Ever since I moved in with J, I've used my cell phone less. I just analyzed my last 4 months of usage, and I'm averaging less than 150 minutes per month - TOTAL. I use my office line to make calls during the day or e-mail friends ... and during the weekends/evenings I'm usually with J.
I currently pay $18/month for my cell phone (200 anytime minutes + unlimited weekends starting at 6pm), plus $5 for unlimited evenings (starting at 6pm) and $6 for 125 sent text messages. After all fees and crap, my bill comes to around $42. Well, I could eliminate $5 just by getting rid of unlimited evenings. And as for text messaging - well I use about 60-70 text messages/month. The $3 plan comes with 60, and the $6 plan comes with 125. So I'm kind of in the middle. I don't want to go lower with text messaging b/c it's too expensive if some months I end up going over.
So here's my dilemma. Should I pay the $5/month for the security that if I did ever go over my minutes, I'd have that cushion? Or do I get rid of my cushion and go bare bones. Half of me is saying, it's only $5. That's a small price to pay for the security of never going over my minutes. But the other half of me is saying that I never go over my minutes, so that $5 is better off with me.
Labels: saving money
13 comments:
I would weigh the cost of your carrier's overage charges, the likelihood (based on your history) of an overage and then see whether or not that $5 is worth your peace of mind.
Depends on how much each overage minute costs. Does your network allow rollover minutes? I usually keep a buffer and when I accrue a lot of rollover minutes, I reduce the rate plan for a couple of months and use them and then bring it back to what it was earlier.
But to be honest, I wouldn't lose sleep over paying $5
I'd ditch that $5. How much would it be if you did go over?
Love your blog! I've overcome a mountain of debt myself, so I know some of the struggles and the rewards of hitting that debt-free goal :-) In terms of the cell, have you looked into prepaid plans? There's something to be said for paying only for exactly what you use. Not sure how many providers include texting in their prepaid plans, but might be worth a look.
I would just keep the cushion. $5/month for phone minutes "insurance" isn't that bad.
I agree with TK - take into account what you would be charged for overage minutes as well as your past history with going over/not going over and then decide. It's only $5/month...but that's still $60/year!
You've just committed to paying off a $30,000 car so why would you care about an extra $5?
Is it too late, by the way, to buy a cheap second hand car? Your networth will thank you for it.
It's true that, if you waste $5 here and there often enough, you will eventually be out significant money that you could have put towards luxuries that you really want.
However, if you ever go over, you will likely spent many months worth of $5 charges all at once on just a few calls. I went over my minutes once. I was charged an extra $25.
It's your call, but you can't always control people who call you or time that you have to stay on hold or whatever.
"You've just committed to paying off a $30,000 car so why would you care about an extra $5?"
Well said, Enza.
Well, if you do text alot, i'd just keep it. That being said, if you could just simply monitor your texting, then I'd cut it. That's what I do. I make sure I don't go over my 50 alotted and that's that.
haha. She's saving $5 here on cell bill and skipping lunches with co-workers. That's a lot of $5 u gotta save for $30K wasted. It's almost like all the penny pinching was futile. Oh well, gotta get transportation for the hiking trips while they last right?
Penny: What you're saying doesn't even make sense. Just because I made a big purchase doesn't mean I'm not going to try to save money in my every day life.
I don't think I "wasted" $30k. If you do, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.
I did not blog in over 11 months, and first thing that came to mind when I visited your blog was if you're still together with J. Glad to see you guys are still going strong. :))