How do I Know if an Unlimited Cell Phone is for Me?

Answer 1

You’ve been using a prepaid for a while now, but it always ends up costing you more every month than you think it will because you’re constantly having to fill ’er up. You’ve seen all those ads for unlimited cell phones with unlimited voice plans and unmetered data. Would it be smart for you to switch to an unlimited cell phone?

Well, that depends on a number of factors. First, how much are you willing to spend per month? Second, how much do you truly have to use your phone? And third, are there ways you can cut back? Do you really need a data plan?

1.) Remember that unlimited cell phone plans usually start at $59 per month or so. Many of these plans only include unlimited voice. Check the unlimited cell phone plan to see if text messages or data plans are included. Chances are good they will cost you an extra $20 a month or so. So ultimately, your unlimited cell phone plan is likely to run you $80 or $90 per month. With a data package, it could run more than $100 monthly.

2.) How much do you truly have to use your phone? Maybe you can get your boss to subsidise one unlimited phone for work and then have your own personal phone for non-work calls (this writer does ). This cuts down hugely on the amount of calling you pay for.

3.) Try to cut back. One of the prepaid cell phone industry’s dirty little secrets is how expensive text messaging usually is. You might not need an unlimited cell phone for talking and text if you save your phone for calling and text from your Gmail account (it’s free) or a Peek ($12.99 a month - unlimited text and e-mail). Peeks, by the way, are handy little devices that run like a cell phone anywhere and are widely available at retail stores and online.

4.) These days of iPhones and iPads have us all convinced we need mobile internet. But do you really need a data plan? It might be better to keep Internet off your unlimited cell phone and save that expense.