Landlines For Less
How to save on telephone service costs so that you can afford to have the benefits of both wired and cell phones.

Wired phone services have important advantages, as do cellular phone services. Why not have both? With a little judicious shopping, you can save a lot on your local and long distance calling.

You Can Make a Better Deal
Start with your local phone company. Call the customer service department and ask what you absolute lowest cost option is, short of quitting. There may be lower cost plans available that just aren't being advertised. Consider alternate suppliers. Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) may be able to give you local phone service at a more attractive price than your current provider.

Consider dropping the guaranteed line repair protection charge. The wires in your house don't degrade and are unlikely to break, even after many decades. You could be paying around $60 a year for this service. When's the last time a wire broke inside the house? Outside the house is the phone company's responsibility.

Next, switch to a much lower rate long distance service. Oh, you say you already switched a few years ago? Are you still paying more than 5 cents a minute for interstate calls? Do daytime calls cost even more? Do you pay a monthly fee? If so, you need to switch again. The long distance service market is highly competitive and there are bargains galore. Especially from lesser known companies you can find online that don't advertise on TV.

How Do You Choose?
There are so many local and long distance phone options available to you that the big problem is often how to choose. Be scientific. Use your latest or most typical phone bill for comparison. How many minutes a month do you use for local calls? You might have to guess on this one if you pay per call instead of per minute. How many minutes a month on interstate calls, in-state long distance and local toll calls? You need to consider them individually because each type of call may be billed at a different rate. Now, visit a number of alternate suppliers and make a little chart that lists the various rates for each supplier. Also include monthly charges, if any.

An easier method is to use a Best Rates Calculator to evaluate a number of long distance suppliers at once. Enter your calling minutes, click on the "perform calculation" button, and check the results. The plan with the lowest total bill for your particular location and calling pattern is the right one for you.

How About Broadband Phone?
Do you have a DSL or cable modem service? If so, you have the option to make calls on your computer, use a special Internet phone, or buy an adaptor that lets your regular phone be an Internet phone. Why use the Internet for phone calls? The rates can be very attractive, especially for overseas calls.

Other Considerations
With a landline, you can also get inbound toll free service for the same rates that you pay for long distance calls. Your own toll free number can be very useful for a home business or as an enticement for college students to call home.

If you're still thinking of dropping your wired home phone service, be sure to read "Why You Need a Landline" before you decide to take the plunge. You might be surprised at some of the advantages of wired phone services.