| Many people complain that they are paying too | | | | business times, usually in the evenings from 9 p. |
| much for their cell phone. After an original cell | | | | m. to 11 p. m. and weekend hours. Many |
| phone service plan of approximately $50, some | | | | companies offer these minutes free, but you |
| people are paying extra money every month and | | | | should always keep track of what time you are |
| have no idea why. Most admit that they do not | | | | making the calls. If you start a call at 8:58 p. m., |
| understand their cell phone minutes as they are | | | | the call is costing you Anytime minutes. You |
| listed on the bill, so these people just pay the | | | | should also be aware that if you are traveling, |
| amount due on the account every month. If you | | | | your Off-peak minutes start at the designated |
| are one of these people, Understanding your | | | | time in the time zone in which you are in, not the |
| minutes can go along way to saving you money. | | | | time zone in which you live in. So if you are from |
| On a typical cell phone bill, the first section listed is | | | | Arizona but are traveling in New York, your night |
| your Calling Summary. This area breaks down the | | | | and weekend minutes will begin at 9 p. m. Eastern |
| kind of minutes that you used and the number of | | | | Standard Time. |
| minutes used during the billing cycle. To | | | | Next on your bill are In-carrier minutes. These are |
| understand this section of your bill, you must first | | | | more commonly known as mobile-to-mobile |
| understand the different kinds of minutes. | | | | minutes. These minutes are calls that are made |
| There are Anytime minutes. These are calls that | | | | between two cell phones. Many cell phone service |
| are placed at peak times, usually Mondays through | | | | providers offer special plans (such as MyCircle |
| Fridays between 7 a. m. to 9 p.m. These minutes | | | | from Alltell) to the people that you call the most. |
| are the basis of your whole cell phone plan. If you | | | | You can just register the people and their phone |
| have gone over your allotted amount of these | | | | numbers with your cell phone service provider and |
| minutes, the additional costs can be great, | | | | the company will not charge for any calls made to |
| considering some cell phone companies charge as | | | | those particular numbers. These plans may be a |
| much as $.45 per minute for every minute that | | | | good idea if you call the same people numerous |
| you have gone over. Most companies also count | | | | times during the week. Even if you do not have |
| anything less than a minute as a whole one, so if | | | | one of these plans, some service providers will |
| you use 20 seconds to check your messages the | | | | offer discounts if you and the person you are |
| company will count it as one minute. If you notice | | | | calling use the same provider. |
| that every month you are exceeding your | | | | Understanding the different cell phone minutes and |
| Anytime minutes, you should consider upgrading | | | | the method used to bill you for them can help |
| your cell phone plan. The additional cost to do this | | | | you cut down your monthly bill. By knowing which |
| will save you money in the end. | | | | types of minutes that you are receiving extra |
| Next on your bill there may be Off-peak minutes. | | | | charges for can help you choose a new plan with |
| These minutes are the same as Nights and | | | | your service operator to ensure that your cell |
| Weekends and refer to calls made at slower | | | | phone bill remains affordable. |