Practical tips to easily find a cheap cell service plan instead of a low quality one
When it comes to choosing a cheap cell service plan, there are many options. However, it’s important not to just pick the cheapest plan you see, because it may not be right for your needs. A cheap plan doesn’t always stay cheap if it turns out that its use is completely inappropriate for that plan.
The other thing you need to think about is quality. Just because you want a cheap cell service plan doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy if the service sucks. It may be worth paying a few extra bucks to stick with names that have a proven track record, like Cingular/AT&T, Tmobile, Verizon, or Sprint Nextel.
The first step you should take is to visit the websites of the various providers you are considering and check out their basic plan for individuals. You can usually find a plan that costs less than $30 a month. Keep in mind, however, that getting a cheap plan almost always means signing a long-term contract, sometimes up to 2 years. Sure, you can find cellular plans that don’t require you to sign up for a certain period, but you’ll usually pay more for the privilege of freedom.
Now that you have some basic plans to look at, do a thorough comparison. You certainly want to find an affordable cell service plan, but at the same time you want to make sure you’re getting good value for your money. If your purpose for having a cell phone is simply to have it on hand for emergencies, then the cheapest, most basic plan will probably work for you. Otherwise, you need to look at the various features in a bit more detail. Will you pay long distance rates if you call outside of your local calling area? Do you get free calls on weekends or at night? Do incoming calls count against the minutes on your service plan? Do you expect to use the phone so rarely that you just want the cheapest monthly cost? It’s important to think about your expected cell phone usage, so you can find a service plan that meets your requirements. You’re not saving anything if the plan you choose doesn’t fit your usage and means you rack up a lot of extra calling charges.
This is very important if you end up using the phone a lot to make calls. Most plans have an allowed number of minutes per month, and once your usage exceeds that point, rates can increase substantially. There is no point in choosing the cheapest monthly plan available if you end up paying a lot more in calling charges. It’s also amazing how quickly the minutes go by when you’re in the middle of a conversation! So don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll spend on the phone each month, or it can get expensive.
Most cell service plans also offer many other features, and you need to decide whether or not you want to access them. Some are available for free with your plan, but others are extra. If your primary purpose of having a cell phone is for others to contact you in an emergency, then having voicemail is probably essential for you. Other features, such as call forwarding or paging, may also be appropriate. Shop around and find a plan that includes these features for free, or make sure you get them at the lowest possible cost.
Getting a cheap cell service plan takes a bit of research, but it’s worth spending time researching if it means you end up with a plan that fits your needs at the best possible price.