First the contract, now cell phone deals
Now that we’ve discussed how to choose a cell phone and which contract you should get I thought it would be a good idea to write about where you can get the best deals. We all want to get a good deal on our cell phone, but it’s essential to remember that some deals just seem like they’re a good bargain when in reality they are not. A lot of people get caught up in getting an expensive handset for free without realizing the true cost of the contract over the length of the agreement.
The internet is probably the best place to start looking for a cell phone deal because it provides much greater options. A cell phone shop will have a limited number of deals available and a sales person who’d always trying to get you to buy a phone that’s more expensive than you need. If you go on the internet then you can spend time looking at the various options without feeling under pressure.
The downside of buying cell phones online is that you can’t try them out before committing to a deal. You can, however, read lots of online reviews which should give you a better idea of the quality of the phone and whether it’s one that’ll suit your everyday needs.
Three Factors I Think About When Choosing A Contract
I alluded to contracts in my last post but I thought it would be a good idea to make a post dedicated to them. So many people forget that the contract is actually the most expensive part of buying a new cell phone – it’s not something that you want to overlook. If you do forget that the contract is the most important part then the chances of you getting a good deal that you can afford – while getting a decent handset – are greatly reduced.
There are several factors when choosing a contract. The price of the contract, how long it lasts and what you get for your money. The price is obvious – if you can’t afford the monthly payments or if you think you may have trouble meeting them in the future then you should avoid the contract at all costs.
The length of the contract is also important. If you buy a 12 month contract then if things turn out badly you’ll be able to get out of the deal relatively quickly. If you buy a 36 month contract then you’re stick with the monthly payments of a certain amount of three years – you need to be very sure you’re making the right decision if you choose this route.
Finally, the number of minutes, texts and data allowance are a big part of your decision. Choose a plan that has just a bit more than your average usage.
Step By Step Guide To Choosing A Cell Phone
Cell phones are such a big part of my life these days that I don’t know what I’d do without them. If I’m not using a cell phone I’m writing about one!
Probably because I spend so much time with phones I regularly get questions from family members about which phone to get, and it’s a difficult question to answer. I thought I’d write a brief post outlining some of the important factors when choosing a phone, so I can just direct people to this blog rather than repeating myself.
Before you start looking for a cell phone you need to be aware of the various costs. If you go for a contract cell phone then there’s the monthly cost as well as the initial price of the phone. Usually, the more money you spend on the contract the less you’ll need to pay for the handset itself, but this depends on the model.
There’s also the cost for data allowance. Most contract plans come with a certain amount of data. If you exceed this amount you need to know how much you have to pay.
As you can probably tell, I think the contract is the most important factor when choosing a phone. The handset is what everyone gets excited about, but the monthly cost (over the course of 12, 18 or 24 months) is the main expense.
Once you’ve decided on what you need for a contract the easy part is choosing a phone. Just write down the features you want (touch screen, 3G internet, Wi-Fi etc) and look for a phone that does everything you want. Don’t go on brand name – just because an iPhone is a popular cell doesn’t mean it’ll be right for you.