the only way to win is not to play at all
Back in the day, we were using SBC (previously IL Bell, then Ameritech, now AT&T) for phone service and DSL. We had a $80/month shared cell plan with the splat and were using cell phones for all our long distance needs. Even doing that, we had 400 minutes between us a month with rollover and we weren’t using our minutes fast enough.
So this is what we did: Dropped SBC like a hot horseshoe, got cable service, cable modamn, VOIP. More channels, better programs, way faster interweb, $25 for unlimited monthly local & long distance to the US & Canadia. Both our cells were unlocked GSM, so we went with T-Mobile prepaid with $100 top up cards (10 cents/minute). At first I was pretty nervous as to how long we’d make it on our prepaid minutes, but when you only use your cell phone sparingly and only when you’re out and about (oot & aboot for my Canadien readers) and use your home phone for 99% of all your calls, 1000 minutes lasts a long time. And that’s with no free mobile-to-mobile minutes, no free text messages. I even have to pay for the airtime when I check my voicemail.
359 days later, I just had to top mine up. Yes, I had five minutes left and they were about to expire. It took almost one calendar year to use up my thousand minutes. This plan has been an unqualified success as we’re saving money over the way we used to have service.
Hmm… I use T Mobile… I should try that. The longer I own a mobile phone, the shorter my calls become.
Hey, how do you like your VW? I’m driving a 1995 Volvo 850 and was SORELY tempted by the new GTI. Test drove one…. good lord.
Comment by coffeeguzzler — 2006 Oct 13 @ 14:13:07 -0600
I can’t say enough about switching to their prepaid. A few caveats you should be aware of, however:
1. You can’t roam off T-Mobile towers, although I have been able to make and receive some calls while out of tmob’s range (and on the tower of one of their roaming partners) but voicemail was no-go
2. It only makes sense to go prepaid if you top up with $100 each time. All the lower top-ups have ridiculous per minute charges. With the hundred dollar card, you get a thousand minutes, so they’re ten cents each. And yes, you pay for every call regardless if it’s incoming, outgoing or just to check your voicemail.
Funny you should mention your car. I traded in my 1995 Volvo 850 on the Golf TDI. The Golf is a superior machine in every respect except for not being paid off. It’s only after I’ve gotten rid of it that I can honestly agree with other widespread opinions that the 850 was a half-baked idea and strictly mediocre in execution.
Personally I won’t willingly go back to a gasoline-powered vehicle. VW’s diesel-engined cars are absolutely fantastic vehicles, providing unmatched performance, economy & longevity.
Comment by chicago ted — 2006 Oct 54 @ 10:54:47 -0600
I also have a Tmobile prepaid phone and the cost of the prepaid cards is really burning a hole in my pocket. However, if your disciplined enough to only use the minutes when necessary that is a great way to save money. I think I’m going to try skype for long distance and just carry my small laptop around with my Verizion broadband internet.
Comment by cellular — 2007 Nov 29 @ 07:29:51 -0600
Well, like I said, we ain’t big cell talkers. Tmo prepaid don’t make any sense if you’re a heavy talker/texter.
We considered Skype for long distance at home, but we don’t dig talking only at the computer. We actually switched back to a landline & DSL but after a few months got sick and tired of the deathstar’s constant screwups, so while we’ve kept a barebones landline (for DSL), we’re calling 100% of the time on our Packet8 VOIP and in the rare occasions when we need to make a mobile call or send an SMS, using our tmo prepaid plans.
Comment by ted — 2007 Nov 39 @ 01:39:52 -0600