Saving Money on Wireless Service

[travelover]

.......... I use my phone for email, texting and reading. I’ve just scratched the surface of the ways I use my phone..........

I recently discovered that mine has a function that will allow me to call people. It's a little icon on the bottom of the home screen.

 

[Hermit]

I recently discovered that mine has a function that will allow me to call people. It's a little icon on the bottom of the home screen.

Hey! I just figured out how to do that too! I need to have Google Voice, the Google Hangouts app and the Google Hangouts Dialer app to make it work, but work it does! But only with wifi.

 

[Katsmeow]

I recently discovered that mine has a function that will allow me to call people. It's a little icon on the bottom of the home screen.

DH and i just had a debate this afternoon of whether we should more properly refer to a smartphone as (1) a pocket computer on which you can also make calls or (2) a digital camera on which you can also make calls. I took option 1 and he took option 2.

 

[samclem]

Republic for me too.

Me, too. I'm nursing my old phone along because when I buy a new one I'll have to pay slightly more for a similar Republic plan. But their prices are still good and I've been happy with the service. Now I pay about $15/mo net, unlimited talk and text, plus I use use about 1GB of data per month.

 

[ERD50]

For those who have a "no data" plan - I found that was a problem for us with our occasional texts. We could not send/receive picture texts (MMS) or group texts.

OK for us, but if one of the kids texted some of us as a group, like to all meet at such and such place at a certain time, my wife would not get the text. If a text included a picture, she would not get it. It just won't work to tell people to not send picture texts or group texts, they won't remember.

There may be some plans that enable some limited data for MMS, but don't provide data for other connections, but I'm not aware of any.

I'm not sure why OP said they want to get rid of their smartphones, but they are still using smartphones (their existing iPhones)? I guess the key is they wanted to get rid of data charges, which is really separate from 'smartphone'.


What's been working for us is Ting (heard about it on this forum). We don't use much talk/text/data, but we want it when we want it. With Ting, the rates are pretty low for low usage, and I added my phone to the account for just $6/month (usage is combined). It's not a great deal if you use a lot of data, but for us it has been great. We are more likely to use data if go away for a w/e or something, though we can still stay on wi-fi a lot of the time. But the occasionally higher monthly bills for the data are fine, as our averages stay low.

Our typical bill is ~ $26 for 2 lines ($13/line for people skimming the post) with occasional bills in the $35~$40 range when we are travelling (these numbers include the fees, which are added on to 'usage'). We just got to the point that we didn't want to go without data for the times that we really could benefit from it, and at these rates it just isn't painful at all.

https://ting.com/rates

-ERD50

 

[ERD50]

I recently discovered that mine has a function that will allow me to call people. It's a little icon on the bottom of the home screen.

And I find it to be a very difficult/confusing function. In many ways, my old flip phone was far better for making phone calls (and worse in others of course - navigating menus with a limited keyboard is a pain).

On my smartphone, I've tried to view a contact, and suddenly realized it was calling them (hey! I didn't do that! I was just looking!). And to receive a call sometimes seems to require a "secret handshake"? Oh, you don't tap the phone icon to answer the call, you need to swipe from left to right? Who said?

I rarely make calls/texts from the smartphone (months can go by), and it just isn't always as easy as it should be. I'm sure it is second nature for those doing it regularly, but the basics ought to be obvious for everyone.

-ERD50

 

[ivinsfan]

Looking at the Cricket coverage map it does show some parts of Fallon, NV have no coverage. Looks like several areas generally west of I-25 and east of I-5 have areas of spotty coverage. East of the Rocky Mts Cricket coverage is pretty solid other than western Nebraska and northern Maine.

https://www.cricketwireless.com/map.html

It's a little more complicated then that ..we have a 20 plus year old grandfathered business plan with 4 dumb phones on it at an average of cost of less then 20 bucks per month per phone. My DH and his bro log a ton of time on their phones thru work. In the fields we often get drops even on Verizon. If we port our numbers to Cricket and isn't suitable coverage our plan is dunnzo...

 

[ejman]

I've been using tracfone for the last two years on two Motorola Moto E smart phones ($20 to purchase ea) and a $100/year plan ea that includes 1200 talk minutes, 1200 texts and 1.2g data. I've found this to be plenty for our needs (myself,son) since most of the time we are in a wifi area and then of course no charge for calls/text/data. My wife on the other hand talks on the phone a lot so the tracfone plan would not work for her. She got a Republic Wireless plan unlimited talk, text and 1 g data. This averages to about $15 a month. So the total monthly cost for our three phones is about $32.

 

[Sunset]

I understand the saving money part, but please expand on the data plan. I'd like to save money too, but I find the phone very useful for times when I need to look things up while away from home or to get directions. Granted, these often involve shopping ventures which we need to curtail as well, but I'm struggling to see how to give up data, which means giving up easy access to directions.

My phone uses GPS (no data plan) to do directions.
This did mean I had to download the maps to various countries which I store on the SD card of the phone.
Then I get to use map software for directions or location when I'm in those countries.
It works great and fast as no need to download the maps each time.
I used it in Mexico, PR, Hungary, Germany, USA, Canada.

It works just like a GPS does, which does not use any cellular data, or plan.

 

[REWahoo]

It's a little more complicated then that ..we have a 20 plus year old grandfathered business plan with 4 dumb phones on it at an average of cost of less then 20 bucks per month per phone. My DH and his bro log a ton of time on their phones thru work. In the fields we often get drops even on Verizon. If we port our numbers to Cricket and isn't suitable coverage our plan is dunnzo...

You could always sign up for one line of Cricket service for a month with a new number. Check the Cricket coverage at various locations to see if it will work for you and if not you've only spent a few bucks to test it out - and haven't put your grandfathered plan at risk.

 

[Hermit]

For those who have a "no data" plan - I found that was a problem for us with our occasional texts. We could not send/receive picture texts (MMS) or group texts.

OK for us, but if one of the kids texted some of us as a group, like to all meet at such and such place at a certain time, my wife would not get the text. If a text included a picture, she would not get it. It just won't work to tell people to not send picture texts or group texts, they won't remember.

There may be some plans that enable some limited data for MMS, but don't provide data for other connections, but I'm not aware of any.

I'm not sure why OP said they want to get rid of their smartphones, but they are still using smartphones (their existing iPhones)? I guess the key is they wanted to get rid of data charges, which is really separate from 'smartphone'.


What's been working for us is Ting (heard about it on this forum). We don't use much talk/text/data, but we want it when we want it. With Ting, the rates are pretty low for low usage, and I added my phone to the account for just $6/month (usage is combined). It's not a great deal if you use a lot of data, but for us it has been great. We are more likely to use data if go away for a w/e or something, though we can still stay on wi-fi a lot of the time. But the occasionally higher monthly bills for the data are fine, as our averages stay low.

Our typical bill is ~ $26 for 2 lines ($13/line for people skimming the post) with occasional bills in the $35~$40 range when we are travelling (these numbers include the fees, which are added on to 'usage'). We just got to the point that we didn't want to go without data for the times that we really could benefit from it, and at these rates it just isn't painful at all.

https://ting.com/rates

-ERD50

I tried to get a Ting plan. Same kind of crap I got from Sprint. They won't send a phone to a PO Box. US Mail does not deliver to my address. They couldn't think outside their small box to get me a phone. I gave up.

 

[REWahoo]

I tried to get a Ting plan. Same kind of crap I got from Sprint. They won't send a phone to a PO Box. US Mail does not deliver to my address. They couldn't think outside their small box to get me a phone. I gave up.

Have you considered getting yourself a UPS mailbox?

Open a mailbox at The UPS Store and get a personal or business mailbox with a real street address.

https://www.theupsstore.com/mailboxes

 

[ivinsfan]

You could always sign up for one line of Cricket service for a month with a new number. Check the Cricket coverage at various locations to see if it will work for you and if not you've only spent a few bucks to test it out - and haven't put your grandfathered plan at risk.

Yes that's a plan we considered already..just trying to decide if it's worth the hassle. One thing we don't love about Cricket is the Cricket affordable and/or free phones aren't too wonderful. If we want newer type phones with a chance to upgrade every couple years, we'd just bite the bullet and use Verizon.. it is deductible to the business. .right now we're leaning towards the if it ain't broke don't change it idea. BIL lost his phone in the corn field last week, we were able to find it in one piece but the idea of replacing a 50 dollars dumb phone isn't too bothersome.

 

[Chuckanut]

What's been working for us is Ting (heard about it on this forum). We don't use much talk/text/data, but we want it when we want it. With Ting, the rates are pretty low for low usage, and I added my phone to the account for just $6/month (usage is combined). It's not a great deal if you use a lot of data, but for us it has been great. We are more likely to use data if go away for a w/e or something, though we can still stay on wi-fi a lot of the time. But the occasionally higher monthly bills for the data are fine, as our averages stay low.

Our typical bill is ~ $26 for 2 lines ($13/line for people skimming the post) with occasional bills in the $35~$40 range when we are travelling (these numbers include the fees, which are added on to 'usage'). We just got to the point that we didn't want to go without data for the times that we really could benefit from it, and at these rates it just isn't painful at all.

https://ting.com/rates

-ERD50

+1

Switched to Ting a year ago when I got a new phone. It has cut my bill from $50 a month to about $25 a month.

Note: Actual Ting charges are about $21. Various taxes and fees add $4 to that. YMMV.

As ERD50 said, if you use a lot of cell phone data (over 2 Gigs a month as I figure it) this is not the plan for you. Their basic rates are reasonably low and as you add time, text or data you pay less for each additional unit of usage. For example, the first 100 Meg of data are $3, but if you use from 1 - 2 Gigs the total cost is $20. I use the phone the same way I did when I had the more expensive plan and I pay $25 a month less. Oh, good customer service reps. And they make it easy to check your usage if you wish to do so.

Of course, I do my app updates and most of my email, browsing, etc. on wifi, mine or the one at the local cafè.

 

[pb4uski]

I really like Ting's approach where you pay for what you use... but alas, they don't work where I live in the boonies.

 

[Doc0]

Consumer cellular is either att or t moblie your choice. I get 4 lines 10 gigs 250 min talk unlimited txt to split between the 4 phones 80 per month. Every additional phone is 10. We have 2 iPhones and 2 android. Make sure to turn off data assist on the iPhones

 

[flintnational]

I applaud you. At times I consider giving up the smartphone and decreasing wireless bill. However, I hike, climb, backpack and Scramble at least once a week. This means I’m driving in the mountains and hinterlands. I use the Maps function on my phone to find trailheads and the Gia GPS function once I’m on and off trail. I can also get weather and conditions updates. Verizon has outstanding coverage and many times I can text my husband from a summit or back at the trailhead. Its funny how many times people I’m out with have asked to use my phone to communicate with their families while we are out because I have coverage and they don’t. I also take pictures with the phone which means I don’t have to carry a camera. I use my phone for email, texting and reading. I’ve just scratched the service of the ways I use my phone. Interestingly, the smartphone has simplified and uncluttered my life due to its’ functionality.

While I love my Cricket (AT&T) plan, I found the same thing while hiking. Verizon seems to have much better coverage in really remote areas along the Appalachian Trail. My hiking pals have Verizon and I routinely used their phones. Otherwise, no coverage issues with Cricket.

FN

 

[pb4uski]

We have had both Verizon and AT&T over the years. Where we live, Verizon generally has much better coverage.... but alas, Verizon did not work at our new home so we switched to AT&T through AirvoiceWireless.

 

[HGTVFanatic]

Ever since I caught the FIRE bug, I have been looking for ways to save $$ and accelerate my retirement date.



One big monthly expense that seemed untouchable was our cellular service. We were spending appx $260/month for 5 lines of service with data.



3 of the lines were for our now grown-up kids and they started contributed a share once they moved out on their own. But, we still paid the lion's share which came to about $150/month.



In addition to reading a lot about savings and retirement, I've also been reading about "minimalism". So, after a recent chat with the Princess (i.e., daughter) who is very much into a simple lifestyle, the wife and I decided to get rid of our smartphones.



We notified the other kids and told them they would need to find their own plans. Then, we started looking for a simple plan of our own.



The best deal I found was Cricket Wireless. I had read a lot of good things about Consumer Cellular, but that would require us to buy new phones. While my wife's iPhone is 3 years old, mine is less than 2 years old and I didn't like the idea of having to buy 2 new phones when we still have 2 perfectly good iPhones.



With Cricket Wireless I was able to get a plain talk and text (no data) plan using our iPhones. Out of pocket cost for the 2 lines: $50/mo.



So, I'm pretty happy to have found a way to save an add'l $100/mo.

Too late for you, but you could have gotten a SIM card from Consumer Cellular to put in your old phones.

 

[CoolRich59]

I use the Maps function on my phone to find trailheads and the Gia GPS function once I’m on and off trail.

We're going on 2 weeks now and this is the only real inconvenience we've experienced.

I went to a store the other day and found out they had moved to a new location. The new location did not come up in my car's built-in GPS (no surprise - it's pretty worthless) and that left me driving back and forth on the street they moved to until I finally spotted it.

My wife had a similar experience. She went to go somewhere and figured she'd plug the location into Google Maps. It wasn't till she was on the road that she remembered: no data, no Google Maps.

 

[CoolRich59]

Too late for you, but you could have gotten a SIM card from Consumer Cellular to put in your old phones.

Nope. I looked into that. You cannot bring a Verizon phone to Consumer Cellular.

 

[CoolRich59]

I recently discovered that mine has a function that will allow me to call people. It's a little icon on the bottom of the home screen.

It really is incredible how "disruptive" smartphones have been.

No longer need a camera.

No longer need a Nuvi or GPS device.

No longer need an alarm clock.

No longer need a watch.

No longer an iPod or MP3 player.

I'm sure there are others, but this what I thought of offhand.

 

[ivinsfan]

It really is incredible how "disruptive" smartphones have been.

No longer need a camera.

No longer need a Nuvi or GPS device.

No longer need an alarm clock.

No longer need a watch.

No longer an iPod or MP3 player.

I'm sure there are others, but this what I thought of offhand.

I don't even have a smartphone but I will counter with this..if you don't have a smart phone you still need/use all these things...dumb phone can replace a watch but that's about it.

 

[ERD50]

... It wasn't till she was on the road that she remembered: no data, no Google Maps.

You can set Google Maps to stay offline. You do need to go in and download maps for the area of interest ahead of time (I did this, and forgot exactly what I did or how big an area I selected). This used to be a real pain, but it is easy now. And something like once per month, the app will attempt to update those maps when it sees you are on wi-fi.

We recently traveled to Central IL ( ~ 200 miles away), and I had no problems with detailed info there.

I also use the app Here-We-Go, which can be set to work off-line as well. But it is best to set your destinations while you are on wi-fi, as it has access to more detailed data in some cases.

-ERD50

 

[CoolRich59]

You can set Google Maps to stay offline. You do need to go in and download maps for the area of interest ahead of time (I did this, and forgot exactly what I did or how big an area I selected). This used to be a real pain, but it is easy now. And something like once per month, the app will attempt to update those maps when it sees you are on wi-fi.

We recently traveled to Central IL ( ~ 200 miles away), and I had no problems with detailed info there.

I also use the app Here-We-Go, which can be set to work off-line as well. But it is best to set your destinations while you are on wi-fi, as it has access to more detailed data in some cases.

-ERD50

Wow. That is a great feature. I will definitely do this. Thank you.