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1. |
Every few months,
comparison shop to see if you're paying too much for your telephone
calling plan. If you find a better deal, contact your phone company and
negotiate -- or switch. |
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2. |
Cancel all the extra services you don't use
such as call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding and three-way
calling. |
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3. |
Switch to a smaller, lower profile company
for long-distance service. Not only is the service cheaper, but usually
there are fewer fees. |
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4. |
Check your long-distance carrier's
call-rounding policy. Many smaller long-distance companies offer
six-second call rounding, rather than rounding up to the next minute. The
more short calls made or faxes you send, the more you save with six-second
rounding. |
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5. |
Some low-cost carriers may charge a fee if
you receive a paper bill. Sidestep this fee by paying your bills online. |
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6. |
If you make a lot of long-distance calls
within your state, choose a calling plan with a low intrastate rate.
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7. |
Drop your long-distance carrier altogether
if you make infrequent long-distance phone calls. Instead, use a prepaid
phone card, a dial-around service or even your cell phone if you've got
the minutes. |
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8. |
If you're always on the run, consider
swapping a land line for a cell phone. You'll save on the monthly service
fee, taxes and long-distance fees for a land phone that's rarely used.
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9. |
Don't exceed your allotted monthly cell
phone minutes. Zero in on your calling needs to find the best plan for
you. |
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10. |
Cell phones can be expensive, especially if
you're footing the bill for a houseful of users. Do a "needs analysis."
Dump the phones that aren't absolutely necessary. |
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11. |
Go wireless at your weekend or vacation
home. Occasional but pricey cell phone calls may still be cheaper than the
cost of installing and maintaining a bare-bones land line.
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