For those who live away from their families, the hardest part of the distance is the lack of communication and the feeling of being out of touch with their families. Trying to call home as cheap as possible is just a part of daily life for these people. Whether they are Americans in another country or immigrants living in America, “phoning home” is more than just an idea from “ET”.

1. Find a phone card that is dedicated to the country in which the phone call is being placed to. These phone cards tend to be less expensive and offer a better minute to dollar ratio that other phone cards. These phone cards are also often written in the native language of that country which makes it easy for the user to use.

2. If using a phone card that is dedicated to several countries, ensure that the minute to dollar ratio is good. There are many phone cards that use different connection rates per country that can limit the value of the phone card. There are also many phone cards that use different dollar to minute ratios, which can also limit the value of the card. This limiting value can decrease the amount of time one talks to his or her family while charging a higher rate for the card itself.

3. See if the card is rechargeable. There are often great rates and deals to be had by cards that are rechargeable. If this is the case, sending the extra money on buying a rechargeable phone card can save infinite money later.

By following these three simple tips for using phone cards to make cheap international long distance calls, one can stay in touch with their family for less money, which means more phone calls and connection in the end.

Happy communicating!