Now that you’re starting to really get close to the beginning of the New Year, cell phone makers and carriers realize that you’re listening. You have time because you might be working a little less. These are two great things for you. The cell phone manufacturers know that the hot cell phones are going to be popular, and that means that they can encourage you to go ahead and make that purchase.

If you’re thinking about buying a cell phone during the holiday season — which does include the start of the New Year, you really need to make sure that you’re doing it the smart way. There’s a lot of ways that things can slide into dangerous territory and have you pay a little too much, but this is not the end of the world. You just need to make sure that you’re buying your cell phone in the right place.

First and foremost, going online is definitely the way to go. However, before you actually take that step it’s never a bad idea to call your carrier and make sure that you know where you stand. Think about whether or not you’re actually in a contract right now. If you’re not in a contract, that means that you’re a free agent. You have options. You can stay with the carrier or you can leave. We always recommend that you at least see what type of loyalty points you can use to your advantage. If you’ve been with a carrier for 5 years, you definitely have their attention. They’re going to want to offer you a great phone in exchange for you signing a new 2 year agreement. Why wouldn’t they want that? It means that unless you’re willing to pay a heavy cancellation fee, you’re going to be with them for a long time. That’s something they’re looking forward to, as it means that they can rely on that money a lot better than trying to attract a new customer. So if you’re actually thinking about heading out the door, they definitely want to do just about anything and everything you can possibly think of to keep you.

We’re not saying that you have to be sneaky — most representatives are going to know that you’re weighing your options. Think about exactly what you’re trying to get and then ask for it. If it’s a plan that allows more minutes at a better price — ask for it. If you want to get a better deal on an unlimited plan or a bigger data bucket, definitely ask for it. If you want a full QWERTY phone, talk about that too.

The point that we’re trying to make is that you should never skip over your carrier, or any type of benefits they might have just waiting for you if you were to ask for them. A lot of people get nervous, but think about it this way — what’s the worst that can happen? They say no, and then you have to look past them. That’s all there is to it.

Keep in mind that if you do want to switch services, it’s very important that you keep your phone on until the number transfer is complete. Trying to transfer your cell phone number will not work if the service you originally had is cancelled. Just a little piece of advice ahead of time to save yourself some frustration.

You also want to make sure that you get all of the accessories that you want for your phone, and that you make sure that everything is going to be compatible not only today, but also in the future. Sometimes that’s hard to know, but again — the right questions are there. All you really need to do is ask.

The time is right to get a new phone and stay connected. As long as you comparison shop and really look at the fine print on every deal you come across, there’s no reason why you can’t get things done in a big way!