Smartphones seem to get more and more pricey with time. With new fancy features, updated screens and cameras, and faster processors, this development isn’t likely to stop any time soon.
If you’re anything like us, you don’t need top of the range phones and would be just as happy with a decent, reliable phone that doesn’t cost the world.
Luckily for you, we’ve broken down the best ways to save money on your smartphone.
These are tricks that phone companies don’t like you to know, and many of these tips revolve around ignoring their marketing ploys and doing what’s right for you.
Let’s take a look:
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Avoid International Calls or Use a Solution
International calls are easy to way to rack up fees rapidly. Luckily, there are a ton of apps and solutions available that make international calls completely unnecessary.
Things like Skype, Whatsapp, Zoom, and more let you call your international friends, colleagues, and families without spending a penny.
Even iMessage can help with quick communications across borders, especially if you are on Wi-Fi.
Don’t Forget Your Data Allowance
It’s pretty easy to lose track of how much data you’ve used, but you can cut down the amount you need by using Wi-Fi wherever possible (even in public).
There are also settings that prevent apps from downloading data in the background, which can save you a lot of data in the long run.
Beyond that, be careful what you download or stream. Instead of downloading a huge movie file or streaming Netflix while on the train, why not plan what you want to watch in advance and download it at home via Wi-Fi? This allows you to access your files while out and about without needing to use any data.
Sell Your Old Phone
If you upgrade your contract to a new handset, you are often left with the old one which is still in perfect working condition.
Most people just throw it in the back of a drawer never to be seen again, but by trading it in or selling it online you can make enough to pay for the first few months of your new contract.
You can go to a local pawn shop or gadget dealer, or even just throw it on eBay. It might seem like a little effort, but you’ve already paid your previous contract provider for your phone – why not get some of that money back now that you have no need for it?
Plan Your Renewal Date Strategically
Phone manufacturers tend to follow a pattern when it comes to launching new handsets. For example, new iPhones always come out in September.
This is a great time to shop even if you aren’t looking for the new handset, because it is around this time that the older ones tend to drop in price too.
By doing this once, you can ensure your contract ends at that time of year every single time going forward, which puts you in a much better position when the time comes to start looking for a new phone.
Don’t Buy a Phone If Unnecessary!
Whenever a contract runs out, it’s easy to immediately start thinking about what phone you’d like to get next. Smartphone marketing is mostly designed to encourage this and keep us thinking about the new phones and how much we want those new features.
But if your existing phone still works well, has good battery life, and hasn’t experienced too much slowdown, is there any point? For some people yes, for others, absolutely not. You will have to weigh up your interest in the new features and the budget you have available to make this decision.
Often, by sticking with your existing handset, you can get switched over to a SIM-only contract, which is a fraction of the cost of contracts that include the phone price. A SIM-only contract also means you can use any handset you like, reducing the risk that your old phone will break and leave you without a handset.
Consider Buying a Phone Outright
Maybe you do want a new phone after all, but are still looking for ways to save money?
Many people in this situation just buy phones outright.
This means a higher upfront cost, of course, but it also means you can get a SIM-only contract, which will work out much cheaper in the long run. Add to this the fact that companies like Buy Mobiles have heavily discounted contracts, and you can save a lot of money this way.
It also gives you a lot more flexibility, as you can sell your phone and buy a new one in the middle of a contract with no issues – that’s without mentioning that SIM-only contracts are often 12 months instead of 24, helping even more with your freedom to switch at any time.
