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This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I haven’t always been a smartphone user. The price tag and monthly bill made me reluctant to switch over for many years. Now I can’t live without my iPhone. Below I share how to lower the cost of owning a smartphone.
Beware of small fees
In my post about shrinking your cell phone bill, I suggest you avoid the extras like ringtones and wallpaper. With a smartphone, you also want to avoid paying for in-app purchases or going crazy downloading music. To avoid accidentally making these purchases, go to the apps’ settings and turn-off purchases.
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This post is brought to you by Verizon FiOS TV.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Cell phones can come in handy, but can also be costly. Don’t fret. Like other utilities, cell phone bills can be shrunken down with a few tweaks. Below I share 11 tips to lower your cell phone bill.
Track your talk time – If you tend to go over your minutes, it’s time to set up alerts. You can check your minutes for free on most cell phones. You can also use OverMyMinutes.com, a free service that will send you an email or text message to let you know when you’re about to run out of minutes. All you have to do is sign up.
Avoid the extras – Stop purchasing ringtones and backgrounds. These are just a waste of money especially when your cell phone already comes with these. Paying a buck for these may sound cheap, but this expense can quickly add up.
ilamont.com
Reader Ellen asked for advice on cell phone insurance.
Two phones ago I lost the capacity to (gasp) text message! When I went to the Verizon store they told me that there was nothing I could do except wait until my upgrade kicks in, buy a new phone ($$$) or wait it out. (Yes, I waited it out.)
They also mentioned that cell phone insurance may have taken care of the alleged damage. Cell phone insurance? (more…)
I pay $4 a day for the privilege of receiving calls and working anywhere I want on my iPhone, which seemed like a decent tradeoff until I heard about no contract cell phone plans like those available at Pure TalkUSA. The network just launched an unlimited talk and text plan that is $48 a month. $48! That’s insane. And it includes taxes and fees.
What really sets Pure TalkUSA apart from the competition is its $10 a month Flex Plan that starts you with 101 minutes. Another $10 gets you 125 more minutes. Pay another $10 and you get 150 minutes, and so on. You can cap the total bill or let Pure TalkUSA add another $10 every time you use up your minutes. Get more info about Pure TalkUSA’s cheap cell phone plans. Remember, the plan prices already include taxes and fees.
Pure TalkUSA’s month-to-month plans come with a variety of handsets – from free handsets to others available for $11 to $65. You can also use your existing phone, as long as it is an unlocked GSM phone, and keep your current phone number for no extra charge. Pure TalkUSA will provide you with a FREE SIM card, which also comes with 150 minutes.
Pure TalkUSA is on the GSM network, same as AT&T and T-Mobile. Pure TalkUSA is a family-owned and operated business based in Georgia.
This is paid content. Want to take out an ad? Read my advertise page.
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared some great coupons with me this week.
Get 20 percent off accessories of $30 or more at Verizon Wireless. Unknown expiration date.
Get free shipping on orders of $30 or more at Avon. Expires March 11, 2010.
Get $15 off $75 or more at Smashbox. Expires March 1, 2010.
Get 20 percent off orders of $50 or more with free shipping at Kate Spade. Unknown expiration date.
Get $10 off most orders of $64.99 or more with free shipping at GameStop. Expires March 5, 2010.
Call me a late adopter, but I just discovered a free alternative to texting, something I am doing a lot more of now that I have an iPhone. I was facing a much higher texting bill – going from 200 texts a month ($5) to 1,500 a month ($15) – when a friend told me about Google Talk.
Now I’m not worried about buying more texts or going over my allotment. And this deal is not just for iPhones.
Smart phones like the iPhone and Blackberry have free instant messaging as part of their data plan. There is also AIM from AOL and Yahoo! Messenger. Instant messaging is about as close to texting as you can get without paying for it.
For iPhones and other smart phones, I recommend downloading Google Talk on your phone. If you have a BlackBerry and want to chat free with other Blackberry’s, use Blackberry Messenger, which is part of the phone’s operating system if you have a data plan. The Pearl, 8800, and Curve models support Blackberry Messenger.
Now you can instant message your heart out, and not worrying about the cost of texting. Thanks, Dan!
