Comments on: Save Money on Cell Phones http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/ Saving, Earning, and Investing Money Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:52:35 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: KT http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-143797 KT Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:44:59 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-143797 I find prepaid works best for me as I do not use a lot of minutes. I used to pay $40/month under my old plan but since I made the switch to TracFone,I average $10 (if even) per month! No contract! No more paying for unused minutes :) I find prepaid works best for me as I do not use a lot of minutes. I used to pay $40/month under my old plan but since I made the switch to TracFone,I average $10 (if even) per month! No contract! No more paying for unused minutes :)

]]> By: Chris Chan http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-143638 Chris Chan Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:32:45 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-143638 PS. Speaking of cellphones, I came across this Net10 video mashup here: http://no-evil.net. Funny stuff!! PS.
Speaking of cellphones, I came across this Net10 video mashup here: http://no-evil.net. Funny stuff!!

]]> By: Chris Chan http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-143634 Chris Chan Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:00:05 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-143634 Prepaid is the only way to go. I have a Tracfone. It's a great way to keep in touch with your kids. Calls and texts are less expensive on a TracFone than on other phones and with no contract, there's no surprises! Prepaid is the only way to go. I have a Tracfone. It’s a great way to keep in touch with your kids. Calls and texts are less expensive on a TracFone than on other phones and with no contract, there’s no surprises!

]]> By: Ann http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-141216 Ann Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:55:56 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-141216 Prepaid cellular phone plans are great if you don't use a lot of minutes, or aren't sure when you'll be using your minutes. If you're using a prepaid plan, you'll never have to deal with a contract or a monthly charge. You pay as you go, refilling your phone whenever it runs out of money. Many major cell phone providers have started offering this kind of service to people who don't need or want a regular cell phone plan. Prepaid cellular phone plans are great if you don’t use a lot of minutes, or aren’t sure when you’ll be using your minutes. If you’re using a prepaid plan, you’ll never have to deal with a contract or a monthly charge. You pay as you go, refilling your phone whenever it runs out of money. Many major cell phone providers have started offering this kind of service to people who don’t need or want a regular cell phone plan.

]]> By: Geralt http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-141031 Geralt Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:23:24 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-141031 I love the idea of going prepaid. I think I will switch as soon as my contract expires at the end of next month. I have already found the plan I'll be using too. Called StraightTalk from Tracfone, gives 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30mb data for $30! Incredible at 2c a minute and 1c per text or something like that. It is still a fairly heavy use package for much less than I'm paying now. I love the idea of going prepaid. I think I will switch as soon as my contract expires at the end of next month. I have already found the plan I’ll be using too. Called StraightTalk from Tracfone, gives 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and 30mb data for $30! Incredible at 2c a minute and 1c per text or something like that. It is still a fairly heavy use package for much less than I’m paying now.

]]> By: cheap chick http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-138939 cheap chick Sun, 31 May 2009 01:55:07 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-138939 I dumped my AT&T phone and got out of my cellphone contract when the company changed its terms. (Did you know that if they do that, it voids the contract? They don't tell you that, but I saw it on the Consumerist site and it worked! No termination fee too. Haha.) Anyway, I got a prepaid Net10 phone and everything is 10 cents a minute... even International calls which is great since my son is traveling right now. But the best thing about this is that there aren't any bills and I know what my costs are because I pay upfront for my calls. It's great! I dumped my AT&T phone and got out of my cellphone contract when the company changed its terms. (Did you know that if they do that, it voids the contract? They don’t tell you that, but I saw it on the Consumerist site and it worked! No termination fee too. Haha.)

Anyway, I got a prepaid Net10 phone and everything is 10 cents a minute… even International calls which is great since my son is traveling right now.

But the best thing about this is that there aren’t any bills and I know what my costs are because I pay upfront for my calls. It’s great!

]]> By: PT Money http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-136463 PT Money Mon, 11 May 2009 20:20:22 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-136463 Nice to see your experience with limiting Cell Phone expenses. Looking forward to sharing this in the Carnival of Money Stories next week. Nice to see your experience with limiting Cell Phone expenses. Looking forward to sharing this in the Carnival of Money Stories next week.

]]> By: Lazy Man http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-136291 Lazy Man Sun, 10 May 2009 13:02:08 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-136291 Actually a few companies allow you to buy more minutes for the current billing cycle without having to upgrade. I know I did this with Sprint a couple of years back. Since a new contract typically has a $200 cancellation fee (or value in a new phone upgrade), it's probably not worth upgrading your account for minute overages unless you weren't even close. Actually a few companies allow you to buy more minutes for the current billing cycle without having to upgrade. I know I did this with Sprint a couple of years back.

Since a new contract typically has a $200 cancellation fee (or value in a new phone upgrade), it’s probably not worth upgrading your account for minute overages unless you weren’t even close.

]]> By: PennyScraper http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-136286 PennyScraper Sun, 10 May 2009 10:19:02 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-136286 If you have already gone over your alloted minutes for the month, this is how you save? Call your phone company on the last day of your billing cycle and ask that your plan be upgraded. The upgrade is done retroactively to the begin of your current billing cycle.This makes your overages now within the limits of the new upgraded plan! So now your paying about $10 more instead of 40¢ per minute.(Of course do the math to ensure you will actually save.) Then the following month you can downgrade your plan minutes again. The catch is that when you upgrade your plan you are entering into a new contract with your service provider.The new contract is going to be extended for a year from the date of upgrade. Not a problem if you planned on staying with your current provider. If you have already gone over your alloted minutes for the month, this is how you save?

Call your phone company on the last day of your billing cycle and ask that your plan be upgraded. The upgrade is done retroactively to the begin of your current billing cycle.This makes your overages now within the limits of the new upgraded plan! So now your paying about $10 more instead of 40¢ per minute.(Of course do the math to ensure you will actually save.) Then the following month you can downgrade your plan minutes again.

The catch is that when you upgrade your plan you are entering into a new contract with your service provider.The new contract is going to be extended for a year from the date of upgrade. Not a problem if you planned on staying with your current provider.

]]> By: The Van Man http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-136029 The Van Man Thu, 07 May 2009 15:28:51 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-136029 The best thing is to not use your phone so much - that saves me a fortune! The best thing is to not use your phone so much – that saves me a fortune!

]]> By: Jerry http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-135923 Jerry Wed, 06 May 2009 14:29:37 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-135923 I can't understand the ringtone phenomenon, either, that's for sure! Talk about something that leads to a waste of money... on the other hand, employee discounts are a great deal. Our last account in the States before we moved overseas had a wonderful deal. Also, I think that the phone insurance is often a rip-off for many people. For others - those who destroy phones all the time - it might be worth it. Jerry I can’t understand the ringtone phenomenon, either, that’s for sure! Talk about something that leads to a waste of money… on the other hand, employee discounts are a great deal. Our last account in the States before we moved overseas had a wonderful deal. Also, I think that the phone insurance is often a rip-off for many people. For others – those who destroy phones all the time – it might be worth it.
Jerry

]]> By: MLR http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-135874 MLR Tue, 05 May 2009 23:50:34 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-135874 Each of my past 4 employers has offered discounts. For my carrier (Verizon) the discounts have been between 18 and 22%. For other carriers I have seen as high as 25%. Bill Shrink is a nifty site, but along with not factoring in mobile to mobile it also won't help you out if you can get an employee discount! So be careful :) Going along with ringtones, don't be one of those people with the ringback tone... I will hate you. Each of my past 4 employers has offered discounts. For my carrier (Verizon) the discounts have been between 18 and 22%. For other carriers I have seen as high as 25%.

Bill Shrink is a nifty site, but along with not factoring in mobile to mobile it also won’t help you out if you can get an employee discount! So be careful :)

Going along with ringtones, don’t be one of those people with the ringback tone… I will hate you.

]]> By: MoneyEnergy http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-135862 MoneyEnergy Tue, 05 May 2009 21:01:12 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-135862 Oh yes... I'm definitely on the Ultra Simple Plan with my cell phone. I use Virgin. No contract. Pay as you go. So right now, my minutes are gone and I have to top up today. But I'm sure it saves me money. It's a really basic phone. No websurfing or downloading here, barely even an answering machine, too. It has room for about 3 messages! Oh yes… I’m definitely on the Ultra Simple Plan with my cell phone. I use Virgin. No contract. Pay as you go. So right now, my minutes are gone and I have to top up today. But I’m sure it saves me money. It’s a really basic phone. No websurfing or downloading here, barely even an answering machine, too. It has room for about 3 messages!

]]> By: JB http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-135847 JB Tue, 05 May 2009 17:45:58 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-135847 Be careful with services like BillShrink. They don't take into account mobile to mobile minutes. My entire family is on one provider which means all of our calls to each other are free (well... nothing is free, but you get the idea). Be careful with services like BillShrink. They don’t take into account mobile to mobile minutes. My entire family is on one provider which means all of our calls to each other are free (well… nothing is free, but you get the idea).

]]> By: Kosmo @ The Casual Observer http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/save-money-on-cell-phones/comment-page-1/#comment-135840 Kosmo @ The Casual Observer Tue, 05 May 2009 16:50:39 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/?p=1969#comment-135840 Don't overlook employer discounts, either. My employer has special deals on billions of different products/services, including cell phone plans. Rollover minutes are nice. The vast majority of our usage is night and weekend or mobile to mobile, so we don't need a lot of minutes. But if we do happen to have a lot of usage one month because of extraordinary circumstances, we won't get dinged with overages. Also, if you have a bad experience, see if you can escape the plan without paying the fee. We had a local carrier and ended up very frustrated with the coverage. No reception at the local mall or in the downstairs of our house. My wife called to complained. They verified the crappy coverage and let us out of the contract without paying the fee. There are a variety of sites that show you how to create ringtones. If you have any technical ability at all, you can probably do it. I have a bunch on my phone. I awake to the sound of "we didn't start the fire" as my alarm clock and hear the theme to "baseball tonight" when there is an incoming call. I put some of that noisy heavy metal on my wife's phone. Don’t overlook employer discounts, either. My employer has special deals on billions of different products/services, including cell phone plans.

Rollover minutes are nice. The vast majority of our usage is night and weekend or mobile to mobile, so we don’t need a lot of minutes. But if we do happen to have a lot of usage one month because of extraordinary circumstances, we won’t get dinged with overages.

Also, if you have a bad experience, see if you can escape the plan without paying the fee. We had a local carrier and ended up very frustrated with the coverage. No reception at the local mall or in the downstairs of our house. My wife called to complained. They verified the crappy coverage and let us out of the contract without paying the fee.

There are a variety of sites that show you how to create ringtones. If you have any technical ability at all, you can probably do it. I have a bunch on my phone. I awake to the sound of “we didn’t start the fire” as my alarm clock and hear the theme to “baseball tonight” when there is an incoming call. I put some of that noisy heavy metal on my wife’s phone.

]]>