is around 20$) a month but that's only worth it if you use that much or more. Hope this helps...?

**jdr250** · 10-24-2008, 07:24 AM

You didn't say what you use your phone doing (i.e., making long distance calls, internet, etc.) But we live a really rural area and had only the option of verizon. My basic bill was like 15.00 but with taxes and the fact that even if we called 10 miles away it was long distance and calling my mom my bill was about 40 minimum every month. Then one day a phone company called it and said they could give me unlimited long distance, caller id call waiting everything for 30 a month. They actually use verizons land line and let you keep your own number so I changed to them. Then they called and offered broadband phone for 24 a month. Maybe if you look around you can find a company like that, one that isn't local but uses your local company's equipment.

**kittykatstrong** · 10-24-2008, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by BlessedMomof2

We switched our phone services in August, and saved ourselves $7.00 a month and just got a kickback from them this last week... A check from them in the amount of $50. We called them and told them them we wanted to get a cheaper phone plan and asked what they could do for us with the extras we still wanted. We had our phone bill right in front of us when we called and compared the prices and went with the new plan that still worked for us and saved us money.

If you have extras on your phone (caller id, call waiting, voicemail, etc) you could get those cancelled and only have basic phone. Or try lowering your minutes allowed. That is something we did too, we went from unlimited minutes to 500 minutes a month and come far from using them each and every month. Good Luck!!

That is what I did with my cable. I called and asked if there was a lower plan. And they cut $10 off my bill.

**Terri S** · 10-24-2008, 06:55 PM

Regular phone, cell phone, cable ... you stand a chance of getting these lowered by calling the provider and telling them exactly what you want, and ask what is the cheapest way to get there. Everyone I've talked to has always been super nice about looking over my bills and fitting me with the lowest cost plan to meet my needs. I cut $25 off my landline by just calling them and asking them which way was the cheapest way to get what I wanted -- I still have caller ID and DSL, gave up 3 way calling and call waiting that I never used. Give them a call, it easy and free and you might be surprised.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-26-2008, 01:34 AM

We have basic bare bones local service. No long distance. You may have to ask to have that removed. If we need to call long distance (rarely) I use a dial-around service: 10-10-220. It's $1.20 for the first ten minutes, and I almost never need to be on longer than that. Even if I am, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than paying for long distance service every month of the year.