This question comes from my reader Tara….
I thought maybe it would be great to get info from your readers about different cell phone plans.
We have had Sprint for 2 years now and after a military discount we pay $139 a mionth for 2 Blackberry’s. Our contract was up last month, and want to keep our smartphones (because I seriously can’t live without it haha) but do a pay as you go. I have compared some different plans, but I would love to know what some of your readers do. DH and I never use any of our anytime minutes, we are more texters and then I am the internet surfing fool who uses so many data minutes it’s crazy (thank goodness it’s covered in the plan). So really paying $139 a month is a waste of our money.
Tara says
Thanks so much for all of the great responses! I sent this in months ago, and even though our contract with Sprint is up, we still haven’t stopped it. But after talking with my husband, I think by July Sprint will be gone. I’ve been with Sprint since 2001 and stopped in 2005 when we moved overseas. Overseas we both had prepaid phone and it worked out well for us, as we only used it to call each other and to text. They were not Smartphones. I don’t even think I knew what a Smartphone was until we came back to the States in 2009 and my husband wanted one because all the guys at work had them. lol Now I am addicted to the unlimited data, etc.
We own our phones with Sprint (as we have had them for more then 2 years) can we keep the phones and do pay as you go with Virgin, or do you need to buy phones from them? Thanks!
RK says
We are no longer on a plan at all. About a year ago, my husband bought a new phone — a smartphone — and I got my old AT&T phone unlocked. (I’d had it for years, plus I needed it unlocked to go to Mexico anyway, so I didn’t feel bad about it.)
We bought prepaid phone cards for T-Mobile. It was something like $100 for 1100 minutes or something. I think we had a year to use the minutes, and it took me about 9 months to use mine. Not sure how long it took my husband to get through his card.
It’s kind of fun, seeing how long we can stretch our minutes. I make a point to always use a landline phone if I can. If I’m at my parents and need to call my husband at home, then I will use their phone to call him on our landline phone. It took some practice to get used to doing that instead of just whipping out my cell. At work, I use my desk phone. (Our building gets terrible cell reception anyway.)
I know some would say we’re wasting money by having a landline. But not only do we save a lot on our cell phones with the landline, but I will never give it up for the following reasons:
(1) So long as we have young children, that’s the only phone I want them. I’m not going to give them cell phones, and I don’t want their friends calling my cell.
(2) It’s hard to lose/drop/forget a landline phone.
(3) If your landline phone breaks, you can borrow one or buy a cheap one and plug it right in. Your service is BUILT IN to the house, not the phone unit itself.
(4) Essential for emergencies, especially if you have a non-GPS cell phone like I do.
(5) Sometimes it’s nice to be able to call a family instead of a single person. I know that my mother hates having to “choose” who to call. She just wants to be able to call our house and see who picks up. She also hates the awkwardness of calling a cell and not knowing where the person is when they pick up!
(6) Sometimes the power goes out, so no cell recharging, but the phone lines keep working.
RK says
Oh, and phone cards sometimes go on sale or have special deals (like get a gift card when you buy one). We always stock up at these times.
monica says
i got cricket!!! was paying over 100$ for t-mobile. now i pay 45 for unlimited talk txt and net!!! service is iffy in some spots but definitely worth the money saved
Cathy says
I know this may not help right now, but I highly suggest finding a plan with a company you like and sticking with them for the long haul.
My family has been with AT&T for 8 years now. Every 2 years when the contract has come up we shopped around and everyone said they couldn’t beat the deal. We have 1200 minutes, free nights and weekends shared between 3 phones. I also have a blackberry for work/school purposes with unlimited text and internet (now a lot of plans have switched to making you choose how much data you use)….for all of that we pay about $150. If we dropped my internet/text (which I won’t be doing, but just so you have an idea), our bill would be $100.
The downside to this is that we are locked in with these minutes and these plans. We really don’t need that many minutes, but if we change our plan, we get the current rate. The rates for the minutes are 8 years old and the text/internet is 2 years old. We are happy with our plan and as long as the phone works in the hospital I am moving to we will not be changing. Hope this helps, I know I rambled :).
CJ says
We have US Cellular and We are on my Father-in-laws plan. My hubby has a HTC desire and I have a regular phone(he needs the internet for work I don’t.) for unlimited text free incoming calls and internet on one phone. For our portion of the bill it is $90 a month. If you have someone to spilt a family plan with it works out perfect I think my father-in-law said for the 5 phones, unlimited text, internet on 2 phones, insurance on the phones, free long distance and 3000 minutes it is approx $250 a month.
klmassoni says
We have Verizon with 4 phones. No smart or blackberry. I’m the only 1 who texts and the other 3 probably don’t use 100 minutes between them. I was considering pay as you go when my contract is up next month. I’m paying around $180 month. I’m so glad you posted this. I immediately went through Shop at Home and bought 3 phones for 14.99 each and 1 for me to text for 49.99. I can get unlimited text for $25mo and $20mo 400min plans for the others. This brings my bill down to around $85mo. Thank you!!!!
Karen says
For the shop @ home phones who is going to be the provider? and if it is still Verizon this is awesome. My older sons reg text/talk ph got washed and we are int he middle of contract. His dad used his upgrade and we are royally ((&^%##$^* on the deal. it is $299 for any cheap ph. and my son needs a phone we live out in the middle of nowhere and when i am not home he needs to be able to call me.
Tracey says
This is something we’ve just done! We had Verizon for 10 years! The bill was outrageous, so we switched to Sprint. We’ve had them for 2 years, and again, my bill was creeping up to the $200 mark every month, with 3 lines. The bill was so expensive for us, I couldn’t afford to have my INSURED phone fixed because it had a $100 deductible! So, my husband and I decided we were going to install a landline (something we haven’t had in over 5 years) I called Comcast (who held my internet account) They informed me that I can have the internet (currently paying $76 a month ALONE) ALONG with the landline for $39.95 a month for 1 YEAR, $59.95 for the second year, if I agreed to a 2 year contract. SAVING $40 a month from JUST my internet? GREAT! Where do I sign? LOL Anyway, then I walked into the Metro PCS store. They have a sale on the Android. NO activation fees, no state or local taxes.. Buy the phone, $99 for 1 $149 for 2, and your bill is $50 for one or $90 for two with all the bells and whistles, no worrying about limits, INCLUDING internet and navigation! THIS mommy is VERY happy!!!
Julie says
We have straight talk, too, and my husband and I use the $30 plan each, which is 1000 minutes per month (per plan), 1000 texts, and some large amount of data. We have never come close to going over, and together with the taxes it is around $65 per month for the two of us. We have been very happy with it, but double check verizon’s service map to make sure it is good for you (there is a stretch in Kentucky where you have no service, for example, but for us, we went from getting no signal in our basement with AT&T to having great signal). You can buy your phone online or at Walmart (same with the setting up service).
Alicia says
I’ve used Boost Mobile since Feb 2010 – it’s ok, I guess. I wanted a Blackberry but didn’t want the high cost data plans with other providers. I use my BB mostly for texts & the calendar – I love having my schedule right in my hand. Sometimes I use it for e-mails, until I get frustrated with the phone dinging all the time! lol I rarely use it for internet usage, but it has been handy a few times when out and about away from the pc I guess. Boost also runs on the Sprint network so if you have it and have good signal now, you’d probably be ok. I get virtually no signal at work or in my home, but I’m ok otherwise. But at work & home I have a landline, so it works for the most part.
My plan is $60/month – flat! Unlimited everything. They have the new shrinkage plan where your rate goes down as you pay it on time each month. So eventually I can have an Unlimited BB Plan for $35 a month… it just takes about a year of so to get there, I think.
Thrisha says
We have T-Mobile. We have 4 lines, two normal phones and two smartphones. We have unlimited text and web, and 600 monthly minutes. For all lines, including tax, we pay $140 a month. We live kind of in the middle of no where and many cell phone providers have iffy coverage. T-Mobile has good coverage for us, though.
I think it is a pretty good deal!
Jessica Darnell says
I had an iPhone for 4 years and paid over $100/month for my service. Do the math and that’s $4800 for a CELL PHONE BILL???? I got smart, looked at my finances and decided that I didn’t really need the iPhone. More importantly, I needed that extra money. So, I got a basic cell phone with a basic plan and pay around $45/month. That extra $50/month that I am saving goes to my son’s college savings account! Best decision I ever made.
julie creamer says
For our “Landline” we use OOMa. It is similar to Magic Jack, but better. It works on your internet, which we pay $20 a month for, and the computer does not have to be on. OOMA has call waiting, caller id, and voicemail. We bought it on special at Costco for $220, So you could say it was about $50 a month for 4 1/2 months and now it is free. We have had it for 2 years so we could say it has saved us $950 over the past 2 years.
Also, we were able to choose what area code we wanted. So even though I live in Virginia I have a southern Nevada phone number. This means my calls to my family are considered local and I don’t have to use my cell phone for long distance.
For our cellulars we use page plus. Basically, they made a deal with Verizon when verizon was just starting up and they use their network. Anywhere you can get coverage with Verizon you can get with Page plus. You prepay your minutes and they range 4c and 10c a minute depending on how much time you buy. They don’t offer anything fancy, just the basic cell phone and text message. You cannot do picture messages or the internet so that will not work for a lot of people, but it works for us. We spend about $6 a month on phone service.
Hilary says
What an awesome post!! I have Verizon and have for a very very long time. They have excellent customer service. I get 450 minutes (39.99 plan), 25 meg of data(adds 9.99) adn 200 texts/picture messages(adds another 5.00) and pay around $63 total with taxes. From this post I think I’m paying way too much. I might just be on the phone with them this afternoon trying to decrease that a little.
Thanks everyone for the information!!
Marina says
I use a pay as you go phone with TMobile. The charges are not monthly. They are per minute. When you first use the service, minutes that you buy have to be used in the first month or so. But later, you reach “Gold” status for sticking with them (happened pretty quickly for me) , so my last purchase of minutes is good for something like 6 months, though I know that I will refill before then. I find it helpful as where I live the coverage is good, and I never pay for minutes that I don’t use. However, I do not have a smartphone, just a call and text phone, so this may not be available for a smartphone.
Bernadette Peck says
I have straight talk. It’s $45 a month for unlimited voice,data, and text. They have smart phones available with this service. I live in Ohio and on our last drive to Florida I didn’t lose service once. I recently found out that this service uses the verizon network.
Jennifer says
I love Straight Talk which uses Verizon towers-so I have service in my rural home. I have the plain slide phone, but want a smartphone. Anyone else have a smartphone on a prepaid plan?
Sloane says
I pay $45 a month for unlimited texting, calls, and Internet. It’s with Straight Talk by Wal Mart. All you do is purchase the phone then buy the $45 service card each month. It’s super affordable and you can even get a smartphone out of it:)!
Wendy says
45 per phone for unlimited everything? WOW! I may have to look into this…
Cindy says
I have Verizon now and I too need a cheaper plan. I see a LOT of people are happy with Virgin Mobile and my husband and I were too a few years ago. Their pricing was fine but their customer service was horrible. I had a high dollar plan with them and after about 6 months we decided we never used all the minutes and wanted to go to a cheaper plan. So we called them and they took care of it all over the phone. When I checked my account balance a few days later the new plan was charged to my account and so was another month of the previous plan. I called and talked to at least 5 of the customer service reps and they all came to the conclusion that there was nothing they could do for me. They would not give me a refund.
I told them that my daughter had just had major heart surgery at the age of 2 weeks old and my husband and I had both lost our jobs due to the time away from work. I needed the phone to keep in contact with the hospital and with my parents. The extra money they took out was causing a huge hardship. One of the customer service people actually told me that my situation was not their problem. I canceled my service on that day and have never used them again. I know to them I was just another number and they didnt need me, but I had hoped that they would have had some decency and just refunded the money that was stolen from my account by their mistake.
Jennifer says
We have a family plan (5 phones) with Verizon, been with them for 6 years. We have unlimited text, 2000 shared min., and a certain amount of internet usage (can’t remember how much). We have 3 smart phones on the plan and 2 regular phones. We pay right at $300 a month for all of it (split bill with my parents because they have the 2 regular phones and my brothers have the other 2 smart phones.) But we are wanting to change to something cheaper. Hard to find for 5 phones. So when our contract is up this year we are either switching to Straight talk or Virgin Mobile/Sprint. I think the straight talk would work better for us because of the unlimited talk. We just didn’t know if we could use smart phones with the plans, but I see from other post you can have them. Thanks.
Anecia says
Another vote for Virgin Mobile! My husband and I both have android phones and the $25/month plan. We’ve been happy with our service and LOVE the savings!
Christine says
Two thumbs way up for Virgin Mobile. They use the Sprint network so anywhere your phones worked before — they will work now. If you need unlimited talk time — it’s about $50 a line. It has been the greatest answer ever for me and my two teenagers. We need unlimited texting but hardly ever talk on the phone so the $25 plan is awesome for us.
Molly says
I have a pre-paid Virgin Mobile phone. $25 per month will give you unlimited texting, unlimited surfing (unlimited data), unlimited email. For that price, they give you 300 talk minutes. So basically, you could have that plan on each phone, and pay $50/mo for both phones. You would have 600 minutes combined. If you need more minutes than that, you pay more. The website has further info. I like Virgin Mobile, but reception varies. It depends on your location.
Heather says
I use Virgin Mobile. It is a grandfathered plan that I have had about 5 years. They deduct $6.99 from my balance each month and 10 cents per minute. I barely use a cell. I might use 20 minutes a month if that. Every three or four months I buy a $30 Virgin card and reload. We have unlimited calling on our landline to anywhere in the country so I usually use my home phone. My cell I just use on the road. My husband has a blackberry that his work pays for. So we have no cell bill except my prepaid. I use my Ipod touch for web surfing , music, games just like an iPhone. The only difference I can’t make calls on it, and have to be near a wifi spot.
Amy says
Straightalk has unlimited talk text and internet for a 45.00 card every 30 days per phone.
Chris B says
I’d second the Virgin Mobile option if you don’t use too many minutes. Unlimited text, picturemail, web, and gps. Virgin Mobile operates in the US on the Sprint network, so you’re already used to the coverage.
Shirley B says
switch to AT&T!! Bundle or sign up for family plan!
Donna says
we swtiched from a landline and ATT for two pay as you go phones. I have a regular keyboard phone and my husband has a touch screen android phone. We go through Virgin Mobile. Because neither of us talk much on the phone we have the $25 a month prepaid calling plan. It allows for unlimited texting and internet and 300 minutes a month of talking. Also the cards are sold at Target and about once a month they go on sale so you pretty much save on the sales tax. We also use our Target debit card that allows for an extra 5% off as well. Its been working pretty well for us. So we pay about $46 a month for both phone plans. Plus we bought the phones at Target and bought them when they are on sale.
Donna says
oh and I was able to keep my same number and transfer it to Virgin Mobile.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
That sounds like a pretty good deal :)
Donna says
$46 was just what we were paying for my cell phone bill alone before we switched. Plus another $50 for our landline. Huge savings. All thanks to my hubby who did all the research.
Jenny says
We switched to AT&T and signed up for a family plan with 2 of our closest friends. WIth 4 of us on the plan- we pay less than if just my husband and I were on a plan separately. With all of the extras that at&t offers- free at&t to at&t calling, our fave 10, rollover minutes, and free calling to any mobile number- we NEVER even come close and have been able to downgrade to several cheaper plans over the last few months. It has been very easy and saves a ton of money for us!
Heather says
what is the target debit card?
Sarah Curtis says
Heather, the Target debit cards are awesome!!!!! You can apply for one at Target. It is just like a debit card but you can only use it at Target. It links to your bank account and comes out as an ACH usually three days after you use it (I guess that depends on your bank). You get 5% off your purchase every time you use it. Doesn’t sound like alot but if you shop at Target as much as I do it really adds up! If you use Target pharmacy, you get a 5% off shopping day pass for every 5 prescriptions you fill and you can use that with the other 5% too. You can also sign up for the donations to your kids school just like with the credit card. I highly recommend it. I have had mine for 3 years (I actually signed up for it at a Target stop in Savannah, Ga on our way to Disney :)) and I love it!!
Donna says
The Target debit card is used like a check card. It comes right out of your checking account. Not credit. There is no fee and no interest. You can only use it in stores and not online. And another bonus is that you go onto their website, choose a school of your choice and percentage of your purchase will be donated to that school. This is the only store we don’t use cash so we can get that extra 5% off.
Donna says
Its a target check card. Comes straight from your checking account. No credit fees or interest. You can only use it in store and not online. And you can choose a school and Target will donate a percentage of your purchase to your school of choice.
micaela says
i also have the android phone from virgin mobile for $25 a month! it’s wonderful!!
lisa m says
i was paying rediculous money for a cell phone for me and dd through verizon. we switched to virgin moble too. i also got a magic jack (phone service thru the internet) for $40. the $40 included a year of phone service with unlimited calls and long distance. next year i will only be paying $19.95 for our house phone thru magic jack. with virgin mobile my daughter got 300 minutes a month and unlimited texting, web, and data. we also can use her cell in disney and virgin mobile uses the sprint network. we have been making most of our calls through the magic jack so that we dont have to worry about going over our minutes on the cell.
lisa m says
also forgot to mention that magic jack includes voicemail, caller id, and call waiting for free. dd’s vigin mobile phone also has free voicemail etc…