1. Plan out your text messaging. (Pay for a plan that suits how much you text message. Each text you send and receive beyond your monthly limit costs 10 cents, so your bill can quickly add up.)

2. Follow your friends. (More carriers offer unlimited in-network minutes for free so go with the carrier that most of your friends and family use. Currently only Sprint-Nextel and T-Mobile charge for this service.)

3. Don't overrule pre-paid plans. (If you don't use your phone all that often. consider buying a certain dollar amount to use for a period of time and pay only for the minutes you actually use. The catch? Make sure to use those minutes before they expire.)

4. Find your perfect match. Check out different carriers then go with the one that best fits you. Then pick the plan with about 10 to 15 percent more minutes than you think you need to avoid going beyond your limit.)

5. Trim the fat. (Additional monthly costs like "roadside assistance" and "equipment protection" quickly add up and you probably don't need them. Check out which services you receive then cut out the ones you never use.)