Tip of the week: How to save on your cellphone bill

Think small. Looking at 100 possible service packages, we compared offers and found that Consumer Cellular of Oregon provided the best deal more than 33 percent of the time. Such small carriers often deliver monthly savings up to $40 when compared with Verizon or AT&T. One drawback: They usually don’t offer “the hottest smartphones.”

Bypass your carrier. If you aren’t paying for unlimited data for your smartphone, lower your monthly charges by tapping into a free Wi-Fi network whenever there’s one available. You can send free texts by using apps like Heywire, and Skype Mobile allows free voice calls to other Skype subscribers.

Check if you qualify for a discount. You might be eligible for up to a 20 percent discount if you use the same carrier as your employer. To find out, Google the carrier’s name and the phrase “employee discount.”

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Source: Consumer Reports