The cost to talk...

**Iwant2BDebtfree** · 03-15-2010, 10:36 AM

So I decided to see how much $$ I spend on talking a year. I have to take into consideration that my Verizon plan includes internet and also Fios TV. My cell plan (AT&T) has 2 phones one of which is an IPhone. I am extremely addicted to it and cut out many other things to afford it (crazy I know). But this addiction is costing me---BIG TIME.

I put vacations on hold for a year (or 2 or 3, depending on when all debts are gone and savings is full) but now I see it doesn't have to take so long!

Cell bill (oh boy am I going to get scolded for this one) $135 for 2 phones

Verizon (landline, internet, tv) $180

That is a total of $3,780!!!! I can't believe it comes to that yearly! I definitely need to see about getting out of contract since it'll probably cost me less to do that.

Imagine if I cut that amount even in half--I'd be able to put the extra $1,890 on the mortgage or in savings, or towards vacation. Ahhhhh Time to start calling these companies and see what I can do.

It always helps to write it down

**Russ** · 03-15-2010, 10:42 AM

Michelle, have you thought about getting rid of the land line? With Verizon you can add another cell for only $10/ month + tax then just leave that cell at home.

**Iwant2BDebtfree** · 03-15-2010, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

Michelle, have you thought about getting rid of the land line? With Verizon you can add another cell for only $10/ month + tax then just leave that cell at home.

We are in a commitment with Verizon (3 for the price of 2 promo) right now which makes me nervous how high it is going to jump after. We have had SO many billing issues with them. I got an original quote of $119.99 for this service and we have NEVER paid that--its always so much more. I want to cancel it all, go back to directv (which we paid barely anything for) and drop the land line keeping a prepaid cell in the house for the kids when they come home from school and we aren't here. I didn't know about the $10 cell---I'll have to look into that! Thanks!!

**Russ** · 03-15-2010, 06:11 PM

you can only get the $10 cell if you have Verizon wireless phones already. Make sense?

**craftypam** · 03-16-2010, 05:19 AM

I do not think you are alone in this. Too many people just have these things and don't sit down to put it in dollars and cents. We do not have cable. We have 2 cell phones for talking only. $50 a month including taxes. We get a $7.50 discount from Sprint for belonging to a credit union. Our internet and home phone is $68.00 a month. We have our home phone because during the day our cell phones only have 450 minutes and 2550 weekend minutes.

Iwant2bdebtfree;
Seems to me that Sprint has a plan for $69.99 for everything and then $10 for each add'l line. I think Verizon has something similar, but for talking only.

Good for you for noticing this and checking into it. It will be sooo worth it for your goal to be debt free.

**Nada.Leona** · 03-16-2010, 06:01 AM

Hmmmm... I'd be interested to see how this works out for us as well! Let's see...

DH and I each have cell phones -- iPhones, to be exact. I was skeptical of them when he said he wanted one. We both had Blackberries at the time, which for us were totally useless -- we only ever used them as, well, phones and sent each other messages on the Blackberry chat feature (free between BB users). So basically we both had just really expensive cell phones.

When he said he wanted the iPhone, I thought the same thing would happen. Well, turns out the iPhone has become like a third arm. We both use them constantly for so many things. I try to keep the games and crap applications to a minimum, but they have saved us both a ton of time and money. So to me, they are a very worthwhile investment.

Having said that, we got ours through Telus and we have had plenty of success and good service from Telus. I wouldn't go back to Rogers or Aliant if you paid me. We also have our internet through Eastlink seperately. Because we don't subscribe to satellite radio, cable, newspapers, magazines (except my subscription to Mother Earth News) or spend much (if anything) on outside entertainment (we've been to two movies since we started dating, and that has been almost 2 years), the cost of the Internet is very reasonable, as it is our soul source of entertainment and information. We read the news, surf the web, gather info, pay our bills, study, learn, communicate via email and text messaging with friends, watch television and listen to the radio through the internet.

So, we each pay the same amount for our iPhones: $60.00/month for the service plan. Add to that $7.00 for caller ID (I know, rediculous), and $0.43 charged in our province for the 911 fee (I know, even more rediculous), and finally $8.75 in taxes. So the grand total for the iPhones per month = $76.18 each, or $152.36.

Our internet is high speed (not worth it to get anything else), which costs us $57.95/month, plus an additional $7.53 in taxes. So the grand total for the internet per month = $65.48.

So our total for overall communication costs $217.84/month, or $2614.08/year.

**Iwant2BDebtfree** · 03-16-2010, 09:10 AM

LadyNada, see these IPhones are wayyyy too addicting. I can't imagine owning anything else. It is my computer in my purse, it is my fun when I am bored (all the free apps I have--Tap Tap Revenge 3 is my current weakness). I called last night to remove a line from my cell since it was DD's and she got her phone stolen (Silly me didn't have the insurance on it) and I am sick of paying for it---well, there is the $150 early term fee so I am going to get a boost phone and call AT&T and add that to the plan I have (they told me I could do this so I was psyched!

I also called Verizon and they said to break my bundle it'll be $175 since I'm in contract. I am going to have to see what I can get cheaper (maybe Vonage and drop Fios and go back to Directv?) and see if the savings make it worth breaking contract---I am leaning towards it being a smart bet.

Russ and CraftyPam, I don't have a cell plan with Verizon but AT&T add a line is also the $10 per month which I currently pay.
DH hates the idea of not having a landline, even with an emergency cell in the house. He said God forbid the cell isn't charged (especially with kids) and there is an emergency and we aren't here. They are usually only here alone for between 30-45 minutes after their grandfather drops them off after school till their dad come home---but its still scary. I remember when at 10 my mom used to leave me home alone---so did all my friends! Now at 13 I am afraid to leave Ashley for a half hour!

Ok so Im OT now, but the point is there have been some great suggestions here and I am going to keep trying to find a way to lower this. I was so proud when I lowered my car insurance by $700 a year so lets see where else I can cut

**krbshappy71** · 03-16-2010, 12:49 PM

I cannot be without my cell phone nor my internet. I would go mad. I have the shakes just thinking about it and its not even an iPhone. Beans and rice, fine, but let me surf the web while I eat them.

**craftypam** · 03-16-2010, 12:59 PM

LOL krbs!!!!!

**Mom2-3** · 03-16-2010, 01:12 PM

What about a lower land line rate? I just called our phone company and got the lowest rate, no frills. DH doesn't want to get rid of the land line, but with 5 cell phones in the house we don't use it much. We pay $41/month for phone and DSL. $120/month for 5 cell phones with texting. $1932 for the year to talk and surf the web.

I would LOVE the iphone, but I am currently too cheap to pay for the data service it requires. That would be $30 more per month for and additional $360/year.

hmmmm, maybe after we pay off our last debt

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 03-16-2010, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

I cannot be without my cell phone nor my internet. I would go mad. I have the shakes just thinking about it and its not even an iPhone. Beans and rice, fine, but let me surf the web while I eat them.

Exactly!! I think I'd die! hehehe

**Iwant2BDebtfree** · 03-17-2010, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by krbshappy71

I cannot be without my cell phone nor my internet. I would go mad. I have the shakes just thinking about it and its not even an iPhone. Beans and rice, fine, but let me surf the web while I eat them.

HAHAHAHAHA!!! I literally just SPIT the sip of wine I am enjoying on this finally sunny day. Thanks for that!

**Iwant2BDebtfree** · 03-17-2010, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mom2-3

What about a lower land line rate? I just called our phone company and got the lowest rate, no frills. DH doesn't want to get rid of the land line, but with 5 cell phones in the house we don't use it much. We pay $41/month for phone and DSL. $120/month for 5 cell phones with texting. $1932 for the year to talk and surf the web.

I would LOVE the iphone, but I am currently too cheap to pay for the data service it requires. That would be $30 more per month for and additional $360/year.

hmmmm, maybe after we pay off our last debt

My problem is I admired the IPhone from afar...then I got an Itouch and I became insanely addicted. All of a sudden my upgrade time came up and I HAD to have it. It is my baby. I have it by my side at all times and even will check in here from it when Im at work. I would have a serious breakdown if someone took it away.

**ladytoysdream** · 03-17-2010, 07:16 PM

We have phone, and DSL from Verizon. Then they bundled the Direct TV in. So total pkg is $ 138 a month. If I subtract out about $ 70 that Direct TV would cost us, then that would leave the $ 68 for landline and DSL. To be able to compare our costs to yours.
Then we each have a tracfone that when we bought it, had the double minutes for life plan. I only buy the 60 minute card for 19.99 every 3 months to extend our plan. I just added his new minutes today online. Got double the 60 plus had the promo code for a additional 30 minutes. 150 minutes for $ 20 plus the tax. So I figure it is a total of $ 14 for the both of us a month for the 2 phones. Not bad. Neither one of us does any texting. He does need his for his job. I like to have one on me, in case of an emergency. We both have lots of minutes left over.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-17-2010, 07:48 PM

We have a landline that we finally got reduced to the basic package about a month or two ago. I looked at my long distance charges and I was talking for way less than I was paying before. We had the Shaw Cable Digital Phone's unlimited long distance plan with the package that was about $55.00 per month. The package we have now is $20.95 per month and gives us 4c per minute long distance. I spend about $10 maximum on long distance a month, so we save $25. $25 x 12 = $300 per year.

Our cell phones went up and down for the longest time. We were paying about $80 a month. My cell contract ended in December and I had to fight the urge to not get a new phone. I think I'm past that urge. DH's plan ends on March 22nd. We'll both be going to lower plans and I'll be going to Pay As You Go for the wireless. My phone's for emergencies and I can call his work if I need to get a hold of him. The only time we use our phones is when I call him to pick me up, and he gets calls from the delivery driver every Sunday in the summertime. We're currently paying $25 each for the Family Share Plan, which gives us unlimited calling between the two of us and about 100 minutes a month. The Pay As You Go plan for me would be $0.40 per minute, but I use probably 10 minutes a month. $4 compared to $40? I'll take it.

The landline stays for contacts from schools and for me to call DH at work through his work line. We also have it so that I can call my mom. I live in a different country than her and cell phone plans here aren't so cheap, so the landline and the $0.04 per minute LD works for us.