Talk less. E-mail or instant-message instead.
Cancel long-distance service if you don’t make a lot of calls. In its place, use a prepaid phone card with no expiration date.
Don’t choose a long-distance service based on the cost per minute or per month. Phone companies advertise low rates, then hit you with a million fees. Did you know that collect calls via AT&T’s popular 1-800-CALL-ATT now cost $4.99 (up $1 this month from last year) plus the per-minute charge? MCI charges slightly more. Wireless companies are adding fees, too. Before buying, get a list of all costs and check every bill to see what else turns up.
Shed some features. Do you really need call waiting, call forwarding and so forth?
Skip “inside wire maintenance” plans, unless your home wiring is a mess. This lightly used coverage costs about $4 a month.
Look at “bundled” deals if you use the phone a lot. They include local and long distance, plus your choice of services, such as high-speed Internet, wireless, caller ID, call waiting and so on–all for a flat monthly rate. Plans start at about $50 a month per phone line. For two lines, you may pay double.
Make sure your most-called numbers get the cheapest rate in your local service plan.
Cut the cord. Wireless service offers many free minutes every month plus extras for “feature junkies,” so they’re often cheaper than a land line. Warning: cell phones don’t work during electrical blackouts and lack conventional 911 service.
Use free directory assistance on the Net. Calls to 411 or other directory numbers usually cost $1 or more. Say no if the operator offers to connect you automatically “at no extra fee.” You’ll be charged at the highest per-minute rate.
A great place for cost-saving tips is the Telecommunications Research & Action Center (trac.org or P.O. Box 27279, Washington, D.C. 20005). Its valuable residential long-distance cost-comparison chart goes for $6 e-mailed or $7 by snail mail.
