How to find the best mobile phone deal
Millions of customers are paying too much for their mobile phones contracts.
Committing to a contract is a big financial commitment, and not something you should take for granted. I’ve put together this guide to help you save as much money as possible when buying your next mobile phone, or simply just cutting down costs on the one you’ve already got.
We often pay for way more texts, minutes or internet than we need – which is causing us to waste our hard earned money.
How to pick the right tariff for you
A contract with handset included is probably the most obvious choice for most of you heavy users, and there are some great deals out there! The only disadvantage of this is that you’ll be locked in for 12,18 or 24 months, however you’ll never be at risk of running out of credit if you choose the correct deal and will save you money in the long run if you use plenty of data and minutes. Don’t necessarily go for the tariff you think will work out the cheapest, go for the one that suits you best as a user or you could find yourself paying for ‘bolt-ons’ which are extra texts, minutes or data allowance for a fixed price – this can add around £5 extra on to your bill a month.
Pay as you go phones aren’t as common as they used to be, however they are still great for those of you who don’t like the idea of being committed to a deal. Pay as you go is a more suitable option for mobile users who don’t use their devices for much other than standard phone calls or texts and is a great way for those people to stay on budget as you can only use what you pay for. Medium to heavy users on the other hand, would get much more value for money out of a contract
Sim-only contracts are ideal for people who already have a handset that they like or for people who can’t wait until their 12-24 month is up before switching devices. Sim-only contracts usually work best for heavy data users, and their 30 – day rolling contracts which you are free to either leave or continue after this time is up, giving you maximum flexibility.
Leaving your contract early
Be aware of unexpected catches with your mobile phone which could result in you paying extra charges. For example, if you decide to cancel your contract early, then you should be prepared for your phone company to take out any outstanding payments. Something for pay as you go customers to be aware of is that going for extremely long periods of time without using your handset could result in it getting discontinued and any credit could be lost. If you decide to discontinue your own pay as you go phone then remember to use up all of your credit first as it’s unlikely you’ll be reimbursed.
How to find the best deal
If you’re coming up to the end of your contract, you could play your mobile phone provider off with a number of other companies to haggle the best price.
However, a good place to start find the best contact deals on the market is a mobile comparison website. This will show you the best handset and plans on the current market at the best prices. You can even find mobile phones that come with a free gift such as an Xbox, PS, tablet, gift vouchers etc – this can make your contact a little more expensive but it’s a good way of getting a new games console if you’re wanting one.
I now have my own mobile phone comparison website which is very easy to use – click here to take a look.
