Staying in touch with friends and family by phone is still the best way to communicate. But sometimes our loved ones move away either temporarily or permanently and staying in touch is even more important. That's when phone calls can get expensive, especially if they move overseas. That's where prepaid calling cards come in handy to save you money so that you can still hear your loved ones voices without breaking the bank.

There are many ways prepaid calling cards can save you money by combining a few tactics.

For instance it is best to use International Prepaid Calling Cards combined with a mobile cell phone on weekends. Why you may ask? Well most major mobile cell phone carriers in the US include unlimited calls on the weekends in their contracts. Which also means long distance calls are basically free because you are not draining any of your contracts monthly minutes. Do check your contract to make sure though.

So let's see how we can make the right decision in choosing a prepaid calling card.

The majority of prepaid calling card companies now offer a no brainer for choosing their services and it is easier than ever because it is done in the Internet. So no more having to drive to your local convenience store. There are so many options for you to choose and pick from the Internet but don't worry, everything is automated for easy selection. Most important thing to remember is to check and make sure that whatever fees such as maintenance are upfront and visible along with the per minute call rate. If you do not see any at all, quickly look for a new company.

Another tip is to check prices with another reputable calling card company. It's just like getting a second opinion from a doctor. You may be tempted to buy the first prepaid calling card you see because the rates and fees are so good, but you don't want to be disappointed when you find out later that you would've had more minutes with the money you've just spent.

But keep in mind the cheaper the card, the higher the maintenance fees are. My suggestion is to choose a rate that is between the lowest rate and the highest rate that you can find. It's sort of like averaging out the middle cost so you have a balance of more minutes and a maintenance fee that is more reasonable.

What are the maintenance fees? Well calling card companies don't actually own the telephone lines that you make the calls on. They basically buy the phone lines at a discount wholesale rate from major land line carriers. So in a way they're passing some of the cost on to you. But relax, using a prepaid calling card to make calls especially international calls on a mobile cell phone is a better way to go.