Leap of Faye

A Journey

Ebates Review

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Ebates Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  All opinions are 100% my own.

By now, you’ve probably heard of Ebates.  I had been hearing about it for years but figured it was, at best, a teeny-tiny money saving tool not worth the effort and, at worst, some sort of internet scam.  But after quitting my job, I have become more conscious about what and how I am spending, and decided to try it out for myself.

Overview

Launched in 1999, Ebates is a cashback website that allows consumers to shop through a portal at a variety of retailers for cash back.  Why do you get cash back?  Because Ebates acts as an affiliate to these retailers, who pay them upon referring a customer who subsequently makes a purchase.  Ebates then splits that commission with you.

How Does It Work?

It’s surprisingly simple.  Set up an account with Ebates by providing your name and email address, and then update your profile preferences to indicate whether you prefer to receive payment via check (default) or PayPal (I highly recommend changing to this in your Account Settings).  Right now they have a promotion offering either a $10 Ebates Cash Bonus or $10 Walmart gift card just for signing up.

Next, do a quick search for the store or product you are looking for.  Check the cash back offered (displayed as a percentage of your total purchase amount), and then click on the “Shop Now” button to be redirected to the retailer’s site.  Ebates will redirect you with a message confirming that your purchases are now being tracked on that site.  I do recommend installing the Ebates Chrome browser extension.  This makes it easy to remember and earn cash back for all your online purchases without having to pull up the Ebates website and log in every single time.

On a quarterly basis, Ebates will send you your earned cash back.  If you’ve earned $5 or less, that amount will carry over to the next quarter.  And that’s all there is to it.  The hardest part for me so far has been just remembering to always shop through Ebates to maximize my earnings.

Can I Really Earn Money?

This is where I was most skeptical.  I assumed I could earn maybe a few dollars a year, but the hassle of going through Ebates would simply not be worth the effort.

Boy, was I wrong!

Simply by remembering to shop through Ebates vs. going to a retailer’s site directly, I have earned $17 in one week!  And in truth, this is only remembering about 75% of the time.  This is not additional shopping I wouldn’t have ordinarily done – it is not even for a particularly heavy shopping week (remember – I’m on a budget now).  It is merely the online shopping I always do.  So I have to say that I am extremely pleased to have earned that much in one week.  I am bummed because two purchases in particular would have earned me an additional $10 each in cash back – so I am now even more motivated to use Ebates for ALL online purchases to maximize my earnings.  And, especially with the Chrome browser extension, the process of using Ebates is easy-peasy – maybe a couple additional mouse clicks.

I’ve also seen Ebates running multiple promotions for more exposure.  For example, right now they’re running a promotion where you can also earn an additional $5 for every friend who signs up.  This is great for a service that I think most people would recommend anyway!

In addition to earnings, Ebates is great because all current coupons for particular retailers are listed out on the site.  So I can select my retailer, quickly browse coupon codes I want to use, and then hop on over to the retailer’s site to make the purchase and earn cash back.

What Are The Cash Back Percentages?

It really depends on the retailer.  For example, I am disappointed that Amazon doesn’t play ball.  They do offer cash back but only on rotating categories that, so far, don’t seem to be any that I use.  But – Target offers 2%, Walmart offers 1%, and Nordstrom and Macy’s both offer 6%.  My recommendation is to shop around.  I have found myself recently comparing prices on products from multiple stores, and then going with the least expensive once the Ebates cash back has been factored in.  Target in particular is great at 2%, because when I combine that with my Red Card (5% savings) and other coupons, I am almost always getting a better deal there than elsewhere.

Also worth noting is that Groupon offers a healthy 6% cash back on top of already discounted prices, and even web hosting services such as Bluehost get involved with a flat $10 cash back for purchase.  Other categories to take a look at include online travel providers (e.g. Orbitz and Hotwire), clothing retailers, electronic retailers, flower and gift retailers, and more.  Certain discount retailers such as Costco and Big Lots are not included.  My learned rule of thumb is to always do a quick search on Ebates before purchasing anything online.

What I Like

  • Earning real money beyond just a few dollars or cents
  • Earning money for shopping I would have already done anyway
  • Having all retailer coupons listed together in one place (no more searching multiple sites online for coupon codes)
  • Payouts available through PayPal
  • Clear dashboard listing your purchases and cash back amounts
  • The abundance of retailers available
  • The Chrome browser extension that makes it super easy to remember and use Ebates for all online purchases
  • Ability to participate in promotions to earn even more

What I Don’t Like

  • Amazon offers only rotating categories for cash back that, so far, are not useful to me
  • Certain low-cost retailers, such as Costco and Big Lots, are not included
  • I would prefer monthly payouts to quarterly
  • Payouts defaulting to check (would prefer they default to PayPal)

Conclusion

I highly recommend Ebates as an addition to your overall money-saving strategy.  It is easy, fast, and intuitive, and allows you to earn money on purchases you already make.  I truthfully wish I had started much sooner – when I used to have a much larger shopping budget.  If interested in signing up, Click Here to access Ebates and get started with your free $10.  Happy Shopping!

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WriterAccess – A Writer’s Review

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Writer Access Review

As I get my feet wet in the world of freelance writing, I am trying out various content brokers while I build my portfolio and determine which brokers (if any) are the best fit for me.  The idea behind a content broker (or “content mill,” in some cases) is that the broker finds the client, the writer claims and completes the writing job, and then both the broker and writer share the client’s payment to varying degrees.  Instead of collecting a one-time finders’ fee, the content broker takes a percentage of the payment on an ongoing basis, as long as the client continues to utilize the broker’s and writer’s services.  This means that it is in the broker’s best interest to prohibit direct content between the client and the writer, and content brokers will typically go to great lengths to ensure that this does not occur.

One content broker I have been working with recently is WriterAccess, and I would like to share my opinions on the experience thus far.

Overview

WriterAccess markets itself as a platform providing clients “great content created by U.S.-based writers.”  The tagline is, “Our writers go through hell to get from us to you. They’re all US-based, tested, screened professionals.”  Potential clients sign up for an account and then select an acceptable writing level, from two to six stars, that is priced accordingly.  Currently, the pricing model is 2-star writing quality for 2 cents/word, 3-star quality for 4 cents/word, 4-star quality for 6 cents/word, 5-star quality for 8 cents/word, and 6-star quality for 10 cents to $2.00/word.  This means, for example, that a 300-word article written by a 4-star writer would cost the client $18.70 for a pay-as-you-go, or free, account.

Clients then have the option to sign up for different accounts if their needs evolve beyond the pay-as-you-go model.  Depending on the client’s needs and required support, they can opt for inclusive accounts costing between $500 and $10,000+ monthly.

Writer Compensation

WriterAccess is equally transparent with writers in terms of compensation.  Pay increases as the writer’s quality level increases, with current compensation yields as follows:

  • 2-star writers:  1.4 cents/word
  • 3-star writers:  2.8 cents/word
  • 4-star writers:  4.2 cents/word
  • 5-star writers:  5.6 cents/word
  • 6-star writers:  7 cents to $1.40/word

This means that a 4-star writer would receive $12.60 for a 300-word article, just over 67% of what the client pays.  This is not bad for 4 or higher level writers when compared to payouts from some of the other major content brokers.

Payment is distributed bi-monthly via PayPal, and I’ve not experienced any issues with getting paid.

Hiring Process

The hiring process for WriterAccess is pretty involved, as advertised.  It is clear that they’re looking for quality writers.  The first step is to create a Writer Account with typical resume, contact information, and social media profile information.  The writer must then write a summary of experience, in the third person, of up to 500 words.  This is followed by additional third person summaries for various industries and asset types that the writer has experience in.  Once submitted, it takes a few days for WriterAccess to review the application, at which point they will email the writer with a yay or nay decision.

If approved, the writer then becomes part of the Reserve Directory which, as far as I can tell, really means there is minimal (if any) odds of actually receiving work.  To become a part of the Rated Directory, the writer is instructed to complete their writer profile, including additional third person summaries for experience, specialties, interests, and finally including various writing samples.  So yeah – it’s a lot of writing.  PayPal payment information and a headshot are required, and then the writer is asked to complete a General Writing Test.

Being a longtime writer, I assumed that the test would be a breeze and honestly sped through it – but was surprised when I didn’t score as highly as expected.  I scored 75% on the 44 question test, placing me in roughly the top 80-85th percentile of all tested writers per the handy-dandy graphic.  At this point, I had completed the necessary steps to submit my Rated Directory application.

A few days later, I received an email congratulating me on my acceptance to the Rated Directory, and advising that my debut ranking was Star Level 4.  At first I was a bit disappointed with the ranking until I was told that apparently 4 is the highest level a new writer can be assigned.  The good news is that the debut ranking doesn’t remain static; rather it fluctuates over time based on the volume, speed, and quality of content developed as rated by platform editors and clients.

Finding Jobs

This is the fun part.  Once accepted, you have a user-friendly dashboard available to you that lists all of your personal profile information, statistics, and job opportunities.  There are two ways to find jobs on WriterAccess: the first is to search Available Content Orders (only those offered for your specific writing level and lower), and the second is to pitch for Available Casting Calls.  Once you find a Content Order you are interested in, or are selected as the winning pitch for a Casting Call, you are able to claim the order which then prevents other writers from viewing/working on it.  Each order will have an associated due date, and will list the total pay ray rate for the requested number of words.

Submitting Content

Once you claim an order, you have an obligation to create quality content within the timeframe and guidelines specified (or risk a lowered writing level).  Although there is a text editor included on the site, I prefer to draft my content in MS Word and then copy and paste into the editor, correcting any formatting issues as necessary.  Once completed, you will be prompted to save the content and then the site will run it through Copyscape to identify any plagiarism issues.  Once you approve a final version, it will be sent off to the site/editors and subsequently the client for review.

Typically within a few days, you will receive either an email confirming acceptance of the content or requesting revisions.  Fortunately I have not yet had any revision requests, so am not quite sure how many requests (if limited) can be made.

Client Response

Upon approving an article, the client can send the writer comments via the platform’s messaging service and is asked to rate performance on the assignment either Below Expectations, Met Expectations, or Exceeds Expectations.  This information is then maintained on your dashboard.

A great surprise that I didn’t initially realize is that the client can also opt to tip you for your work!  So in addition to your regular rate, you can receive as much of a tip that the client feels appropriate (so far I’ve seen about 20%).  A very nice and welcome feature that further encourages great work.

The client, if pleased, can then opt to add you to their Love List, which is a list of their preferred writers to approach directly for future assignments.

What I Like

  • On-time payment via PayPal
  • Transparent and fair compensation relative to other content brokers, with the opportunity to increase your rate
  • Opportunity to receive tips at the client’s discretion!
  • Interesting writing topics and opportunities
  • Ability to apply for Casting Calls for additional work
  • Opportunity to be added to Love Lists for more steady work from previous clients
  • Fair deadlines (haven’t seen assignments with 2 hour turnarounds, for example)
  • Community forums with general writing information shared amongst writers

What I Don’t Like

  • Long (excessive) application process with many writing summaries and samples required, along with a more challenging than expected test
  • Work opportunities seem sporadic at my writing level: feast or famine
  • No writer attribution (standard with content brokers)
  • Potential for writing level to be decreased if not every deadline is met, or if client is unhappy with the content

Conclusion

At this point, I consider WriterAccess a strong content broker in my freelance writing arsenal.  Although the application process is long and tedious, it makes me feel confident that I am working in the company of strong writers.  I enjoy the writing topics available, and love the fact that clients can tip me on top of my rate when they love my work.

On the flip side, I am unclear as to how and at what point I will be re-evaluated for a (hopefully) increased writer rating.  It also concerns me that potential negative feedback from a client could impact my rating (what if the client was unreasonable, for example?)  I do find that writing opportunities are sporadic, at least at Level 4, with either many or none being offered at any point in time.

That said, I see WriterAccess as a strong addition, albeit not primary, source of work for my writing portfolio.  I would recommend WriterAccess to other freelance writers looking for interesting content opportunities, fair compensation, and the opportunity to pick up ongoing clients (albeit through the platform).

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BlogMutt – A Writer’s Review

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Blog Mutt Review

In my pursuit of worthwhile content brokers to add to my freelance portfolio, I recently decided to check out BlogMutt.  I have to admit that I was initially hesitant, swayed by some online reviews I had read regarding low pay, but ultimately figured I would give it a shot myself to see what I thought.

Overview

BlogMutt is advertised as, “Your business blog’s best friend” and “Your copywriter’s secret weapon.”  Potential clients sign up for an account, select a desired blog post length (minimum of 250+ up to 1200+ words), and then choose one of 12 monthly plans (from $89/month for one 250 word blog post per week up to $2959/month for five 1200+ word blog posts per week).

Once signed up, clients enter desired blog post topics and/or keywords, and then wait for writers to submit content.  Once blog post submissions are received, the client has the option to accept posts, send them back to the writer for (unlimited) revisions, or reject posts altogether.  If there are multiple posts that the client approves of, they can be scheduled out for future posting.  For an additional fee, BlogMutt will create, review, and publish all content directly to the client’s blog for a hands-off option.

Writer Compensation

BlogMutt pays writers the following flat fees for each client-accepted blog post.  Payment is not available to the writer until the content actually posts – so, if you write a post that the client schedules for a month from now, you will not be eligible for payment on that post until one month out.

  • 250+ Words:  $8  (up to 3.2 cents/word)
  • 600+ Words:  $19  (up to 3.2 cents/word)
  • 900+ Words:  $40  (up to 4.4 cents/word)
  • 1200+ Words:  $72  (up to 6 cents/word)

All writers start at Level 1, meaning that they are only eligible to submit 250+ word blog posts for $8 each (if accepted).  As writers write a higher volume of high quality content, they earn points that eventually move up their level rankings and allow them to write longer posts.  A unique perk for writers is that they begin receiving shares of the company at Level 8.  

Assuming a company is on the base $89/month plan for one 250+ word blog post/week, this rate means that a Level 1 writer is being compensated at approximately 39% of what the client pays.  This is definitely on the lower end for some of the higher-paying content brokers (WriterAccess, for example, compensates at approximately 67% of the client’s rate for a Level 4  writer).

Also, the kicker is this: writers are only paid if the client accepts their blog post.  If a client rejects a post, for whatever reason, the writer is not paid.  BlogMutt estimates that this occurs roughly 10% of the time (obviously more for newer writers, and less for more seasoned writers).  What many writers will do when this occurs is re-purpose the content for another client, or move it to a personal blog.  But this takes additional time, which should be factored into the overall pay rate.

The upside is that BlogMutt pays promptly each week via PayPal, and I’ve experienced no issues getting paid.

Hiring Process

The hiring process for BlogMutt is very simple, a welcome relief from the writers-cramp I endured when applying to some of the other content brokers.  Prospective writers sign up for an online account and then complete a very brief online application requesting basic contact information, social media and blog links, and the answer to a one-question test.  That’s it!

I expected to hear back within a week or two, but was pleasantly surprised to receive an acceptance email within about a day.  The email included a link to an instructional video along with some tips – and then I was ready to go!

Finding Jobs

This is where BlogMutt really shines – it is so darn easy to find work!  The Writer’s Dashboard is by far the most user-friendly I have seen to date, with information on the writer’s level, points, content submissions, and available work.  “Urgent 7” work is highlighted, referencing clients who are in the most need of upcoming blog posts (perhaps improving writer chances of submission acceptance).  Outside of the Urgent 7, there are currently 29 pages of 30 clients each – all looking for content on a variety of topics.

Writers can search for work by filtering on columns listing the required number of posts needed, the number of posts currently in queue, minimum word count, days until next post is needed, and the client’s velocity (posting speed/frequency).  Writers can also search by specific topics and interests.  There is never an issue of not having enough work, and there are enough different topics to interest every writer.  I actually enjoy browsing through the list.

Because all writers are encouraged to write for any client of interest, there is no need to claim jobs at BlogMutt.  If you find a topic that you’re interested in writing about – go for it!  If the client receives multiple posts on the same topic, one or more will be selected.

Submitting Content

Once you select a client, you will be directed to a client page listing out desired blog post topics, keywords, and related articles to assist with research.  Additionally, each client lists their website, blog, and Twitter account information so that writers can get a better feel for voice, tone, and style.  Clients are also encouraged to provide other notes to help guide the writer in what they are looking for.  This all makes it extremely easy for a writer to have all the information needed right at their fingertips.

Another feature I love is the list of queued, posted, and rejected blog posts for each client.  This allows you to read through what the client liked, what they didn’t like, and their comments as to why.  Again, very helpful when working with a client for the first time.

BlogMutt is unique in that there are no deadlines.  Writers can pick a topic, start on it, stop it, pick it back up, etc. for as long as they want until they’re ready to submit.  I love this feature, as it eliminates the time pressure I sometimes feel with looming deadlines for other content brokers.  It allows me to write when I am ready and in the right frame of mind.

Once you have a post ready to go, you enter it into the BlogMutt text editor (I typically draft all my posts offline), ensure that the already embedded keywords are placed appropriately, and then submit for auto-review.  The auto-review will immediately identify any potential spelling or grammar errors which you are free to change or not.  Once that is done, you can then submit it to the client.

Client Response

Once content is submitted, the client has the opportunity to review and respond to it.  They may approve and schedule it, provide feedback or notes, or reject the copy altogether.  The client is also prompted (but not required) to rate the post 1-5 stars.  Fortunately for me, my content has so far been approved without comment, so I have not yet leveraged the messaging feature.  But I can easily see my submissions on the dashboard along with their statuses, such as posted, scheduled, or in review.  Again, a very intuitive dashboard that makes it clear where your submissions stand.

Once the post is published, your dashboard will reflect that and you will then become eligible for payment.

What I Like

  • Prompt weekly payment via PayPal
  • Great writers’ portal and dashboard – the best I have experienced for content brokers
  • Abundance of work always available for a multitude of clients, industries, topics, and interests
  • Necessary information to write a good post is all available right on the client’s page
  • No deadlines
  • No assignments
  • Short 250 word blog posts
  • Tight-knit online community of supportive fellow writers
  • Prompt client reviews
  • Straightforward application process
  • Interesting and engaging company blog
  • For committed writers, opportunity to eventually own company shares

What I Don’t Like

  • Low pay, especially at starting Level 1
  • No opportunity to join at any level higher than Level 1
  • Payment is contingent on the client’s acceptance of the work (some posts will be ultimately written without pay)
  • No writer attribution (standard with content brokers)
  • Volume of points needed to increase level rankings

Conclusion

Despite my initial trepidation, I am being won over by the benefits of writing for BlogMutt.  While starting writer pay is low, I value the fact that there is such a myriad of work available, and that I can write on my own time when it is convenient for me.  I appreciate not having the pressure of deadlines nor assignments, so that I can choose to write content for clients I’m interested in as I am able.  The site’s user interface is clean, intuitive, and actually enjoyable to browse, and the BlogMutt team appears to be very involved with the writers and in social media.

Overall, I recommend BlogMutt as one of multiple sources of work for freelance writers.  Considering the starting pay rate, additional writing sources will be needed for improved income opportunities.  On the bright side, $8 posts are only 250 words long – so as writers become more familiar with the system and ongoing clients, they should be able to knock out 2-3+ posts an hour.  And the benefits of interesting clients, a great system, varied topics, and an engaging community make BlogMutt a fun broker to work with.

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How I Cut Our Cell Phone Bill in Half

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Cut Cell Phone Bill in HalfDisclosure: This post contains affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no additional cost to you.  All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m a cell phone junkie.  I’ve been-there-done-that with almost every major carrier, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.  Each time I’m seduced by the new sexy phones and rock bottom pricing (until my initial contract is up, of course).  Then I end up sticking around out of – convenience? laziness? – for many years longer than I should.

So when our AT&T Wireless contract was ending a few months ago, I decided to try something different.  The monthly bill for my husband and I, including unlimited domestic minutes, web, and text, was $140/month including all fees and taxes – and I hoped to do better.  I had read about improvements in the pay-as-you-go cell phone plan space and thought that sounded like an intriguing and commitment-free option.  I soon learned that these providers are popping up everywhere!  After quite a bit of research, I finally narrowed my options down to: Republic Wireless, Cricket, and Boost Mobile.  For purposes of the simple cost comparison below, I only listed monthly pricing for unlimited minutes/text and a minimum of 2.0 GB high speed data.

WP Data Tables

While I really liked the Republic Wireless business model and was very intrigued by their refund plan (finally an incentive for limiting data usage!) I couldn’t get over the fact that I would be limited to purchasing one of their special cell phone models that allows for the seamless switch between WiFi and cellular data.  Currently, only two phone options are offered, neither of which were very appealing to me – and the fact that I would have to purchase all hardware upgrades through the provider was disappointingly reminiscent of my ties to the big carriers.  Also, I reminded myself that the $40/month plan does not include additional fees and taxes estimated at around 17%, which would bring my bill up closer to $47/month.  So I reluctantly ruled them out.

Cricket and Boost Mobile, however, were neck and neck for my business.  Pricing is comparable, with Cricket boasting $35/month for 2.5 GB of high speed data while Boost Mobile comes in at $30/month for 2.0 GB.  Both providers allow me to use any compatible unlocked phone, and both pricing models are inclusive of all fees and taxes (no hidden costs!)  One minor difference is that Cricket allows users to change their plans up to twice in one month, while Boost Mobile caps only one change per billing cycle; not a huge deal for me as I didn’t anticipate making frequent changes.  Ultimately, there were two factors that led me to go with Cricket:

  1. The Cricket plan allows for 0.5 GB more data a month.  This is not a huge amount; however when I checked our historical data usage with AT&T, I noticed that my husband and I were each hovering around 2.25-2.4 GB a month, which is over the limit set by Boost Mobile.
  2. Cricket is on the AT&T network, using AT&T cell phone towers, while Boost Mobile is on Sprint.  Having used both AT&T and Sprint as providers in the past, I knew that AT&T provided much better coverage in my home and community.

So Cricket it was going to be!  I started preparing for the switch.

Cut your #cell phone bill by 50% or MORE! Share on X

Upfront Costs

First I needed an unlocked phone.  I could have used my existing iPhone 5, which functioned just fine and would have been easy to unlock, but it had only 16 GB of data and I had long since realized that I needed much more.  I used the switch as an opportunity to purchase a new-to-me phone.

I had heard great things about Gazelle, a service providing certified pre-owned cell phones at a deeply discounted price, and decided to give it a try.  They also provide great payment for trade-ins to reduce the cost of a new-to-me phone further.  I found an unlocked 64 GB iPhone 5 in “Excellent” condition for $289.00, shipping included.  This was less expensive than the upgrade I was looking at with AT&T, with contract (granted, that was for a newer model phone, but I didn’t want/need the newer model).  I ordered the phone from Gazelle and it arrived within a few days, looked brand new, functioned perfectly, and I was extremely satisfied with the service.  If interested in trying it out for yourself, click below for more information:

The Smarter Way to Buy a Smart Phone!Next I went to my local Cricket store, unlocked cell phones for myself and my husband in hand.  I understood that I would be paying an additional $25 activation fee per device by activating in person instead of online ($0 activation if doing it yourself online), but I wanted to be sure it was all done correctly.  Within 10 minutes, I was all set up on both phones.

Hardware: $289.00 (husband chose to keep his existing phone)
Activation: $50.00 ($25 x 2 devices)
Total: $339.00 (less than just the upgraded phone alone would have been with my previous carrier)

Monthly Costs

I immediately downloaded the Cricket app and signed up for auto-pay to save $5/month per line while ensuring that the next month would be automatically charged to my credit card.  As advertised, my first and ongoing bills have been exactly $70.00/month for the two plans.  This is a savings of 50% over our previous plan, for the exact same AT&T network and towers.  A day before each amount is going to be charged, I receive a text message to remind me, as well as a text message right after the charge has been made.

What I Like

  • The cost!  We are saving 50% on the exact same usage and network we were using before.  Plus no additional fees/taxes – the advertised price is the price we pay.
  • The ability to save on upfront costs by trading in an old phone and purchasing an unlocked phone of my choice through Gazelle.
  • The ability to quickly see data usage details for both myself and my husband via the Cricket app.  We have never been close to going over, but it is nice to know that if I think we are going to, I can add on more data for the month.
  • The pre and post-billing text messages reminding and then confirming monthly payments.
  • The ability to pay my bill via credit card for points/rewards.
  • Having the option to use any unlocked compatible phone; not having to purchase the phone through Cricket.
  • Knowing that I can cancel at any time and switch carriers if a better deal comes along – no contracts nor long term commitments.

What I Don’t Like

  • The default Deezer add-on (at a monthly cost); I quickly removed and cancelled it, but if someone forgets, they may be charged for an app they didn’t really want/need.
  • The Cricket phone app could be more robust.  I wish I had the ability to change my plan directly within the app itself.

Conclusion

I love Cricket Wireless and feel we have the best prepaid plan for our needs right now.  The transition was seamless, the cell phone service has remained consistent, we can cancel at any time with no early termination fees, and the only change is the fact that we are saving $70/month on our cell phone bill.  I was also very satisfied with my Gazelle cell phone purchase, and plan to continue to use them when next looking for an upgrade.  If you are happy with Sprint’s coverage in your area, I recommend serious consideration for the Republic Wireless and Boost Mobile plans as well.  My guess is that prepaid cell phone plans and options will only continue to improve, and value will continue to increase across the board.

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How I Reduced Our Phone Bill to $10/Month (for Two Lines)

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Ooma ReviewDisclosure: This post contains affiliate links, earning me a small commission at no additional cost to you.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Home phones still exist.  Not for many, but for me they are a necessary evil.  As tempting as it is to go all-mobile all-the-time, I rely on my home phone lines for international long distance and for crystal-clear business calling (mobile reception isn’t great in our area).

Up until about two years ago, I was paying a bundled reduced price of $39.99/month for home VoIP service, including unlimited long distance within the United States and to Canada.  This price did not include taxes and fees, and was for only a single phone line.  But it was part of a home technology bundle and as such, I assumed I was getting the best price.

At the time I was working a corporate job from my home.  As my telecommuting arrangement had become full-time, it became necessary to have a dedicated business phone line.  My company agreed to a monthly stipend to cover the costs.  I called my VoIP provider for a quote to add the second line: it would be a $149.99 set-up fee (reduced from $199.99!) along with an additional $19.99/monthly, not including taxes and fees.  This would bring my monthly bill, for phone alone, to $59.98 before taxes and fees.  Wowzer!

I was sure I could do better.  Every dollar counts.  So I began researching alternative VoIP solutions, and narrowed it down to three options: Magic Jack, Vonage, and Ooma.  My criteria included quality, cost, free calling to Canada, and ease of setting up two separate lines.

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Based on my comparison, I was able to narrow it down to either Magic Jack or Vonage.  The higher monthly cost for Vonage (with only limited long distance to Canada) ruled it out altogether.

Pricing between Magic Jack and Ooma was comparable (although Ooma was less expensive upfront if buying the telephone and Linx units together).  But after a lot of research on online forums and in product reviews, the Ooma service and quality appeared to significantly stand out above Magic Jack.  In fact, Ooma advertises “Pure Voice Technology,” which includes High Definition (HD) Voice and allows for excellent voice quality even on substandard or overloaded internet connections.  In addition, I was impressed with Ooma’s support section which offered a wide array of help information, along with 1:1 Chat if necessary (Magic Jack also offers Chat).

So I made the decision to go with Ooma, and haven’t looked back.

Upfront Purchase

  • I paid $179.99 for the initial telephone and Linx units (Linx required for a second line).
  • It may be worthwhile checking out pricing at stores like Amazonor Costco, as I’ve since seen Ooma units for sale there as well.

Set Up

  • Easy!
  • I initiated the phone number porting process online for my existing home phone number.  Although they said it could take up to several weeks for the number to successfully port, it was ported within a few days.
  • I selected my new number online for my business line, and had that ready almost immediately.
  • Once I received the Ooma hardware, I had the telephone unit connected and set up within minutes.  All test calls worked and sounded great.
  • The Linx set-up was a bit more difficult as it wouldn’t seem to activate no matter what I did.  I chatted online with Ooma support (very fast and friendly) and they walked through some troubleshooting steps.  When that didn’t work, they immediately shipped a new Linx unit out overnight under the agreement that I would return the one in my possession.
  • Upon receiving the new Linx unit, it worked perfectly, and I was up and running within a few minutes.  I tested two simultaneous calls on both lines, and all was fine.  I tested bandwidth by streaming video on all computers, televisions, and handheld devices in the home while again making two simultaneous calls on both lines, and all was fine.

Performance Over Time

  • In the two years that I have been using Ooma, there has been one significant glitch when the phone lines were completely down.  It was for about 1-2 hours one weekday morning, and Ooma was good about messaging updates on their site.  This was an inconvenience, especially for work, as I had to use my back up mobile phone for calls.
  • Occasionally when I pick up the phone, the screen will flash with a “Busy” notice and I will hear a fast beep.  This is not unique to Ooma, as I had this experience with my previous VoIP provider as well.  When this occurs, I hang up and then pick up again, and all is well.
  • There have been a few times (4-5 that I can recall) when the party on the other end of the phone says that my voice is cutting out, although I can hear them just fine.  About that same number of times, there have been glitches where I am on calls and the speaker’s voice cuts out for 3-7 seconds at a time.  Typically the next call is fine.  As it has happened infrequently (and only on my second business line), I have not looked into why this occurs or how to troubleshoot.
  • Voice quality on calls is excellent; no difference from previous VoIP or landline providers.

Monthly Cost

  • My monthly phone bill is $10.06/month, all inclusive.

What I Like

  • The low cost for two separate VoIP lines coming into my home.
  • Unlimited calling throughout the U.S. and Canada.
  • The fact that the numbers go with me; when I am traveling I can make calls using my Ooma numbers from my cell phone to avoid international long distance charges to Canada.  My Caller ID shows up with the home/business (not cell phone) numbers in these cases.
  • The mobile and online apps – very intuitive and many options available.  I especially like listening to voicemail over the app.
  • Call forwarding, blocking, and caller blacklists for telemarketers are very helpful.
  • The service and responsive support I receive from Ooma.

What I Don’t Like

  • The voice cutting in/out technical glitches.  While very infrequent, it always seems to occur when I’m on a very important phone call.
  • The instance when both lines were hard down.

Conclusion

  • I love Ooma!  I would never go back to home/business VoIP service with one of the traditional providers again.
  • Outstanding cost for value.
  • I’m really happy about the ability to keep and bring my numbers with me for life (no more new numbers!)
  • I’ve become reliant on the online and phone apps for call/voicemail/phone line management.
  • In retrospect and based on even more reviews from friends about Magic Jack, I am so happy I went with Ooma.
  • Make the switch and slash your phone bill!  If you only need one line, I’m told the cost is approximately $4/month.  Less than a coffee!


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