| An average American cell phone user spends | | | | choosing a certain contract during its excruciatingly |
| more than $600 every year on mobile phone | | | | long duration. Pay-as-you-go or prepaid plans allow |
| services. Dear Average American cell phone | | | | you the freedom to pay as and when you use |
| users, while the figure may not appear too | | | | the service. Unfortunately though, major phone |
| imposing to you, it is a fortune compared to the | | | | carries in the US don't lend a lot of prominence to |
| relatively small amounts users pay for wireless | | | | such plans in their marketing campaigns and |
| phone services in other developed countries - | | | | adverts. |
| from around $508.26 per year in Canada to an | | | | 3. Refurbished is As Good As New: Being |
| embarrassingly low $131.44 per year in the | | | | considerably cheaper, not only is a refurbished |
| Netherlands. | | | | phone as good as a new phone, it is much more. |
| Now, don't write an insidious treatise on how you | | | | Carriers usually entice consumers to their lengthy |
| have to bear the cost of your carrier's American | | | | two-year contracts by offering popular phone |
| dream. Just remain rooted to the edge of your | | | | models at greatly subsidized prices. But many |
| seats and pay attention to the simple cost-cutting | | | | credulous customers forget that all such discounts |
| tips to follow. These simple steps will ensure that | | | | are usually offset by huge phone bills. Combine a |
| you don't have to relinquish your mobile phone, or | | | | refurbished phone with your favorite |
| in some extreme instances your passport. | | | | pay-as-you-go plan and you will be laughing all the |
| | | | way to the bank instead of your carrier. |
| 1. Realization: No, I am not going to wax | | | | 4. What are the Best Text and Data Plans: The |
| philosophical about curbing wireless phone bills. It is | | | | answer tends to vary from person to person. But |
| plain and simple logic that you need to arrive at | | | | the answer to this riddle can be vital to your |
| the realization that you are overpaying before | | | | savings strategy, especially because smartphones |
| actually formulating a savings strategy. Thankfully, | | | | are fast emerging as popular internet devices. |
| there are folks out there that have made a | | | | Ideally, you should choose a text or data package |
| business out of analyzing people's phone bills. The | | | | that best suits you. For instance, someone who |
| best part is they don't charge you anything while | | | | texts once in a blue moon or sparingly uses |
| suggesting better plans - not necessarily from the | | | | mobile internet bandwidth should not even |
| same carrier, in case you are actually found to be | | | | venture near an unlimited plan. |
| paying more than you should. Billshrink and | | | | 5. Pays to be a Cheapskate: Always keep your |
| myValidas are arguably two of the most popular | | | | eyes and ears open for deals and discounts. Many |
| websites in this space. Just upload your bill to | | | | companies offer their employees discounts of up |
| reveal the extent of your mobile phone excesses. | | | | to 35 percent on their phone bills. Carriers also |
| According to their claims, they can help you save | | | | offer add-ons that can translate into huge savings |
| hundreds of dollars every year on your phone bill. | | | | if used wisely. |
| 2. Pay As You Go: You don't need to rue | | | | |