Before you decide on a calling plan, it is important to determine your telephone calling patterns, such as how many local calls you make versus how many long distance calls you make. Closely examine your long distance bills for the past few months, and recognize the times when you make the greatest number of calls, the average lengths of your telephone calls, and whom you are calling most often. Also try to determine whether there is an identifiable pattern to your long distance calls, such as frequently dialing the same telephone number or area code, or making the bulk of your calls during a certain time of day.

If you identify a telephone calling pattern, which might be quite obvious,(ie. if you make your calls throughout the day, evening, night, and weekend), you might be considered an "Average Daily User." Find the calling pattern that best resembles the the amount of time and money you usually spend on your phone in an average or typical month. By analyzing your telephone bills, you should be able to calculate these averages by totaling the number of minutes you called in a time period, and dividing by the number of months you used to get that average (like three months of telephone calling). Alternatively, you could look at the amount of money you spent over three months, and divide that number by three (the number will be your monthly average). You can then use this calling information to help you determine which long distance or (local calling) plan would best suit you and your phoning needs.

Before you commit to a service provider's plans, you should compare telephone calling plans. Find and compare plans and look for the least expensive calling plans. Read each plan's description to ensure that you meet the requirements to receive cheap long distance rates, and also to ensure that the plan includes all the features and services you desire. Remember, you might not be saving money if the telephone plan doesn't include the options that you need.

Research the Plans. Once you have found a telephone calling plan that suits your personal needs, look online for competitors rates on similar long distance telephone calling plans. If necessary, call the telephone carriers to confirm that these would, indeed, be the best plans for you, that the long distance rates would still be the same, and the features and services you want are still offered with those calling plans. Remember, plans change frequently and competition results in even more frequent rate and service changes. And often, the telephone service providers will negotiate certain plans (within their power), in order to obtain your business. Most providers can offer other incentives to get your business, to it really is important to do all your research.

Good luck on your quest to find the right telephone plan with the right telephone provider.