You’ve moved to another country and you still need to stay in touch with family?
Welcome to the high-cost of international calling!
The high cost of international calling can be a real burden for many people. If you’re one of those people, you’ll be happy to know that there are ways to save money when calling home. In this blog post, we’ll share three ways to save money on your phone bill: using a Skype, phone card or other VoIP services, and a prepaid international calling plan. We’ll also give you some tips on when to call home to get the best rates.
The high cost of international calling
The high cost of international calling can be a real burden for those who have to stay in touch with family and friends back home. The average cost of a minute of calling time from the US to Europe is $0.44, while the same minute costs $0.15 from Europe to the US. In addition, many mobile phone plans charge exorbitant rates for international calls, often as much as $1.99 per minute.
Ways to save money when calling home
Use an international phone card
By far the most popular way for immigrants to stay connected with their family back home is by phone card aka international phone cards.
An international phone card is can be either physical or digital and allows you to make international calls using your existing home line or mobile or even a payphone – this is why international phone cards are the go-to option for most.
Calling apps are a great option if you’re good with technology and you and the other person have great internet connections – in most cases one or both of these requirements are missing which is why phone cards are still incredibly popular.
Make sure that you purchase your phone card from a specialist store (not a general retailer) and preferably online like singaporephonecards.com so you can not only get your phone card quickly but also check for hidden fees, see all of the calling rates clearly, etc.
Use Skype or other VoIP services
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and refers to any type of communication that takes place over the internet instead of through traditional phone lines. Skype is one of the most popular VoIP services, and allows users to make video and audio calls to other Skype users for free, or to landlines and mobile phones for a small fee. Because VoIP services use the internet instead of traditional phone lines, they are often much cheaper than regular phone plans, making them a great way to save money when calling home.
Use a prepaid international calling plan
Prepaid international calling plans are similar to regular phone plans, except that you pay for a certain amount of minutes upfront instead of monthly. These plans can be found through many different providers, and offer significant savings on international call rates. However, it is important to choose a plan with care, as some prepaid plans have expiration dates or other restrictions that could end up costing you more in the long run if you don’t use all of your minutes before they expire.
When to call home
Off-peak hours
Off-peak hours are typically cheaper to call than during the day. Many phone companies have different rates for calling during the day, evening, and night. Calling during off-peak hours can save you money on your phone bill.
Weekdays
Weekdays are typically cheaper to call than weekends. Many phone companies have different rates for calling on weekends and weekdays. Calling during the week can save you money on your phone bill.
Holidays
Holidays are typically more expensive to call than other days of the year. Many phone companies have higher rates for calling on holidays. If you can, try to avoid calling home on holidays to save money on your phone bill.
Conclusion
The high cost of international calling can be a big barrier for many people who want to stay in touch with their loved ones back home. However, there are ways to save money on calls, like using a phone card, Skype, or a prepaid international calling plan. And by knowing when to call during off-peak hours or holidays, you can further cut down on costs. So don’t let the high cost of calls keep you from staying connected to your loved ones.
