3 good tips to trim down your monthly phone charges

These days consumers are clearly feeling thestill comparably high. For example, fifty cents a
pinch of increasing costs. From the gas station tominute to India is typical, even if you pay the four
the grocery store, prices are skyrocketing. Butto five dollars a month many companies charge
the telephone bill is an area where savvyfor the privilege of getting lower rates.
consumers can still save. For most people, phoneIn recent years, there has definitely been an
expenses are a substantial element in the typicalexplosion of superior offerings. Sometimes called
household budget. Notwithstanding the fact that"PINLESS" dialing plans, these offerings enable you
telecom prices have fallen considerably in recentto call anywhere in the world at rates forty to
years, this is still a cost that can be cut throughseventy percent less from your landline or cell
prudent planning. These strategies will help youphone without needing to remember a pin code. If
achieve this goal.you type the phrase "cheap international calling"
Tip 1: Change to a shared-use cell phone planinto a search engine you'll see a plethora of
According to the Kiplinger Letter, the average celloptions. The basic way these services work is
phone bill in the US runs about $55 per month.that you register one or more phone numbers
You might ask how the average could be $55with the service and provide a credit card
with so many ads for cellular companiesnumber. They give you a toll-free number and
promoting $29 or $39 plans. This is partly becausewhen you call this number from a registered
a few power users spend $79, $89 or morephone, you can call any country without needing a
monthly. Part of the reason is taxes andPIN code. Using the above example, you could cut
miscellaneous charges such as directorythe charge from 50 cents to 15 cents per minute.
assistance. But a crucial reason is the fact that cellTip 3: Begin using a free teleconference service
phone companies hit you on "overage". Let's sayFor many families, phone bills escalate because of
you've got 1,000 peak minutes and this monththe need to have multiple conversations between
you reach 1,099. At thirty or forty cents perfamily members on the same topics. It is
minute on overage, your cell-phone bill suddenlyinefficient but this is the way most of us cope. In
rockets up twenty dollars. Sound familiar? Thethe last few years, there have been literally
next month you get to 900 minutes but there isdozens of companies that have launched free
no corresponding reduction on your bill. Someteleconferencing services. All of them work on
companies say they solve this problem by allowingthe same basic principle: they give you a PIN and
you to rollover your. And the rollover does helpa toll number to call. If all participants call the same
increase your peak minutes quota for thenumber and enter the same PIN, they are put
following. But even then, you still get hit withinto a group call. Apart from regular toll charges,
overage if you exceed the increased peakthere are no charges assessed by these
minutes quota.companies. If you have a large extended family,
Shared use plans are the best solution for thisone 30 minute call could easily replace 5 to 10
problem. Also called "family-plans", these plansone-to-one discussions for planning a trip or family
allow you to aggregate the minutes of two orevent.
more users into a collective bucket. SinceUnfortunately, it is usually somewhat of a hassle
variability is typically a function of individual usageto arrange these calls in the first place; consumers
patterns, these variability quotients tend to canceloften are reluctant to familiarize themselves with
each other out. Think of it this way: if you andthe mechanics of setting up a teleconference.
your spouse both have individual plans for 1,000Rondee is an example of a free conference calling
minutes and one month you get to 1,100 minutesservice which is working on addressing this issue.
and your spouse reaches 900 minutes, you're inThe service offers users a way to schedule the
for overage surcharges to the extent of 100conference on the web, have the invites emailed
minutes. If you have a family plan, your totaland show the responses tracked on the website.
comes in at 2,000 minutes and there would be noAs with many corporate grade conference call
overage!companies, Rondee enables calls to be recorded.
Tip 2: Try not to use your regular long distanceWith consumer prices escalating, there's not a lot
phone company to dial internationallymost of us can do to fight back. But telephone
Most long distance phone companies offerexpense is an area where being smart can mean
excellent rates for domestic long distance. If yousubstantial savings. Applying these 3 tips will save
are a reasonably frequent user on a good planthe typical consumer 30% to 50% on a monthly
you are probably paying less than 5 cents perbasis, or several hundred dollars a year.
minute. The difficulty is that international rates are