Save money on your family cell phone plan

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The average subscriber pays $50 - $70 a month on their cell phone bill, which means during a two year contract, you've paid between $1200 - 1680, plus taxes and premium services, such as ringtones, wallpapers, and applications. This makes your cell phone bill a huge portion of you income, especially if you have multiple lines in a household. A five line cell phone family plan can pay $8400 in two years for cell phone services..plus taxes and premium services!

If you haven't scrutinized your cell phone bill lately, now may be the time. We'll give you some tips and pointers that might help save you some cash in the long run on your cell phone plan.

1) Who do you work for?

Many cell phone carriers offer employees of larger companies and associations a discount off their monthly bill. Are you a credit union member? You can save 15% off your bill if you're a Sprint customer. Health workers, military service members, real estate agents, and many more get discounts as well. Even if you pay $50 a month, a 5% discount off your cell phone bill can save you $60 off of two year contract.

2) Do you have insurance on your phone?

We're an advocate for insurance, however, there is a diminishing return factor when it comes to carrier insurance. After 13 months with most carriers, you're eligible for a new phone at a discount, and at 22 months, you're eligible for another discount, nearly always equal to the cell phone price you paid as a new customer. If you're over 13 months into your contract, check to see if you're eligible for an upgrade. If you are, and your phone works fine, end the insurance. The money saved for removing insurance at 13 months into a contract instead of carrying it 24 months: $55 per line at a minimum.

3) Do you use text and internet?

If you or your family members don't use text or data, have them blocked. A text message, once sent or received, costs around 25 cents, depending on your cell phone provider. A megabyte of data can cost $1.99, depending on your carrier. Block text messaging and internet access so you don't have to worry about pay as you go access or premium texts, ringtones, or wallpapers that might 'accidently' get downloaded.

4) Are you on the right rate plan?

Periodically check your rate plan to make sure you're on the correct plan that fits your needs. Most carriers will allow you to move up or down in a rate plan without having to sign up for a new cell phone contract. If you're paying too much for your price plan, that can cost you hundreds of dollars more even if you do have overage once or twice. Look for calling patterns to specific numbers, and with mobile to mobile being offered by every carrier, it might be cheaper to pay the termination fee and move providers, especially since the early termination fees drop the longer you've had your contract.

Take the time to read your bill every month. Families are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars extra being nickled and dimed to death on their cell phone bill, money being removed from their wallet right under their noses. You don't need to be one; just be a little extra vigilant.