Just cut our cell phone bill

[disneysteve]

My wife and I both have iPhones. I have the unlimited data plan, which they no longer offer. She has the 2,000KB/month plan which is $25. I just reviewed the last 8 bills and she has never exceeded 120KB of actual usage. The cheaper data plan is $15 and provides 200KB/month which is plenty for her usage pattern. So I dropped down to that, saving us $10/month plus tax. If she does happen to exceed the 200KB one month, we'll just be charged an additional $15. We will save $120/year so even if one or two months we pay the extra $15, we'd still be way ahead.

Just a tip to others. Check to see if you are actually using all that you are paying for or if there are cheaper options that will meet your needs and better match your actual usage patterns.

[bjl584]

I pay for 400 anytime minutes and unlimited to Verizon customers. I never go much over 200 minutes since most people that I talk to are Verizon customers. I did cancel my texting for a time, but that's pretty much the only way that people want to talk to each other anymore, so I added it back on. I get unlimited texts for $20 a month. I do get a corporate discount of 8% through my employer though, so I take advantage of that.

[SNRote]

Steve,
Who is your provider? I think it's time to start shopping rates. (Ugh...I don't want to spend time doing that). We are with Verizon and that's who we've always had but when talking to friends, I think we are paying WAY too much.

[disneysteve]

Steve,
Who is your provider? I think it's time to start shopping rates. (Ugh...I don't want to spend time doing that). We are with Verizon and that's who we've always had but when talking to friends, I think we are paying WAY too much.

We're with AT&T. We have a Family Plan. There are 5 of us - 2 iPhones, 3 regular phones. We have 850 shared minutes, unlimited texting, I have unlimited data, my wife now has the $15 data plan. We get a corporate discount through my wife's job. Our bill with all taxes included runs right around $175/month which really isn't so bad when you consider that's for 5 people - about $35/month/person.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Aren't they trying to phase out unlimited data? My friend has it and was told if she got a new phone, even bought herself they would phase her out.

[disneysteve]

Aren't they trying to phase out unlimited data? My friend has it and was told if she got a new phone, even bought herself they would phase her out.

AT&T stopped offering it when the iPhone 4 came out. Those of us who had it were grandfathered in to keep it but I'm sure at some point they'll either drop it all together or hike the price for those who want to keep it. For now, I'm keeping it just to see what happens. I'm not giving it up until I have to.

[DRILLINDK]

Even though I'm 29yo I'm on my parents family plan with Verizon. It's actually a Win-Win, b/c I pay him $60/month for cell phone minute on family plan and unlimited data. It actually only cost him an additional $10/month to add my line and $30/month for unlimited data ($40 + tax). I win, b/c that plan would cost about $110 if I had an individual plan.

Much to his dismay, I may never get off his family plan>

[Maxoman]

I just did something similar about a month ago. We have AT&T and were paying way too much for our usage. I reviewed the past year and DH averaged 49 minutes a month!(he uses his work phone also but doesn't want to give up his personal phone). I averaged about 125 plus alot of texts. Our contract was up so I started shopping. It turns out the gophone plan with AT&T (pay as u go) is the way to go. $25 a month for me + unlimited texts and 10cents a min for DH ($4.90/month & he never texts). WooHoo!! Saved about $50 a month. That's significant. Wish I never went on the contract to begin with...oh the alure of a free fancy phone...

[disneysteve]

Much to his dismay, I may never get off his family plan>

Why would he want you to? It saves him money.

I think the family plans are probably very underutilized as a money-saving arrangement. I suspect a lot of people think the people on the plan must live in the same household which isn't true. We have 5 people on our plan from 3 different households in 2 different states. It saves us all money because if we all went on our own, it would cost a lot more overall.

[DRILLINDK]

Why would he want you to? It saves him money.

I think the family plans are probably very underutilized as a money-saving arrangement. I suspect a lot of people think the people on the plan must live in the same household which isn't true. We have 5 people on our plan from 3 different households in 2 different states. It saves us all money because if we all went on our own, it would cost a lot more overall.

Agreed, we have my father, mother, older brother, my longtime girlfriend, and myself. If I didn't have my father I would probably join together with 4-5 reliable friends to do the same. Much more cost efficient.

[cashfromcells]

Agreed, we have my father, mother, older brother, my longtime girlfriend, and myself. If I didn't have my father I would probably join together with 4-5 reliable friends to do the same. Much more cost efficient.

Never thought of this but it is a great idea. I wonder if there is some sort of affiliate program that could get you a little money if you recruit?

[glycemic]

Nice tip. Thanks for sharing! Our bill is well over $200/month now but we have a grandfathered unlimited data plan and I'm too leery of abandoning it. Ridiculously expensive though - $250 now... Sigh. Though our usage on data does keep going up.