Before signing a 12 or 18 month mobile phone contract, make sure you are only buying what you really need. Mobile phone providers make money by selling you services and features you don’t really need while simultaneously limiting your minutes in the hope that you will go over your monthly allotment. Take a few minutes to assess your mobile phone needs by answering the following questions.
What time of day will I most often use my mobile phone?
Many budget mobile phone plans offer unlimited minutes during off-peak talk times. For example, many mobile phone service providers will offer unlimited night time or weekend minutes. This may sound like a great deal, but keep in mind that free minutes truly are at inconvenient calling times. “Night time” minutes usually begin after 9PM, and weekend minutes are on Saturday and Sunday only. If your mobile phone is your primary communication tool, free night and weekend minutes won’t help you much. On the other hand, if a mobile phone is merely a luxury or convenience for you, purchasing a cheaper, budget mobile phone plan and talking during unlimited minute times can save you a lot of money.
Can I Share my Mobile Plan?
As more and more families begin buying mobile phones together, mobile phone service providers are creating “share plans” which allow multiple people to share one plan. Of course, these plans were designed for families or couples, but savvy single shoppers can take advantage of them as well. If you have a trustworthy friend who is also looking for mobile phone service, consider signing up together for a shared plan and splitting the line rental. Of course, splitting a line has plenty of disadvantages. You will have to negotiate who will pay the bill each month and what happens if someone uses more than her share of minutes.
How often do I Make Long Distance Calls?
One of the great benefits of mobile phones is that most of them have an expanded service area. Where a normal land line will charge long distance for calls to somewhere 30 kilometers away, a mobile phone will offer calls to a much larger area at a flat rate. However, long distance calls on a mobile phone are often far more expensive than those made on a land line, so if you plan on calling mum half way across the country, make sure you purchase a mobile phone plan that covers that area. Map out the calls you make most frequently and choose a mobile phone plan that includes those areas.
Do I Plan to use My Mobile Phone while Traveling?
If you use your mobile phone for business, you’ll probably need to take it along on work-related trips. Calls from outside your local calling area are outrageously expensive, and fees for calls made from abroad could fully fund a small country. Fortunately, most mobile phone providers offer plans that include nationwide an international calls. These plans are far more expensive up front, but if you spent two or three days traveling a month, they will save you money in the long run.
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