Money Crashers: 13 Best Cheap Cellphone Plans That Will Save You Money

When I finally decided, two and a half years ago, to give in and get a smartphone, I made a point of choosing the most bare-bones plan I could find to go with it. I didn't need or want unlimited data; in fact, I preferred having severely limited data, because it would prevent me from spending all my time in public staring at my phone and ignoring people and events around me. And also, I didn't want to spend the money.

Now, I realize not everyone's priorities are the same as mine. Some people don't have landlines and rely on their cell phone as their primary way of communicating with people; some even don't have computers at home and rely on it as their primary way of getting information. For them, unlimited data — or at least a generous amount of it — is a higher priority. But the one thing I think we can all agree on is that we'd rather not pay any more for it than we have to.

To that end, I've written a piece for Money Crashers on how to spend less on your cellphone plan. I list numerous alternatives to the "big three" (AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon), outline their pros and cons, and offer some pointers on how to choose the best provider for you. Because even if you do want to be glued to your phone in public, there's no reason to spend $100 a month for the privilege.

13 Best Cheap Cellphone Plans That Will Save You Money