I don’t know about you but the last couple of years my home phone bill has increased year after year. It got to the point were I was paying about $70 a month for a landline with all the features (call waiting, three way calling, touch tone, etc..).

I’ve noticed this has become a trend with all the different phone companies. Overcharging for phone service and never really making any improvements. Just giving me the same service they did last year but charging me up to $10.00 more a month. What’s up with that?

So I did some research online to find a way to save money on my bill. What I found was Skype. Now I only pay $6.00 a month for a home phone with all the features and save money for my traveling habit. Oh! Guess what? I take and use my phone with me all over the world without paying any roaming charges or fees.

What is Skype? Skype is a piece of software that you can download to call other people on Skype over the internet for free and make and cheap calls to phones and mobiles worldwide. Just a little FYI, it’s currently owned by eBay.

Here is how you can start saving like I do….

1. Get Broadband Internet Access and Wireless Network Router
First you have to have broadband internet access and a wireless network router. I didn’t add this to the cost of my monthly phone service ($6.00) because I would have broadband internet access reguardless if I had a phone. But if you add it to the cost of your phone bill, you still end up saving in the long run.

2. Get a WiFi Enabled Phone
Second you have to have a wifi enabled phone. You can find one from the skype shop. They have a huge selection and offer most of the one’s that are made.

After reading all the reviews about wifi phones, I brought the NETGEAR’s WiFi Phone (SPH200W-100NAS) for $160. It works very well and the battery lasts a very long time. I charge it about once or twice a week. It’s not heavy and has a slick look to it. It’s almost the same size as my cell phone. So it’s not that bulky.

The best part is you don’t have to do any major programming to get it working. You don’t even need a computer to use it just a router with an internet connection.

3. Get Skype Monthly Subscription & SkypeIn™
Once you have your wifi phone, you need to download and create a Skype account. Creating the account is free and you can just use Skype with your computer. But you want to use it with your wifi phone. To do this you will need to subscribe to one of Skype’s unlimited monthly plans and get SkypeIn™ (your personal online number)

Get your Skype Monthly Subscription

Skype Monthly Subscription
$2.95 a month - Unlimited US & Canada
$5.95 a month - Unlimited Mexico
$9.95 a month - Unlimited World

Since I don’t need to make international call I selected Unlimited US & Canada. But if you need to make international calls, select the plan that works for you. Here are the benefits you get with the unlimited US & Canada plan:

• - Pay nothing per minute for nationwide calls. Unlimited landline and cell phone calls to the US and Canada - any time of the day, any day of the week.
• - Save up to $30.00 off on a personal online number a SkypeIn number that lets people call you at local rates.
• - Transfer calls to Skype contacts, phones or cell phones.
• - Save on the move with Skype To Go. You dial a special access number to call almost anywhere in the world - from any phone - and save with great Skype rates.
• - Voicemail – never miss a call. Pick up messages when you’re busy or offline.

Click here to get your Skype Monthly Subscription

Get Your Personal Online Number (SkypeIn™)

SkypeIn™ $30.00 a year / $2.50 month (with a skype subscription)

• - You get a real telephone number that anyone can call you, even if they don’t use skype. They call your online number from any phone at their local rate. Saving them money and making them even more wanting to call you.
• - You can pick any area code you want. So you can pick an area code within your area. Making it seem as if you have a landline and not some strange looking area code other services give you.
• - All your incoming call are free from anywhere in the world. Unlike a cell phone that uses your minutes for incoming calls, you will not have to pay for any incoming calls. Even if they are calling you from the far ends of the world.

Click here to get your unique SkypeIn number

A few other cost saving things you should know…

If you are on the road or on vacation make sure to take your wifi phone with you. If you can get a wifi connection somewhere, you can make and receive calls without paying any roaming charges or additional fees.

If you don’t want to carry the wifi phone everywhere, you can also forward you calls to your cell phone. This means you can have people call you on your SkpeIn number and have those calls fowarded to your cell phone.

I hope this makes you realize you no longer need to pay hundreds of dollars a year for your home phone line. You can start putting those saved dollars towards your next vacation. Just like I have…

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This Weeks Deals On Wifi Phones

Netgear WiFi skype phone SPH200W US $75.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Mar-11-2010 13:14:08 PST   | Watch this Item

Netgear SPH200W WiFi Skype VOIP Phone - Refurbished US $139.95 Auction Ends: Friday Mar-12-2010 6:47:29 PST   | Watch this Item

Netgear Skype Wifi Phone SPH200W N/R NIOB F/S US $79.00 (9 Bids) Auction Ends: Saturday Mar-13-2010 4:29:11 PST   | Watch this Item

NETGEAR WIFI PHONE WITH SKYPE SPH200W VOIP US $149.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday Mar-13-2010 15:03:52 PST   | Watch this Item

Netgear SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype US $59.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Saturday Mar-13-2010 17:42:55 PST   | Watch this Item

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