Crisis Survival Kit: 5 Ways To Cut Your Cell Phone BillCrisis Survival Kit: 5 Ways To Cut Your Cell Phone Bill

Consider going prepaid. But, while the flexibility of a prepaid plan can be appealing in tough economic times because it lets you cut back on monthly use and expense, prepaid plans aren't for incessant talkers and texters since you pay for every minute used and message sent.

Review plan minutes. Cell phone users average using 700 minutes per month. Therefore, figure out your average billable and free minutes from your past six months of statements and then shop for a plan that meets your needs. If you need to travel or an emergency comes up that will cause a spike in your phone usage, temporarily switch to a plan with more minutes. A lot of people aren't aware that carriers no longer require a contract extension for plan changes, according to Consumer Reports.

Consider going local. In order to allow customers to avoid roaming charges, national plans give people a home area as big as the lower 48 states, even though they may not need that much space for many of their calls.

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Bundle multimedia messages. Many survey respondents reported that they use their cell phone for text messaging, photos, and the Internet. Messaging often costs 15 to 25 cents per message at major cell phone carriers. So people who message a lot should consider a monthly bundle that could include a limited or unlimited number of messages and/or Internet use.

Skip cell phone insurance. Despite one person's relief that he bought an insurance policy when his phone recently took a dive, they're often a waste of money, according to Consumer Reports. Instead, if you lose your phone or it gets damaged, buy a cheap phone or use an old cell phone until your contract allows you to buy a new one or replace the previous one for free.