Compare features, costs of cheap cell phones

Like cars, cell phones come with myriad options and features, including digital music players, Bluetooth, cameras, video players, personal organizers and more. To save money, choose only cheap mobile phones with the features you need and avoid those that cost extra due to features you don’t.

I recommend: Amazon.com is a great place to compare cheap cell phones, as you can search by both feature and price. LetsTalk.com is another useful Web site because it has a Phone Finder tool that you can use to find phones with the features you need that are both in your price range and supported by your carrier. A similar tool—in the form of a quiz—is available at About.com and will highlight the five best phones for you based on your lifestyle, budget, etc.

Get a cheap cell phone when you sign a new service contract

The easiest way to get a deal on a new cell phone is to buy one with a new service plan. Pay attention, therefore, to when your current contract expires. When it does, use that as a point of leverage with which to negotiate a deep discount on a new—and sometimes even free—cell phone.

I recommend: If you’re in the middle of a two-year contract, you’re out of luck when it comes to negotiating a new agreement, right? Wrong. Thanks to contract-trading Web sites such as Celltradeusa.com and Cellswapper.com, getting out of your old contract—and finding a great deal on a new one—is easier than ever before.

Shop around online for cheap cell phones

The Internet can be a bargain hunter’s paradise. Browse Internet retailers, then, to find unique deals on the cheap mobile phones that you’re looking for.

I recommend: Among the most popular Internet retailers for cheap cell phones are Point.com, which specializes in collecting the Web’s best cell phone bargains, and Wirefly.com. You can find more Internet retailers at which to window shop in Business.com’s Directory of Cell Phones or in the Yahoo! Directory.

Check retail stores for cheap cell phones

The Internet isn’t the only place to find bargains on cheap mobile phones. If you visit a cell phone retailer on-site, you often can negotiate even better deals on already cheap cell phones.

I recommend: Use the location finder at your favorite carrier’s Web site—T-Mobile, Cingular, Sprint, Verizon—to find a retail location near you.

If you need a cheap cell phone, consider used options

Cell phone companies release new phones all the time. If you’re willing to purchase one of their old ones—from the manufacturer, the retailer or other consumers—there are definitely savings to be found.

I recommend: There is a great selection of used cheap cell phones on eBay; just be sure to look for a high-rated seller. The electronics section of your local Craigslist is another good place to shop for cheap mobile phones. Finally, consider contacting your carrier directly to ask about deals on refurbished mobile phones; Cingular’s GoPhone service, for instance, offers amazing deals on refurbished cell phones.

Consider cheap service plans, too

If you’re shopping for cheap mobile phones, consider the price of service, too. If you can find a great deal on your monthly minutes, you might be able to justify spending a little more on your new phone.

I recommend: If you’re looking to save money on both your phone and your service, consider pre-paid options, which are known for their affordability. Virgin Mobile and T-Mobile offer some of the most popular pre-paid plans.