Had Louise asked a few important questions prior to choosing a plan, she could have saved herself a lot of grief and a pile of dough.

At what time of day will I be making most of my calls?

On average, how long do I expect each call to last?

How selective will I be in giving out my cell phone number?

Will I use my cell phone for long distance calling?

How often do I expect to travel outside my home calling area?

While it was an expensive lesson, Louise got a second chance. Her provider allowed her to switch to a $39.99 plan that includes 600 anytime minutes and 5,000 off-peak minutes. She has a detailed map showing her home calling area. She'll be careful to use her pre-paid calling card from a landline for long distance ($.03 a minute with her Sam's Club AT&T card) to avoid roaming and long distance charges.

And her cell phone number? These days if you ask her for it Louise will tell you sweetly that it is confidential, available on a need-to-know basis only.

© 2003 The Cheapskate Monthly. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

 "The Cheapskate Monthly" was founded in 1992 by Mary Hunt.  What began as a newsletter to encourage and empower people to break free from the bondage of consumer debt has grown into a huge community of ordinary people who have achieved remarkable success in their quest to effectively manage their money and stay out of debt.  Today, "The Cheapskate Monthly" is read by close to 100,000 Cheapskates.      Click here to subscribe.

Seeking financial harmony in your marriage? Read Mary Hunt's book Debt-Proof Your Marriage published by  Revell.