Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Basic Costs Squeeze Families Health Care, Cellphones Eat Up Income.....(Wall St Journal)
wsj. ^ | Dec 1 | By Ryan Knutson and Biography ryan.knutson@wsj.com @Ryan_Knutson Google+ Theo Fran

Posted on 12/02/2014 2:30:05 PM PST by dennisw

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: dennisw

I’ve got to have a smartphone for my business, but I despise that bill. My plan is through AT&T right now, but I was recently told I need to investigate Ting. A couple said they were spending north of $200/month for their two iPhones. They said they have not changed anything about their usage, but are down to $50-$60 with Ting. I don’t know enough to recommend it, but I’ve heard good things about it.

For anyone interested:

https://ting.com/


41 posted on 12/02/2014 4:13:33 PM PST by .45 Long Colt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nextrush

“Cell phones are compulsive and addictive. I get by with talk and text but others are using their smartphones to the max racking up supersize bills.....”

That’s just not true anymore. Both of my kids have smartphones. My son’s bill (reduced for being a reliable subscriber to Boost Mobile) is only $45 a month for unlimited talk, text, and internet. My daughter pays $40 for her iPhone subscription.

If I could get reliable service where I live, I’d dump my $65 a month house phone like a hot potato. As it is, with *their* crappy reception, I’m the only one who has reliable service that doesn’t drop, crackle or cut out.

It’s getting better and, in a couple of years, I’ll only have a cellphone, too.


42 posted on 12/02/2014 4:21:07 PM PST by Marie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: All

CHEAP HOME LANDLINES via VOIP___________

I can vouch for this VOIP. I paid two years in advance. When you do this it costs $130 and no taxes and other garbage tacked on. I use this for my home phone

They have other plans but this is my favorite
http://www.vestalink.com/pricing/?plan=basic

What you need is a router and an obi device which costs ~38$ at Amazon just as an example where to buy it http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telephone-Adapter-Service-Bridge/dp/B004LO098O/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1417566134&sr=1-1&keywords=obie

Also Walmart has a $10/month VOIP that my friend is happy with. http://www.walmart.com/ip/BasicTalk-Home-Phone-Device/23739626 The device to connect costs $10.

Youn also can buy basic talk direct from their website


43 posted on 12/02/2014 4:22:04 PM PST by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: sergeantdave

I must be a lucky one...

My county killed the wheelage tax.. And my property taxes went down..

I live in Minnesota of all places.


44 posted on 12/02/2014 4:25:49 PM PST by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: .45 Long Colt

Ting is a Sprint reseller.. so if sprint sucks in your area (well.. from sea to shining sea they pretty much suck) ting will suck just as bad.


45 posted on 12/02/2014 4:27:06 PM PST by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: caver

“Years ago, no one “needed” a cell phone, computer, internet service, cable TV, Starbucks, etc.”

Yeah, well, my mother does not currently have a computer and guess what happened when she needed to shop for (and buy) a plane ticket two weeks ago? She needed to find someone with a computer to do it for her.

We got our first computer in 1998 and things have changed a lot since then. I am the ONLY person in my circle with a house phone. Everyone else uses cellphones only. We *did* have cable 25 years ago and most people had it. (Except for those who used rabbit ears.) Now we have satellite.

Everyone *does* need a phone and cells are now cheaper than land lines. Internet is now more important than TV and many people no longer subscribe to cable. (We’re about to cut that cord, too)


46 posted on 12/02/2014 4:28:02 PM PST by Marie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Marie

see post 43..... If you have a good internet connection you can go VOIP and dump the copper landlines.

Alternatively___ WALMART has a phone that costs only $15 per month that connects via the cellular networks. Its like a stationary cell phone that remains in your house, that you plug your conventional phones into.

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=Straight+Talk+Wireless&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0customer_id_enc=&config_id=2&parent_item_id=22178410&guid=a0da9318-cc2e-49d1-8385-8cd2d295dee8&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.0&findingMethod=p13n

The unit costs $69 then just $15 per month for service


47 posted on 12/02/2014 4:28:55 PM PST by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: mountn man

You have to shop. My son’s phone broke and, last week, he bought a Moto G for $80 at the Boost Mobile store. He’s been a customer, so he only pays $45 a month for unlimited phone, text, and internet. If he was new, it would be $65 a month for all of that - with the cost dropping by $5 every three months that he paid his bill on time.

You have to shop. His phone is durable, gets fantastic ratings, and does everything that a smartphone should do... without a hitch.

Go to YouTube and check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFD0Nm2dOHw

Just look at every video that Marques Brownlee puts out. Check your reviews and pick the best bargain.


48 posted on 12/02/2014 4:34:01 PM PST by Marie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: mountn man

How do you know what their plans cost?

I had a freaking FIT when I found out that my daughter got a new iPhone (AN $800 PHONE!!)

Then I found out that she got the phone for free for agreeing to a 2 year contract of $40 a month. Unlimited talk, text, and internet for that price. She doesn’t even have a house phone anymore. That’s a good deal. Heck, I pay $35 a month for my flip-phone.


49 posted on 12/02/2014 4:37:13 PM PST by Marie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: caver

Yep. My family has phones & Hugh-speed internet because we can afford it. They will be the first to go in a pinch.


50 posted on 12/02/2014 4:42:36 PM PST by vpintheak (Keep calm and Rain Steel!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Marie

“Yeah, well, my mother does not currently have a computer and guess what happened when she needed to shop for (and buy) a plane ticket two weeks ago?”

I hear you. I understand that you can’t rent a car without a credit card either. I got by years ago without a credit card, but I’m not sure you can today.


51 posted on 12/02/2014 4:50:07 PM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: vpintheak

“Yep. My family has phones & Hugh-speed internet because we can afford it. They will be the first to go in a pinch.”

True! Your qualifying statement is, “because we can afford it”.


52 posted on 12/02/2014 4:52:17 PM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

We use Tracfone, too. Total cost of 2 tracfones and one home VOIP line is less than $30/month.


53 posted on 12/02/2014 4:52:22 PM PST by RedWhiteBlue (Mama tried)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: cableguymn

Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that. But I do know Sprint is awful here, so I won’t be switching to Ting. I’ll just keep paying AT&T. At least I can deduct it.


54 posted on 12/02/2014 4:58:28 PM PST by .45 Long Colt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: caver

My BFF is hard into Dave Ramsey, but her JOB insists that she has a credit card. Then she needed a private CC to reserve a hotel and rent a car while traveling for work.

They won’t let you out.

Hubs has his work card (that’s mad at us because we have overpaid and won’t accept the balance back. They can sit on the money until he needs it again) and a personal card.

We keep lowering the available balance and the CC company keeps raising it. I want it to have about $2000 available credit. Right now we’re up to $6,500 and I’m going to have to call them to bring it down again. (zero balance on the card and I’m not breaking on that.)


55 posted on 12/02/2014 5:04:02 PM PST by Marie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Marie

I understand, I’m a Dave Ramsey fan too, but I don’t have any debt. A lot of jobs are dependent on credit cards. I’m not sure about the solution.


56 posted on 12/02/2014 5:09:19 PM PST by caver (Obama: Home of the Whopper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
I have two landlines and a basic talk/text cell phone. One land line is for the house. Our cell service is hit and miss here. The other landline is for dial up internet. Before the cell phone I was paying a pager bill so my wife could reach me when I had to leave the house. Then I would have to find a pay phone which is now extinct which is why most persons now have a cell phone. Gee why didn't the writers think about that problem? LOL. My wife has a cellphone for back up at home to reach me and for when were out shopping and she needs my help. She's disabled is the reason for the extra communication needs and I'm caregiver. Having a cell phone means I can leave and go take care of picking up groceries running errands etc and she can reach me immediately if needed.

If anyone in the household is elderly or disabled I do not recommend Cable house phone or VOIP as the sole phone. Landlines are very reliable cable isn't.

We do have satellite TV. We live where the local over the air free TV signals can not reach us even with a good high grade antenna. We only live 10 air miles from the TV towers but terrain means everything.

57 posted on 12/02/2014 5:33:19 PM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: .45 Long Colt

net10 and some of the other discount pre-paid phones use AT&T’s network for some or all of their devices..

you don’t have to keep paying through the nose, you just have to use your nose to sniff out the carrier and device that works for you ;)


58 posted on 12/02/2014 8:04:17 PM PST by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
well as the soaring cost of staying connected digitally via cellphones and home Internet service.

I'm surprised some candidate hasn't come with the promise of free Wi-Fi.

59 posted on 12/02/2014 9:08:56 PM PST by Mike Darancette (AGW-e is the climate "Domino Theory")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw

ahhh yes, but it is good tripe

as I recall, Gargantua’s unfortunate birth was the result of his mother’s over indulgence of tripe


60 posted on 12/03/2014 4:30:34 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc.;+12, 73, ..... Obama is public enemy #1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson