Every few months, comparison
shop to see if you're paying too much for your
telephone calling plan. If you find a better deal,
contact your phone company and negotiate -- or
switch.
2.
Cancel all the extra services
you don't use such as call waiting, caller ID, voicemail,
call forwarding and three-way calling.
3.
Switch to a smaller,
lower profile company for long-distance service.
Not only is the service cheaper, but usually there
are fewer fees.
4.
Check your long-distance
carrier's call-rounding policy. Many smaller long-distance
companies offer six-second call rounding, rather
than rounding up to the next minute. The more short
calls made or faxes you send, the more you save
with six-second rounding.
5.
Some low-cost
carriers may charge a fee if you receive a paper
bill. Sidestep this fee by paying your bills online.
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6.
If you make a
lot of long-distance calls within your state, choose
a calling plan with a low intrastate rate.
7.
Drop your long-distance
carrier altogether if you make infrequent long-distance
phone calls. Instead, use a prepaid phone card,
a dial-around service or even your cell phone if
you've got the minutes.
8.
If you're always
on the run, consider swapping a land line for a
cell phone. You'll save on the monthly service fee,
taxes and long-distance fees for a land phone that's
rarely used.
9.
Don't exceed your
allotted monthly cell phone minutes. Zero in on
your calling needs to find the best plan for you.
10.
Cell phones can
be expensive, especially if you're footing the bill
for a houseful of users. Do a "needs analysis."
Dump the phones that aren't absolutely necessary.
11.
Go wireless at
your weekend or vacation home. Occasional but pricey
cell phone calls may still be cheaper than the cost
of installing and maintaining a bare-bones land
line.
