Cheapest Way Of Communicating Someone

I am shocked with our phone bill, the monthly service charge is higher as well as the minute. I am planning to switch my plan and cut-off the international call. We are spending too much just for the phone bill and we seriously need to save up for our upcoming trip. I am thinking of giving my old laptop to my family so we can just talk and see through conference calls. In that way, we can save up money and can talk without thinking the minutes.
My husband is actually the one who suggested the conference calls because it is what they used at work and he said, it is very cheap and fast. I am very excited and looking forward about this plan.