Today – Cutting Costs On Your Mobile Phone Bill
In the current world where social media follows us around everywhere, we go and every meal is photographed until it’s stone cold, having a mobile phone with adequate data, texts and minutes is more of a necessity than a luxury.
What is certainly not necessary, however, is the bills that many individuals are blindly paying; not understanding the many options available to them which could cut their costs significantly.
In this article, we have explored four of the top ways in which you could cut costs on your mobile phone and still have a device that does everything you need (and more! After all, who really NEEDS unlimited texts and minutes?!)
Cutting Costs On Your Mobile Phone Bill
That monthly bill
If your monthly bill is totalling more than £10 per month, then something’s not right.
Of course, there are other factors to consider. Perhaps your monthly bill includes the cost of the handset, or alternatively, you may regularly be browsing the internet on your worldwide travels – something that is sure to push your bill through the roof. You could simply be paying for a massive data allowance that you may not even need, or else you may suffer from a bad credit score which makes sealing a contract far more challenging.
However, even if the above do apply and you find yourself in one of the above situations, you still may be able to save some money on your monthly bill.
On a SIM-only deal, you can easily find numerous deals offering a decent amount of texts, minutes and data for under £10 per month.
Equally, if you are paying for your mobile phone with a contract and are outside your minimum term, you’re essentially paying for a handset which has already been paid off. Stop that now!
Mobile contract costs and tariffs are ever-changing and shifting with the economy. Do your research, go outside of your norm and explore networks and options you may not have considered before. The significant reduction in cost may well be worth your while.
Do you really need that brand-new device?
When our trusty network provider offers us an upgrade as part of our contract, chances are we say yes and jump at the chance of owning the latest iPhone. But do we really need it?
Just like it being smarter to buy a used car, there are plenty of cheaper handsets available in the world of mobile if you shop around a bit, and many offer the exact same core functions as the newest models from Apple and Samsung.
By comparing different deals and handsets in relation to exactly what you use your phone for the most, you are more likely to end up with the phone you actually need rather than the one that will get you the most compliments.
If you DO need a new device, do it the smart way.
There are three different ways in which you can get your hands on a new mobile handset, and each has its own benefits and downfalls. Deciding which one is the best is up to you:
- Buy the handset outright and purchase a separate SIM card.
Essentially, you can pick the handset that you want, at the cheapest price you can find, and then pair it with the SIM-only deal that suits your needs best. Typically, this is the cheapest option that allows you to tailor both the phone and its uses to your own demands. However, the initial expense of purchasing a handset yourself can be pricey and is something you must keep in mind.
- Check out the available finance deals, allowing you to get the handset cost loaned to you under an agreement. Paired with a cheap SIM-only deal, you can either secure this through the finance provider or independently, and then pay off the cost of the handset over a fixed period. While this offer allows you the freedom to choose the handset and SIM deal with a much lower initial cost, the overall cost over the course of your repayments will stack up much higher in the long run.
- Do research and compare the different contract deals available. This choice involves the multi-year contracts that bundle the cost of a bi-annual new handset in with the monthly bills. It can be possible to do this cheaply, for example using reselling contracts on sites such as mobiles.co.uk, but in most cases, this will end up costing you a whole heap more. Just be aware that many contracts and tariffs are offered at highly inflated prices!
Contract vs. SIM-only vs. Pay as you Go
These are your three plans to choose from, and which you opt for is again entirely up to you.
- The Contract option may incur a lower cost up front, but in time this will stack up to leave you with a higher cost overall. The traditional contracts require a monthly fee, for which you get a handset and inclusive bundle of minutes, texts and data.
Though the price of the handset may be split into manageable chunks, these are often 24-month contracts that you have to commit to and require a credit check.
- SIM-only contracts are great if you have a decent handset and want flexibility in your usage. There are two types of SIM-only deals, one with a 30-day notice and the other which locks you into 12 months. This is great value if you already have the handset or can afford to buy a new one yourself, and is a good option for heavy data users.
- Pay-As-You-Go doesn’t require a credit check and does not require any form of contract. It is low commitment and never allows you to go over your data allowance, making it easier to budget. Many people see pay as you go as an old fashioned way of using a phone, but it’s actually growing in popularity and most networks not offer prepaid bundled deals. The only problem is figuring out which is best for your needs, this in-depth guide has reviewed all the major pay as you go sim offerings, rating giffgaff at the number one, with Asda also highly rated for light users. Something I certainly need to think about and practice what I’m preaching here.
It’s an increasingly technical world – one that requires you to be savvy, do your research, and analyse what you NEED versus what may be EASY.
I hope you enjoyed my post on Cutting Costs On Your Mobile Phone Bill. You can see more of my money saving posts here
