When I bought my first home overseas, I slashed my cost of living dramatically. But there was one surprise. While my property taxes may have dropped to less than $150 per year, my international phone bill skyrocketed to more than $150 per month…more than many of my friends were paying for rent.
But I quickly found a way to make cheap international calls so I could talk for hours from anywhere in the world, without spending more than a few dollars per month. And my service and call quality are actually better than ever. Here are three tips to help you make cheap international calls:
Cheap International Calls Tip #1: Skype
1. Skype. Skype is a product that allows you to make phone calls over the internet, using free software on your computer. You can call any of their 350 million subscribers free, and make cheap international calls to any landline for about 2 cents per minute. The best part of the service for me is the Skype video phone, which allows callers to see each other “full screen”…free of charge. I use it almost daily to see and talk to family and friends. It costs nothing to get started, and there’s no contract required. Have a look at the Skype website. to learn more.
Cheap International Calls Tip #2: Magic Jack
2. Magic Jack. The Magic Jack is a small device that plugs into your computer’s USB port, just like a flash drive. You simply plug a normal telephone into it, and you’re in business. You pay a subscription of $19.95 per year, and all of your calls to the U.S. and Canada are free. That’s less than two bucks per month. The one-time cost to buy the Magic Jack is $20…but right now they’re offering a free trial, so you can try it for a while without paying a dime. Read all about it at the Magic Jack website.
Cheap International Calls Tip #3: Broadband Phone
3. A broadband phone. If you don’t want to depend on having a computer make calls, consider a broadband phone to make cheap international calls. With these, you plug your telephone into an internet connection (using an adaptor) and use it like a regular phone…anywhere in the world. So if a friend dials your Phoenix phone number, it can ring in your apartment in Buenos Aires as if you were just down the street. For this service you’ll pay $20 per month or more, but it’s convenient and works like normal phone service. There are dozens of service providers out there, and you can evaluate them at VoipReview.org.
Today my long distance bills are a thing of the past, and yours can be too. Because the best part of all these, is that you can use each of them now…right at home in North America.
Lee Harrison
Roving Latin America Editor, International Living
P.S. Trimming your phone bills to next to nothing is just one way you can slash your cost of living overseas. Another is to make your home base a destination where your local costs are a small fraction of what you’re used to paying. In Ecuador, for instance, you can hire a full-time maid for $200 a month…visit a doctor for $20…buy a gallon of gasoline for $1.48…enjoy lunch in a downtown restaurant for $1.50…enjoy a seafood dinner for two, with wine, for $20. And you can buy property for pennies on the dollar. For details about the best-value towns and the smartest ways to invest…plus our on-the-ground advice about how to quickly, efficiently, and enjoyably make Ecuador your home, get a copy of Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual. It’s on sale now for 20% off and shipping is free.
To catch up on the Save Money, Make Money series so far, see:
Health Care Costs: Slash Your Medical Expenses by 50%
Affordable Beach With Ocean View
Save 20% (Plus Get Free Shipping) on Every Owner’s Manual We Publish
