There are some things in life that require an advanced degree to understand: rocket propulsion, how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, you get the idea. But other things, like figuring out how to save on your cell phone bill, shouldn’t be so difficult. 

With taxes, fees, and government surcharges on top of the base plan, the average monthly cell phone bill adds up to a whopping $99 per month, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. That’s nearly $1,200 every year that Americans are spending to talk, or really text, with their friends and family.

But what if there was a simple way to cut that bill by up to 50%? There is, but it means leaving the big wireless providers behind. Going with a no-contract prepaid plan from a company like Cricket Wireless can be much more cost-effective. At Cricket Wireless, an unlimited talk, text, and data plan is just $55 a month—or about 45% less than the average monthly cost. The lowest plan starts at just $30 per month.

Breakdown of Cricket Wireless Plans

_{These prices include all taxes and Cricket Wireless doesn't charge any hidden fees.}

In the past, users have been wary of switching wireless providers, citing concerns like spotty reception or slower download speeds. But Cricket Wireless offers reliable 4G LTE coverage to 99% of Americans.

Other Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

• Know Your Data Needs: According to researchers, the majority of Americans (56%) with unlimited data plans use less than 10GB of data every month. Of those users, the average amount of data used per month is just 5.1GB. On Cricket Wireless, customers can score a 5GB plan for $40 per month. And if they exceed their data usage? It costs just $10 more for each additional gigabyte. 
• Bring Your Own Device: The newest iPhone 11 can easily add $25–$35 to your cell phone bill every month. If your old phone still works well, you can switch to Cricket Wireless for just the price of a new SIM card ($9.99 one-time fee).  

This post was sponsored by Cricket Wireless.