Cell phone charges can add up to hundreds of dollars a month. By reading the fine print, though, you can slash those charges. Here’s what to look for:
Air time If you exceed the monthly allotment of minutes included in your calling plan, a higher per-minute fee may take effect. Callers who regularly exceed their limits should look for a plan that includes more air time, even at the cost of a higher basic monthly fee. Low-minute-users, on the other hand, should look for the lowest monthly fee.
Long-distance rate. You may pay more, per minute, for calls outside of your local area. If you make a lot of long-distance calls each month, you may want to consider a plan that includes long-distance calling in the cost of your air time. Today, you shouldn’t be paying extra for long-distance.
Roaming charge. This is the cost you pay for the ability to make and receive calls outside your home calling area. If you travel a great deal, you should choose a plan without an additional per-minute fee for roaming.
You may be able to switch to another calling plan within the same company or make changes to your plan without penalty. Even if you have to pay a penalty or cancellation charge, though, you may save money in the long run by finding a plan that’s a better fit for your cell-phone usage.
