There are lots of cell phone plans and carriers to choose from. But you may feel that your options are limited if you're on a budget. It's easy to feel frustrated when you look at the cost of some of the plans out there because some could come with a pretty hefty price tag. So, when it comes to finding the cheapest cell phone plans to fit your budget, you may not know exactly where to start.
Know Exactly What You Need:
It could be tempting to find a plan based entirely on money but you may find that you're cheating yourself if you do. It's better to start with outlining exactly what you need. Some may need a lot of phone minutes every month while others may be in need of extended text messaging allowances. Others may need a data plan and some may need international calling capabilities. Once you know your specific needs then it's time to start shopping for the perfect plan.
Look At Prepaid Plans First:
If you really need to save money, consider finding a prepaid phone service. All the major carriers have a prepaid equivalent to their traditional plan, which is often cheaper. Prepaid plans also tend to be more flexible than a traditional plan. For example, if you don't need data on your phone you don't have to have it, that way, you can save even more on your monthly cell phone expenses. For example, you can have a $25/month plan with unlimited calls and messaging if you exclude the data package. There are even plans that allow pay-as-you-go for those who don't use their cell phones very much. You can find some plans for as little as $3/month. These may very well be be the cheapest cell phone plans available.
Coverage:
Still, your cheap plan is only as good as its coverage. If you can't get a signal where you are then it is totally useless to you and it's just good money thrown away. Make sure that the service you find covers the areas where you're going to be so that you can get the most use out of your phone.
Choose Your Carrier:
When it comes to cell phone plans, most people go straight to one of the four major carriers, which are AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. And it's true, these are the big boys in the game but you might find a better deal by going with one of the smaller carriers, such as Boost, Cricket, Virgin, MetroPCS, Straight Talk, or TracFone. You'll find that many of these smaller carriers are more flexible and can offer you more affordable rates than the larger carriers. You may find that you can purchase minutes, messaging, and data separately so you can save more that way.
Finding the cheapest cell phone plans like anything else requires you to be a smart shopper. By knowing exactly what you need in a phone service, and taking the time to shop around you'll be able to find a plan that is both affordable and practical. Make sure that you shop around for the best deal that will match your lifestyle and you'll be able to find the perfect service for you.