How many make you return for your cell phone plan? Depending on where you live, it could be a lot. While the average person in the UK pays £27(or roughly 37 USD), the average American pays three times that much! That means the Joe Average in Boise, Idaho, is producing a significant markup for basic plans. 

This kind of bill can be hard to handle, month after month, but you can’t cancel it to save money. Your cell phone is a lifeline, especially if you don’t have a landline or use it for work.

So, does this mean you’re stuck paying too much for your phone for the rest of your life? Not necessarily. This model is here to support you take control of your costly cell phone bill.

1. What if You Can’t Pay Your Bill Today?

In an emergency when a due date is fast approaching, some people think payday cash advances are the only loans that work fast enough. And it’s true, some cash advances are same-day loans, but they can also come with their own equally fast due dates that you might struggle to pay on time. 

If you need more time, consider researching online installment loans as an alternative. If approved, you’ll receive your funds upfront, just like a payday cash advance, but you’ll have multiple weeks (or even months) to repay what you owe. 

What if You Can not Pay Your Bill Today

These financial products are convenient in an emergency, but there are rules about borrowing them. 

If you’re the average person living in Boise, installment loans in Boise are designed to help you with emergency expenses. This means they might be an option if you accidentally roam and rack up a surprising one-tie penalty on your next bill.  

However, even the best online installment loans Boise has to offer may not be the right option for your typical cell phone bill. Your bill is a regular expense that doesn’t change, as long as you don’t go over your limits. You should budget for this ongoing expense.

If you’re struggling to cover your usual bill, get in touch with your plan provider to see if they’re willing to give you an extension on your account. In the meantime, you’ll want to try out these tips to lower your costs for the next bill cycle.

2. Reconsider the Unlimited Talk Plan

When did the ultimate time you indented up the phone and had an actual conversation? If the only person you speak with regularly is your mom, you might want to rethink your unlimited talk minutes. This kind of plan can be expensive if you’re not a big talker. 

Take a look at your call logs for the past several months to get a good idea of what you need. Then, shop around for plans that match your average usage. You might save a bundle by downsizing your minutes.

For even more significant savings, compareprepaid or no-contract plans. Prepaid is an excellent option if you’re on a tight budget, as you’ll pay for your usage in advance and avoid overage charges. 

3. Put a Cap on Your Data

Data is another high cost that could be inflating your bill, and it’s often because you get suckered into thinking you need unlimited gigabytes every month. But if you’re connected to Wi-Fi for most of your day, this is an unnecessary frill you can easily cut out. 

But how much data do you need? You’ll want to take a look at your habits before you make any hasty decisions. 

You want to choose a plan that promises savings without being too restrictive. Otherwise, you could risk going over your limits and paying a hefty fine. 

To help you stay under these limits, wait to download podcasts, movies, and other data-hungry apps until you’re on Wi-Fi. Relying on Wi-Fi almost exclusively is your key to saving money on a tight data limit!

Switch to a Smaller Carrier

If the above two tips don’t promise much in the way of savings, it may be time to jump ship. Staying with a big-named carrier could be costing you a lot of money simply because of the brand name behind your coverage. By switching to a smaller wireless carrier, you could see your regular bill drop without changing your coverage or service.

Paying too much for mobile services is a common problem, but it doesn’t have to be one you experience for much longer. If you’re tired of overpaying to talk, text, or stream, try these money-saving strategies today. All three tips may take some research, but it’s worth the time and effort if you manage to shave off some money from this monthly bill.