Owning a cell-phone can be expensive, especially if you are a slave to the latest handsets and simply have to own the newest model. It can also be expensive making calls and using the internet if you are not careful. If your employer picks up the tab, you won't be too concerned, but if it's down to you to pay the bill every month, you need to start looking at ways to keep the costs down. So what is the best way to do this?
How Do You Use Your Phone?
Usage is very important. Some people make hundreds of calls, but rarely use their phone to access the internet. Others practically live and breathe Facebook and can't bear to be disconnected from their favorite social network. How you use a phone directly affects the tariff you need, so it is worth shopping around to find a tariff that works best for you. Our phones, among other technologies, can also do their part to keep us healthier!
Stick to Wi-Fi
Making use of Wi-Fi wherever possible will significantly reduce your cell phone bill at the end of the month. Data usage is responsible for a large percentage of most people's cell phone bill, particularly if you are logging into 4G networks. Restricting your internet use to Wi-Fi will save you a fortune. Or you can even get a NZ sim card which allows you to have internet worldwide at a cheaper price.
You can use public Wi-Fi hotspots when you are out and about, but at home make use of your home internet connection. Obviously you need to make sure you don't have any restrictions on your home broadband, because downloading music and large data files on a smartphone all count towards your monthly download usage.
For this reason, check what your current internet package is at home and if there are any restrictions on how much you can download in any given month or the Wi-Fi signal is poor, look for a different internet provider or visit https://www.attinternetplans.com/ to see what plans they are currently offering their customers.
Download a Usage App
It is easy to get carried away downloading music or spending hours on Facebook, but all this data usage adds up. Using free Wi-Fi is the most sensible solution, but sometimes this isn't possible and you won't have access to Wi-Fi. So if this is the case, download an app to help you keep a close eye on your data usage. That way you will have advanced warning when you are getting close to your limit.
Make Free Calls
Calls can be expensive, particularly if you are calling over mobiles. To keep these costs down, use apps such as Skype and WhatsApp to make internet calls instead. As long as the other person has the app installed on their phone, calls will be free. And even if they don't, calls will be cheaper than they otherwise would be.
Use Instant Messaging
Text messages can also be expensive if you don't have them bundled up in your monthly fees, but free messaging apps cost nothing, so use these instead if possible.
Don't spend more than you have to - if you follow the tips above your bill will soon come down.
