Leap of Faye

A Journey

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.

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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.

WP Data Tables

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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How I Cut My Cable and Internet Costs by 50%

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How I Cut Cable & Internet Costs 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 guilty.  I couldn’t live without my television nor my home internet service.  From the dramas to the the movies to the reality TV shows (the trashier the better!), I’m completely sucked in.  And internet – how could I even work without home wifi service?  Or browse Facebook or Twitter or email?  It’s as much a necessity as gas or water.  My sci-fi and newsflash addicted husband would agree.

But it comes at a cost.  Up until we made some changes about a year and a half ago, we were spending $162.87/month on DirecTV and Verizon FiOS service.  And this was actually a savings over our former Time Warner cable service.  All that entertainment ain’t cheap!

So I began looking into how to lower our costs.  But for our services, it appeared that we were at or better than the going rate for other cable/internet provider packages.  The only way to save some real cash would be to – don’t gasp – cut cable.

But we weren’t the cutting type.  We loved cable!  What do cable-cutters DO in their down time??  Stare at a blank TV screen?  Play Scrabble?  Not horrible pursuits, but an arguably far second to watching dramatic classics such as RHOBH.

But after talking to some friends who had survived the cut (and still seemed happy!) we decided to give it a shot.  Heck, the two little ones were keeping us busy anyway.  After several nights of anxiety and cold sweats, I made the call to cancel our service with DirecTV.  I also called Verizon to increase our FiOS internet speed.

And guess what… We have never looked back!  My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.  It has been financially one of the best money-saving moves we have made, with little to no impact on our television viewing habits.

So how can it be done with minimal pain?

SLASH your #internet and #cable costs in HALF! Share on X
  • Purchase a streaming media player.  I ultimately went with the Roku 3 Streaming Media Player  for our primary television, and a Roku 3500R Streaming Stick for the bedroom.  There are many media players out there, but the reasons I ultimately selected the Roku were the breadth of both public and secret channels available, along with the very nice feature of being able to filter on Amazon Prime movies and shows (to avoid additional costs).  A year and a half in, I would go with the Roku again, but would likely only purchase the Roku streaming stick.  I’ve not noticed any tangible difference in performance between the stick and the Roku 3, the stick is more portable, and sells for half the cost.
  • Load the Roku with preferred free public and private channels.  Once you set up your Roku, you will be prompted to select public channels of interest.  There are many for any interests, including entertainment, news, radio, games, hobbies, etc, etc.  I like Roku Guide for a listing of currently available public channels.  But where the real fun comes in is with the private channels.  Don’t worry – there is no exclusive club you have to be a part of to find these – you just need to know where to find them.  I use mkvXstream to easily find and add channels of interest.
  • Add any paid channels of interest.  And there are many options available depending on your budget and interests.  Using value as my key criteria for adding a paid channel, I selected and still maintain these three:

    Amazon.  The great news for Amazon Prime members is that your membership already includes free programming!  And Roku, unlike some other streaming media devices, makes it easy to filter by only the included (free) programming.  No commercials!  Once the show/movie is loaded, you can watch it without interruption.  I’m a huge fan of Amazon for many reasons, and this is yet another.
    • Netflix.  My husband already had a Netflix account, so we simply added it to the Roku.  With Netflix, no filtering is required as all streaming shows and movies are included with your membership.  An added bonus is that Netflix has a huge section just for kids’ programming that includes many of my childrens’ favorite shows and series.  Like Amazon, no commercials here.
    • Hulu Plus: This is the paid version, not to be confused with the free online version of Hulu (sans the “Plus”).  I hesitated about purchasing this channel as it does include commercials, but am glad I did.  Hulu Plus specializes in popular TV shows and series, airing new episodes they day after they air on traditional cable (unlike Netflix or Amazon, which can take months).  And while there are indeed commercials to deal with, there are typically only 1-3 per segment, so not as annoying as I had anticipated.
  • Upgrade your internet speed if necessary.  With all of this streaming, you’re going to need enough bandwidth to handle it all!  Fortunately we already had a high-speed package in place through Verizon FiOS, but decided to upgrade for an even better experience.  After going to 100/100 Mbps, we have virtually no buffering time no matter how many devices are streaming at the same time.
  • Purchase a digital antenna.  If you or your family are anything like us, it’s going to be a tough sell giving up your favorite live sports.  Fortunately, you don’t have to!  We purchased a Mohu Leaf 50 Indoor HDTV Antenna, and it immediately gave us crystal clear access to an additional 100+ local channels (without rabbit ears!)  Instead, the antenna is a thin square that can be hidden behind the TV itself.  We haven’t missed a favorite live match yet!

And that’s all there is to it – now you’re ready to start watching!  Take control of your viewing habits by watching only the shows and channels you want, when you want to.  Is there a favorite series that is missing on one of the free public or paid channels?  No problem – simply buy the episode a la carte via Amazon or your favorite provider, or just purchase the entire series!

And how does the cost savings add up for us?

    • Former Cable + Internet Bundle Monthly Costs: $162.87 bundling services provided by DirecTV and Verizon FiOS.
    • Current Television + Internet + Paid Channel Monthly Costs: $81.97, a savings of 50%!  Note that this does not include the annual $99 fee for Amazon Prime, as that is something I already had and used for reasons outside of this.  This does include the $8.99 monthly fee for Netflix, although that was also a pre-existing cost we maintained prior to cutting cable.

And what about the detailed upfront and monthly costs?

Upfront Costs

Ongoing Monthly Costs

    • Netflix:  $8.99
    • Hulu Plus:  $7.99
    • Verizon FiOS 100/100 Mbps:  $64.99 (the less expensive 50/50 plan should also be adequate for streaming)
    • Our Total Monthly Costs = $81.97

I highly recommend making the switch.  In addition to the cost savings, we are more purposeful in our television and movie watching (vs. simply staring blankly at whatever happens to be on the screen).  The children’s programming alone has been a huge convenience – favorite movies and shows can be started and stopped at any time.  Best of all, your programming comes with you!  Simply tuck the Roku 3500R Streaming Stick in a pocket or purse to have all your favorites available on any television.  For us, it’s been a win all around.

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