| If you have a few teenagers in the house, | | | | don't, start looking around. There are heaps of cell |
| chances are they want their own cell phones. By | | | | phone companies around nowadays, and one of |
| the time you've bought every member of the | | | | them is sure to want to strike a deal with you. |
| family a cell phone, then have multiple bills showing | | | | It's also worth looking at what additional features |
| up, it can all get a bit overwhelming. So perhaps | | | | you can get as part of your deal. Most cellular |
| you should consider a cellular family plan. You will | | | | phone plans include features such as call waiting, |
| find things much easier paper-wise, and you may | | | | text messaging, voice mail, caller ID and |
| even have a few extra bucks left over for a | | | | three-way calling, but you may want to add a |
| family pizza. You can use a cellular family plan just | | | | few extras. What about email capability? If you're |
| for you, your spouse and kids, or you can even | | | | on the move a lot, it might be very useful to be |
| included extended family and friends. | | | | able to check you emails from your mobile phone. |
| What exactly is a cellular family plan? Basically, | | | | Check too, what your per minute cost for talk |
| you have one umbrella account, with one billing | | | | time is at various times of the day, and make |
| statement, and you can link in a number of | | | | sure it matches up with the times people make |
| different cell phones. So if you have four people in | | | | calls. It's not good having a plan that gives the |
| your family, you can have four cell phones all | | | | best rates for day time calls, if you mostly use |
| linked to the one account. You will have a certain | | | | the phones at night. Some plans also allow you to |
| amount of talk time allocated to the account, and | | | | make calls between the phones in the plan for |
| some of that gets used every time one of you | | | | free, which can be a great money saving option. |
| makes a call. The good thing is that you'll be | | | | Be aware, though, that a cellular family plan can |
| buying talk time in bulk, so it's usually cheaper per | | | | really backfire, particularly if you have teenagers. |
| minute than having separate accounts. | | | | Kids can get carried away with calling their friends |
| Even better, you don't all have to be at the same | | | | a lot, and some seem to spend their whole lives |
| address. So your kids can still be on the plan even | | | | typing text messages. You may find your budget |
| if they're at college. Remember, though, that | | | | gets blown in record time, and it's more cost |
| you're all sharing the same pool of talk time, so | | | | efficient for them to have a prepaid phone that |
| you may need to keep an eye on the usage | | | | they pay for themselves. Having to find the |
| rates and adjust the level accordingly. | | | | money out of their own pocket is a great |
| The best place to start is with your current | | | | incentive to being careful with their usage level. |
| service provider, if you have one. Ask them what | | | | Still, a cellular family plan can be a great idea for |
| sort of deals they have available for a cellular | | | | your family, as long as you take some time to |
| family plan. It's quite likely they'll offer you a fair | | | | think about what you really need, then shop |
| deal to avoid losing your business, but if they | | | | around to find the best plan for your needs. |