We’re nearing the time when the smartphone stops being a luxury and starts becoming a necessity. We’re living increasingly mobile lives, and the smartphone is the tool that helps keep us connected no matter our current location. Of course, there is one significant drawback to smartphone ownership: it’s expensive. From the device itself to its accessories, and all the way through the monthly plan payments, smartphone ownership does not come cheap. Yet there are ways savvy consumers can save.

Here are a few tips for anyone who wants to own a cell phone, but finds it a little too expensive. With these in mind, there will always be a good deal available.

Forget top of the market

One reason people feel that smartphones are expensive is the top of the market. These best-in-class devices do cost a considerably sum. For instance, a brand new iPhone 5 has a baseline cost of $200 — and that’s for a 16GB model, and it only comes that cheap if your carrier subsidizes it. Brand new the iPhone 5 costs $650 and up, meaning it’s quite a hefty investment. Other popular models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note Ii, also bring up the average price of smartphones.

Those aren’t the only smartphones available, though. Truthfully, the average consumer doesn’t even need something as powerful as the Galaxy S III or the iPhone 5. Something in the mid-tier range might fit them better. There are plenty of smartphones from manufacturers such as HTC that provide an adequate amount of power for a much cheaper price. Looking into handsets like these might be the first step to finding a more affordable smartphone.

Look for refurbished phones

One great way to save is by buying used gadgets. You can find these at many locations, from physical retailers to eBay. These models are more than just “used.” They’re refurbished, which means that they go through a process that removes the dings, dents, and much of the wear and tear that a smartphone incurs.

How much can you save buying refurbished? Hundreds of dollars typically. That accounts for 1) the age of the phone, and 2) its used status. Older phones in general are sold at a discount. Many U.S. wireless carriers offer the iPhone 4 for free on-contract. Combine that with the preowned aspect, and it can become a great deal.

Consider the carrier

A smartphone is only as good as its carrier. The same phone that runs on one network might not provide the same experience on another. That is due to differing network technologies, along with speed differences. In the U.S., for example, Verizon’s LTE network blows away 3G, which most carriers still use, and is even faster than other carriers’ LTE networks. Carriers can often also control the price of a handset. Chances are you’re not going to get a quality smartphone for free with AT&T or Verizon. But there are deals to be had elsewhere.

Many carriers offer even steeper discounts on high quality smartphones. There are many new cell phones from T-Mobile that cost nothing on-contract, including a number of Windows 8, Android, and BlackBerry phones. They might not be the ones that generate the most buzz, but they do provide power with affordability. The average user will not notice much of a difference between the HTC One S and the Samsung Galaxy series.

Look at total cost of ownership

Not only do carriers influence the price of the smartphone itself, but they also influence the overall cost of ownership. Each carrier charges different rates for monthly service, so each will have a different total cost of ownership. Using the T-Mobile example above, you can get a free phone and two years of service for $1,680. At Verizon you’ll pay at least $100 for the phone, plus at least $90 per month for service, bringing the two-year cost of ownership to $2,260. That’s quite a large difference.

Prepaid is another option for those looking to save money in the long term. The phone itself might be more expensive — many go for more than $200 — but the service cost is typically far less. Major U.S. prepaid carriers charge as little as $50 per month for service. Even with a $500 phone, the total two-year cost of ownership is $1,700, which is in line with T-Mobile but also provides the flexibility of prepaid.

While smartphones are becoming more and more necessary, they remain expensive items. Combined with monthly service rates, they have two-year cost of ownerships that range from $1,500 to $2,500. But smart consumers can keep those costs in check by looking at mid-level models on value-based carriers. With these kinds of deals in place, there are few reasons to put off smartphone ownership any longer.

Author Bio: Joe Pawlikowski writes, edits, and consults for several technology blogs across the web. He keeps a personal blog at JoePawl.com.