Hey there TBP’ers – I wanted to share something with you all about how you can reduce your cell phone service to just $180 per year.
We do this – and it’s via Mint Mobile.
(If you like this – please sign up via our link – we get referral credits!)
Why Mint Mobile is better than all the rest
One – those “Straight Talk” or similar “pay as you go” plans available at places like Walmart – are rubbish. Still over $500 a year, and no better than this plan.
Two – They literally force you to re-think your cell phone addiction. Anyone that is watching “full-length feature films” on a postcard-sized phone is a moron. Are you that addicted to entertainment that you need to watch anywhere? WTF?
We get 3gb of “data” a month for that $15. We rarely go over (one time – when we let someone else “borrow” our phone! F-them!)
The $180 per year is a nice “set it and forget it” system.
We LOVE not thinking about yet another bill each month.
How to not use so much mobile data
Because people are consuming so much mobile data using high-bandwidth applications (most people refer to as “Apps”), and the privacy-robbing data they steal from you without consent – there are better ways.
- DON’T USE YOUR PHONE EXCEPT AT HOME! Especially for apps or browsers. Phone calls and texts do not use much data at all.
- USE HOTSPOTS if possible. Find hotspots if you can (if you have home internet – they are available countrywide).
- WIFI at home exclusively. You can set most phones to not use mobile data unless there is no wi-fi.
Plus – we’re poor – and need all the help we can get!
Honestly – we’re not just posting this because we want to share a GREAT way to save a shitload of money each year. We’d do that no matter what. We love sharing good tips.
But we also need a few referrals. Why? Because money is not good for us at the moment here in the great state of New Jersey.
With multiple kids and a homestead to maintain – we’re in need of a little help. And I’m asking the TBP community for a little assistance. No – no handouts (unless you’re feeling generous). But if we get just FIVE (5) sign-ups – we get a free year of service, which would help us tremendously.
I know mobile phones have become an almost indispensible “tool” for almost everyone – and that 3gb, 8gb, or ever 12gb of bandwidth each month probably pales in comparison to the usage one might get with “unlimited” plans that places like Verizon or AT&T can charge over $200 a month for. But this still works for many people.
And if you agree – please sign up and help us out. At least we’re being transparent about it. (You can even sign up for a 3-month plan and cancel and curse me out if it sucks!)
Thanks, guys, and I hope this all works out well.
My cell is wifi only. Wife is at&t because of coverage area, and the fact she gobbles mass data for work. Sends and recieves hundreds of pages of spreadsheets a day. And hours of conference calls. Otherwise i’d be all over this.
Our phones are wifi, and thru a majic jack app at home on a fifty dollar for five year thing. For awhile i had a laptop with a regular corded phone plugged into it thru a majic jack adapter and i would piggy back open wifi networks. People would crack up seeing me make call. Open laptop, start app, use handset and make call. Currently that same adapter is plugged into a cable modem. So, for 65 bucks a month we have internet, phones, hulu(.99 a month), netflix, prime video, pluto and ten other free apps for tv. Just talking to my buddy yesterday. His cable bill for less options than we have hit 300 bucks. Bonus to all of this is we provide free to our renters upstairs everything we use. We have a two family home and we rent out the nicer place upstairs and we occupy the lower unit with direct access to the back yard for the dog. In 9 months of rent they cover every single bill for the place. 3 months in profits each year which covers groceries for us and a good meal out each month.
Beware Mint Mobile’s list of eligible phones that supposedly work with the plan. Don’t forget you’ve also got to make sure the phone you bring to Mint is unlocked.
Correct – sorry I didn’t add that information. You do have to scan their list of phones – or reach out to them otherwise. Some phones are not unlocked and require it in order to use. Search eBay for that info…
I hope the referral credits go to TBP or Admin otherwise this is just a free ad for an MVNO.
The referral credits would go to us. We’re part of the TBP community – and asked for help. We thought it was a win-win, because if any readers could save over $1000 per year, it was a value-added proposition.
Let’s be HONEST about the price. $15 is for the first 3 months, then it goes to $25. So the total annual for the first year is $270, NOT $180. Still a great price over the reaming we are currently taking, but deceptive from the first word of the title.
And does anyone know the history of their price increases? Because at 3 month chunks, they could raise them every 3 months if they wanted. I am still interested as it is a big savings. My phone is unlocked and the list says its compatible. Its nice to know that there is someone out there whose goal is NOT to force you to buy a new phone whenever you want to switch carriers (unless of course you have the latest $1000 iPhone.
$180 per year is what we pay… do the math.
US Mobile is the cheapest I have found 900 minutes unlimited text for 15 dollars a month. No data but you can add it. I’m a old shit, so I use my phone, well as a phone.
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You get unlimited minutes with this plan – but limited “data.” Who is using so much data when traveling? WTF?
One big question I have is coverage. What towers do they use in the US? I switched from AT&T to Consumer Cellular about 6 months ago and am saving about $20 a month for a 2 line plan. I knew going in that the coverage would be the same as I had because they use AT&T’s cell towers.
I think they use T-mobile’s towers… coverage isn’t “fabulous,” but it works good enough. And you can use “call via Wi-FI” at home. We never use up our data because of that.
I’m going with Pablo Escobars brothers phone.
I cannot get my head around that link. 1990’s phone, hot naked or nearly naked women, and proudly dropping Pablo’s name. It’s like something you would see in the imaginary Breaking Bad world.
Have a cheap flip phone with a cheap plan-$20 for 90 days and 60 minutes (but usually get an extra 120 minutes with a promotion code) that is primarily intended for emergency use when traveling. Coverage for voice can be spotty in some locations, but texting usually works in most places. It all depends on your needs. If I want computer access I wait until I get home and fire up the 8 year old tower. Don’t care about camera. Probably the most useful feature is the alarm clock since I tend to fall asleep while reading in the easy chair. If I got a smart phone then I’d need to figure out how to get smart.