Cut Cell Phone Bill Like I Did and Save For 1 Year and Beyond

I've talked with many of my friends about each's cell phone plan with their cell phone providers. Many of them complain about the same thing. They can't find the plan that suits them perfectly. Don't get me wrong there are many cell phone plan options out there. There is ATT out there with their rollover minutes, but what if you don't have anything to Roll Over? Verizon has their all-over network, but what if you're never All Over? Sprint, which I use, has one of the best priced unlimited minute plans. It includes everything (internet, music, tv, messaging, video) for (currently) $99.99 per month. T-Mobile has very low-priced plans that give you many minutes, but the night minutes are where the catch seems to be. They begin at 9:01 PM like ATT and Verizon. If you're sitting in Denver where I am, would my friend Michael in New York appreciate getting a call Tuesday night at 11:01 PM Eastern Time? Probably not.

I am in no way saying that cell phones don't have their place. I have Sprint (for now), and I would never give up my phone. I use it occasionally when I am out and about. But what if you could save enough money in 1 month to add another service that you could use to make calls during PEAK HOURS as the cell phone providers call it?

I have had service with ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint (currently), and Verizon. I have my opinions about each one's network and cell phone plan offerings , but I'll save that for another time and place. I had Sprint's $89.99 per month plan that includes unlimited calling, texting, and direct connect. I kept looking at my bill for $100 per month with taxes and fees, and I became fed up. I went online and began researching the different VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) providers to see if I could save money. After all, many of my calls are made from home. And since I don't see the point in having a home land line, I use my cell phone.

I began looking at (and doing plenty of research) on a device called magicJack: PC to Phone Jack. I liked the price at only $20 per year. The other thing to keep in mind is that initially there is a total fee of approximately $50 for the equipment with shipping, handling, and processing. Although it is probably a very sound piece of equipment and service, I did not like the reviews I was reading in many places about customers' experiences. I don't want to be negative about Magic Jack because I have never used it. But the thing that turned me off the most was the fact that I would have a device a little bigger than a pack of gum sticking out of the side of my computer with an analog phone attached.

After looking at various other VOIP services, I settled on Skype. Skype is an internet phone service that allows you to connect to friends and family for FREE on a skype-to-skype setup. As long as both parties install the simple software on their computers, you are able to talk for free anywhere in the world. A friend of mine, Sam, told me that when he was in South America, he found out about Skype and had his brothers, sisters, and parents install it. He said that there are a total of 9 siblings. (I thought WOW, too, when he told me how many) Anyway, now that he is back in the US, he still uses the free service. He said that there are usually 6 or 7 of them on Skype calls. He described it as looking like the Brady bunch on his computer screen as they use the free video chat. He told me that they do this because that way they can see each other, too.

Okay, let me explain how you can use this service to reduce your cell phone bill. Skype is only $40 per year. That's right, I said YEAR! I told you before that I had the Sprint plan that is $89.99 per month tax. Well, what I did was trim my plan down to $49.99 per month which includes 450 anytime minutes and unlimited night/weekend minutes. Unlike the other cell phone providers, Sprint's night minutes start at 7:01 pm. Anyway, I did the math on this, and even if I only used the Skype service for 1 month, I come out ahead because I pay $40/year, but I save $40/month. Let's say I use my Skype the way I am currently using it for the whole year that I have it (which I will). I would still spend just $40 for the year for Skype, but I would save about $480 for the same year ($40 per month savings times 12 months). That's huge.

I've met many people who still use the free Skype-to-Skype service, but I've talked to some of them who have upgraded to the plan that is only $40 per year and save various amounts per month on their cell phone plan amounts. I've compared the two phones. I like Sprint service, but I've talked to many friends who hear me much clearer on the Skype.

Now, take a few minutes to go to Skype's site and learn in better detail about their offering. I'm sold on the service. I have some friends who get tired of my raving about Skype, but it really is a great service. They even offer a service guarantee on their site.

I'll close with a saying I keep in mind:

"I stare down the barrel of opportunity and change. Do I pull the trigger, or tuck the tail and run? Seriously!"

James C Hardy