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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.

Minimize app purchases

Stick to free apps, or at least get money back from your purchase. Use Ebates when buying apps and music. I’ve also scored many free apps from Starbucks. Make sure to look for the business-like cards by the register to score free music and apps every Tuesday. Check out my post on how to purchase inexpensive iphone apps for more tips!

Reduce your data plan

I was grandfathered in to an unlimited plan, but recently, many wireless carries have switched to tiered plans. Avoid going over your minutes by checking your usage statistics. They’re under settings and you can reset them to track your usage over a month. You may be surprised to learn that you’re not using all of your data allowance. Once you’ve reduced your data plan work to stay with in the limit.

Use Wi-Fi

One way to reduce your data usage is to log in to a wireless connection. You can do this even when you’re out! Coffee shops, libraries, and even restaurants now offer wireless connections. Just make sure not to check bank accounts when you’re on a public internet connection.

Text and call using apps

Don’t eat up your minutes and incur costs when making calls or texting. There are apps that allow you to use your cell phone’s Wi-Fi to send free texts and make free calls. Many of these apps are also free! I like to use Skype.

UPDATE: I just received my May issue of ShopSmart and it includes apps for chatting on the go — for free! They include:

Facetime – It allows you to video-chatting for free, but you have to be on Wi-Fi.

Fring – Lets you IM, talk, and video-conference using an iPhone, Android, or iPad.

Tango – Offers voice and video calling between devices. This app works on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows.

Viber – You can call and text other Viber users. It’s free and works on iPhone and Android devices.

Whatsapp Messenger – It’s free in Blackberry, Androids for a year, and $.99 cents on iPhone.

Finally, if you’re taking the plunge and getting a smartphone, consider buying a refurbished phone. Many refurbished phones have the same warranty as new ones so you’ll reduce the cost of getting a new phone.

How do you save money when using your smartphone?

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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.

Go prepaid – A prepaid cell phone is a good option for someone who occasionally uses a cell phone. Shop around to find the best deal.

Evaluate your plan – Billshrink.com is a free online analyzer that helps you reduce the cost of household bills. Input basic information about your cell phone plan and it will suggest a cheaper plan. I haven’t used this site, but know friends who have and have found cheaper cell phone plans.

Use the phone book – Try to avoid calling 411. Many carriers charge $1.25 or more. Instead, try alternatives like using the phone book or calling 1-800-FREE411. Make sure to double check your bill when it arrives, you don’t want to get charged for calling information.

Double check your invoice – Pay close attention to your monthly bill as these can be ridden with errors. Make sure you understand everything you are being charged for. I recently fought a $2 charge in our bill for data charges from a cell phone that does not have a data plan and can’t send or receive photos.

Avoid roaming charges - Double check your service plan and familiarize your self with your local area. Roaming charges can quickly add up! Many cell phones allow you to turn roaming off so you’re not able to make or receive calls when you’re out of your area.

Drop the insurance - Unless you have a brand new phone that cost you several hundred dollars, then drop your cell phone insurance. At $3-5 per month, it can cost you $36-$60 per year. When I first bought a cell phone, I paid for insurance only to find out later on that it didn’t cover the damages my phone had suffered. Instead of paying, I could have saved the money to replace the phone.

Avoid peak hours – One way I keep my cell phone bill down is by using my cell phone during the weekend and nights to catch up with friends and family. My peak hours are reserved for work calls. Depending on what you use your cell phone for, you can do the same.

Get your texting under control – If you send and receive a lot of texts, you may want to consider switching to an unlimited texting plan. You can also use free alternatives to text.

Ask for a discount – Many companies offer students and seniors discounts. Note that the plan has to be in your name to receive the discount. I tried getting a student discount a while back but couldn’t because my phone is  apart of a family plan.

Data plans – I have an unlimited data plan, but those are no longer around as many companies have dropped them. Make sure you absolutely need this type of plan before forking over your hard earned cash. If you need the plan for work, check to see if your company will pay for it. If that’s not a possibility, cut down on the video streaming, app downloading, and web surfing while on broadband.

How do you save money on your cell phone bill?

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?

Yes for about $5.00 a month, you, too can “insure” your phone in the event it is damaged, lost, stolen, etc. One new phone later and I still declined, until I thought said phone was malfunctioning. This time I tried to give in and get the insurance but Verizon told me that I had to purchase the insurance within 30 days of my upgrade.

Yes, they were on to me. Phone breaks, get insurance, get phone fixed, drop insurance. During this process I also learned that cell phone insurance, like health or autho, also has a deductible!!!

Lucky for me my cell phone was not malfunctioning–operator error–but I definitely learned another lesson in all matters insurance. If you think you’ll break it, buy it.

Do you have cell phone insurance? I decided against buying the $70 per year iPhone insurance, but a generous friend shared his with me so my phone is insured.

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.

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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!