Easy ways to lower cell phone bill

Editor’s note: This article was written by Michael Timmerman and originally appeared on Clark.com.

Are you ready to lower your cell phone bill? Unlimited plans from the major wireless providers cost around $80 a month, so millions of Americans are spending around $1,000 a year or even more just for cell phone service.

That’s a lot of money, but the good news is that there are opportunities to save hundreds of dollars every year!

Switch to a new cell phone carrier

Verizon and AT&T’s unlimited wireless plans are the most expensive, but they’re so popular because customers are happy with the network coverage.

Here’s the deal: The leading cell phone providers (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile) own discount brands that use the same towers and charge lower monthly fees: Verizon owns Visible; AT&T owns Cricket Wireless; and T-Mobile owns Metro by T-Mobile.

The major players also have relationships with many other low-cost cell phone providers, typically prepaid carriers.

These companies are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). They don’t own any cell phone towers like Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, but they partner with those companies to offer affordable wireless service.

Find a new plan with your existing provider

The major cell phone companies have shifted toward unlimited data plans, but do you really use that much data?

Track your usage and check to see if you could save money with a plan that has a fixed amount of data per month.

Shop for phone deals

Our ClarkDeals.com experts find great used phone prices on eBay. They look for sellers who have a 98% or above positive feedback score, plus phones with a warranty and decent return policy.

You’ll typically find more deals if you wait a few weeks or even a month after a new phone model is released.

Money expert Clark Howard suggests that you use autopay with your credit card, not a checking account or debit card.