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TELEPHONE -
Long Distance Telephone Service (continued)
3. When reviewing different ways to arrange for long distance calling services,
keep in mind that in-
4. Look at all the options and choose the least expensive one that meets your needs. And remember to review your decision once in a while. Competition changes pricing all the time. Here are some options to consider.
a. Consider using a smaller, less well known long distance company. They usually have lower rates and the quality is usually just as good. Also, most larger companies round up your call time to the nearest minute, while many small companies round up to the nearest six seconds.
b. If the majority of your calls are intrastate, look for a low intrastate calling plan.
c. Consider using long distance dial access codes to bypass the local phone company.
For instance, if you dial 10-
d. Keep in mind that many long distance services where you dial 1-
5. Pre-
a. Prepaid calling cards provide long distance service at a cost as low as three cents per minute. They are generally available in retail stores, although the best prices are probably available at discount clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco.
b. Check out the per minute cost for different prepaid cards for domestic long distance, international long distance and intrastate calling. With some cards, intrastate calling can be five times as expensive.
c. Sometimes cards, particularly those sold in convenience stores, have hidden fees. Check to make sure there are no monthly fees, expiration dates or minimum usage charges for each call, including uncompleted calls.
d. Make sure the card is “rechargeable” so you can just call up and add minutes by using your credit card. This allows you to avoid having to change access codes.
e. Many people feel that the need to dial an 800 number and use an access code is too much trouble. Much of this problem can be avoided if you have phones with memory dialing. Just program in the 800 number and the access code. To make a call, speed dial the 800 number and then speed dial the access code and then just dial the number you want to call. Some cards allow you to set up your commonly dialed phone numbers so they do not even require an access code. Just dial (or speed dial) the 800 number and then dial the number you are calling. You can set the speed dial option up on all of the phones in your house that have this capability.
6. Use your cell phone for long distance calling if you have plenty of minutes and long distance calling is included in your plan. If you are already paying for this service it does not cost anything additional.
Cell phones used to be a luxury only a few people could afford. But within the last several years, cell phones have become commonplace, and in some instances have replaced household phones entirely. The key to saving money on cell phones is not paying for services you do not really need, using the phone only when necessary so the amount of time purchased can be minimized, and searching for the best deal that meets your needs.
1. Determine what your cell phone needs really are and stop paying for services you do not really need. Other than being able to place and receive calls when a household phone is not available, do you really need a cell phone for anything else? Do you really need to text message, surf the Internet, send photos, have data services and watch videos, etc.? If you have Internet access at home, can’t you wait until you are at your computer to send an email message or photo, or visit that favorite web site? It might be nice, but is it really worth the additional monthly expense to use your cell phone for anything other than phone calls? And do you really need that second cell phone line?
2. Using the cell phone only to make and receive necessary calls can allow you to save significantly. Many people are always on their cell phone. Whether you have a home phone or not, are all those calls really necessary and really that entertaining? Would life really be less worthwhile if you did not make all those cell phone calls? Most people could spend far less on a cell phone plan if fewer minutes were required.
3. Once you have decided how to limit your cell phone use, shop for the best plan or method for filling those needs.
a. Visit several providers that provide good service at your home and in your general
calling area, and see what plans are available. Make sure the customer rep understands
that you want the most inexpensive plan that will meet your needs. For instance,
do you need unlimited long distance or no roaming charges, or are your long distance
and out-
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