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applegrove

(118,011 posts)
2. I naively upgraded and am surprised to find my cell phone is more expensive than my cable - and I
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:49 PM
Sep 2012

have HBO.

MrsBrady

(4,187 posts)
3. I switched to Virgin Mobile...
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:06 PM
Sep 2012

if you live in an urban area, it could work for you...check the coverage area.

sendero

(28,552 posts)
5. Most data plans..
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:09 PM
Sep 2012

... (required for smart phone) are $30 a month in addition to the cost of your voice/text.

The phones cost several times what a plain old phone costs.

The only way to not get ripped off IMHO is to go with a virtual carrier (MetroPCS, Boost, SimpleMobile, etc) and pay month to month without a contract. This is always cheaper than getting into a contract, but then you have to buy your phone all at once instead of paying it in installments like you do with a contract carrier.

Kali

(54,990 posts)
7. at least 3 times as much
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 11:17 PM
Sep 2012

trust me I know (couple kids with them and they are not real good about PAYING THEIR BILLS (maybe if I yell on DU they will hear it )

kayakjohnny

(5,235 posts)
8. I just bought an evo 4g from virgin mobile. It's $35 mo. for unlimited text and data. It's fast too.
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 12:44 AM
Sep 2012

I only get 300 minutes of talk but that's working fine for now. For an extra 10 beans a month, I get 1500 minutes of talk.

So far, I am totally happy with the phone and the plan.

It's no contract, so I just go buy a phone card and top up each month.

elleng

(130,126 posts)
9. Daughter and I share a verizon 'family plan.'
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 12:54 AM
Sep 2012

She recently upgraded to 'smart' from old fashioned cell; I've kept mine. Actually pay a few cents less per month. No idea why. I pay $190/mo. My cable is $106.

Flaxbee

(13,661 posts)
10. I had to buy my LG Android phone ($75 - Radio Shack had a special going) and I have Net10
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 12:58 AM
Sep 2012

$50/month - no contract! - unlimited phone, text and Internet. Not super-fast Internet, but not bad for my purposes. So no, it's actually less expensive than my old Verizon contract. I *hated* being locked in to a contract.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
12. Probably the same LG 45C I have...
Thu Sep 20, 2012, 03:58 AM
Sep 2012

can't complain much about the phone, but why, after using Net10 for the last 5 or 6 years and always having many minutes rolling over, did I decide to spend 50 bucks a month to get email on my phone?

Still cheaper than anyone else, though, and having things like Dropbox and an integrated calendar on it are cool.





NV Whino

(20,886 posts)
11. Check to see if they have a senior plan (if you're old enough)
Wed Sep 19, 2012, 12:39 PM
Sep 2012

Or any other special plans. Also, I have always bought refurbished phones. I have a Blackberry ($8) and rejected ATT's attempt to charge for media and texting. If it ever dies, I'll probably have to pay the extra $30 a month for media, which I don't want and would never use.

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