Jan 22 2009
How To Save Money On Your Home Phone
Courtesy of Free Digital Photos
How closely do you look at your phone bill each month? Do you know what all the charges are for? Are you actually using everything that you are being charged for?
More than likely, you have at least one charge on your phone bill that is unnecessary and could be dropped. There may even be more than one.
Save money on your land line:
- Are you using your long distance service? If not, tell your phone provider that you don’t want to be charged for the option of long distance. Be persistent - they will try to persuade you to keep it.
- Do you have line insurance? Have you ever used it? What if you put that same amount each month into a savings account? In the unlikely event that you’ll ever actually be charged for a technician to work on your lines, the fee is usually around $75. How many times have you paid that $75 fee via monthly ‘line insurance’ charges?
- Do you have more than one telephone line? If so, why? Do you really need it, or could you cancel it?
- What about the extra services such as Call Waiting or Caller ID? Are these really necessary?
- Then the really big question — Do you really even NEED a land line? How often do you really use it? Do you have a cellphone? If you have your internet through your land line, is it possible to switch to DryLoop DSL ?
The best way to save money on your home phone bill is to look at your bill with a critical eye and question each and every charge. Decide if the item or service is worth it for you.
What are some ways you’ve found to save money on your home phone?
Yeah, we’ve tried to make some sense out of our phone bill… it’s a combo land line / dsl / mobile deal from AT&T. I don’t have my own mobile phone, still holding on to my Malaysian one since all I ever use it for is to txt msg pals back home, and occasionally my own husband. In the long run we’re better off getting me a US-based one, but I’ve yet to find a plan that isn’t overpriced yet sitll doesn’t meet my requirements!
I’ve lived entirely on my cell for the last four years. My household can’t get rid of the home landline, though, since we’re trying to set up a business here. But we don’t need Call Waiting; all we have to do is monitor the answering machine.
@lynne - I used to have a combo plan - cell, home phone and DSL with Southwestern Bell (now AT & T) then they raised the rates on the DSL and I got annoyed so tried to figure out how to save a bit. That’s when I nixed my landline (which was a $5/mo for 25 outgoing calls plus $13+ in taxes and fees plan) and go with dry loop DSL. I haven’t missed having a landline yet - of course I am single, so it may be different for a family.
@ ravyn - I also rely on my cell for everything. If you have cable internet, could you use a VOIP service for your husband’s business?