By David Bakke

Close to half of all Americans enjoy the benefits of a smartphone, but many fail to consider the increased costs to maintain it. While a traditional cell phone could cost as little as $20 per month, a family of four nowadays can easily pay close to $200 per month for data alone.

If you have a smartphone or are considering one, here are five tips to lower your monthly bill:

No. 1: Save on the hardware

The best things in life are free, and the same goes for smartphones — if you know where to look. Check out websites like FatWallet or DealCatcher, which post coupons and discounts on devices and services. But be patient: You may have to comb through a lot of deals before you find the right one.

No. 2: Save on the plan

Ask yourself if you really need that unlimited data plan. The average smartphone holder uses only 256 megabytes of data per month, but many end up paying for plans of 10 gigabytes or larger. Whether or not you’re part of a shared plan, review your usage to get a general picture of your monthly data consumption and make adjustments to your plan accordingly. As with any purchase, don’t pay for something you won’t use.

Read More 5 ways to cut smartphone costs – Your Money – MSN Money.