What extras would you cut to save money on your cell phone bill? / LJWorld.com

Asked at Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. on March 8, 2010

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“I would cut back on my free roaming charges and my Internet.”

— Jena Richardson, Ottawa High School, senior, Ottawa

“I would cut back on my roadside assistance.”

— Kari Lutz, Ottawa High School senior, Ottawa

“I would probably cut back on Internet because I have a computer. I don’t really need it on my phone.”

— Tim Stephens, Basehor-Linwood High School senior, Basehor

“I’ve actually cut back on the Internet package. I quit that altogether.”

— Nick Kemmis, biology major, Kansas City, Kan.

Unlock the savings: Lawrence families cut costs on phone plans

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punkrockmom 3 years, 2 months ago

I don't want to cut back on any of it. I like it. I just want it to be cheaper on it's own.

CreatureComforts 3 years, 2 months ago

What's up with going to the Union and getting 75% of your responses from high school students? Besides, I'm guessing "they" didn't cut back on anything, mom and pops did.

grammaddy 3 years, 2 months ago

Don't own one, can't get cheaper than that!

grammaddy 3 years, 2 months ago

Don't own one, can't get cheaper than that!

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i'm going to cut back on my K2....

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i'm going to cut back on my K2....

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i'm going to cut back on my K2....

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i'll say it again, i'm going to cut back on my K2. lol

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 3 years, 2 months ago

It ends up being pretty economical. I charge the devil spawn each 1/5th of the charges, plus I put the whole amount on the expense account. So for me it's a moneymaker.

imastinker 3 years, 2 months ago

Who needs a cell phone anyway?

I have one but the company pays for it. It's not even in my name. I didn't have one before that. If they quit paying for it I'll give the phone back.

The only reason I have a cell phone is so wife can keep track of me. Personally, I don't care for the things and when sitting around the house and watching my three kids text constantly gets very annoying. You can have mine. Phone that is, I guess I have to keep the kids.

RETICENT_IRREVERENT 3 years, 2 months ago

T_O_B, You going to Rachel Ray's party on the 20th?

jonas_opines 3 years, 2 months ago

"Who needs a cell phone anyway?"

Better question from my point of view is "who needs a land line anyway?" Once you get over the instinctual need to answer your cell phone every time it rings, it's just another phone that you always have access to, with better add-ons. Mine's also my organizer, music player, recorder, web browser, camera, and video camera.

I'm with donnuts. I'd drop my cable TV first. I actually use all the stuff on my phone. TV is only good for KU games, and those'll be done in a month anyway.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i dropped cable and am trying to motivate myself to get it back just for march madness. i could care less about TV.

Pywacket 3 years, 2 months ago

What jonas said, by & large. We ditched our landline years ago and never looked back. Where we live, Sprint was the only option and they were a ripoff.

I don't use half the bells & whistles on my phone, but it's nice to have them in case I ever get a wild hair to use them. We text more than we talk on the phone, so we spring for unlimited texting. And, no, I do not use this feature while driving. It would distract me from my martini shaker or cause me to burn the rumaki in the cigarette-lighter-socket plug-in Mobile Hors d'Oeuvre Sizzler (from Cinco).

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

autie, first of all, i have always loved that phrase: hells bells. my mom is from SE kansas and has a slew of those cuzzin type sayings (one of my faves is "sh*t fire and save matches").

secondly, that is one of the reasons why i am waffling on getting cable/satellite again... i am about to get internet at home again, w/ a much newer system and better monitor and i am thinking i can watch alot (if not all) of the march madness games online.

bearded_gnome 3 years, 2 months ago

The asparagus. definitely cut the asparagus!
and brussels sprouts are right out, no plan of mine will come near brussels sprouts!

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

"Only if Anthony Bourdain shows up with an eight ball and a gun and/or sword."

damn! its like THAT?

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i'm going to try to stay on your good side, bob.

average 3 years, 2 months ago

Prepaid, baby. Yeah, I'm paying something like 15c/minute when I use it. But that is very, very, little.

I pay $100 a year, which translates to 800 minutes. I use half of that, if that. I figure I've saved over $3000 over traditional plans by now.

For longer chitchat, I use Skype (and Skype-to-go). Functionally unlimited US/Canada calls for $3/month.

gccs14r 3 years, 2 months ago

The last time I bought a new phone I purposely got an unlocked phone that doesnt' even have 3G capability. I don't need a camera, either, but good luck finding a phone that doesn't have one. I also don't listen to music except in the car, so that's a feature I can live without, too. I just want a phone, maybe one with a flashlight built in. I use about 40 minutes a month, but with all the extra stuff I'm forced to have, that 40 minutes costs about $60. If I didn't have to have text messaging for work, I'd drop down to a PAYGo phone and save a fortune.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i have everything but voice disabled on my phone. no texting (which is an asinine mode of communication), no picture mail, no internet, no nothing but i call you and you call me and if i'm not in, leave me a message.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

LOL you have a brick phone? cool-- those get the BEST reception. i used to work for a company that provided wireless insurance (in other words, if your phone is lost or broken, for a fee, they will replace it instead of you having to go buy a brand new one). and we used to get people who actually requested those brick phones! they would say that they live and/or work out in the middle of nowhere and that's the only phone that would get them any reception.

lindseydoyle 3 years, 2 months ago

The mind reading function is indispensible. I like to know what the person on the other end is thinking.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

spacehog... sounds like you successfully retrieved that pipe.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

lindsey, do you have tmobile? they're the only ones w/ that feature, right?

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

that's why i said that texting is an asinine method of communication. the technology itself can be very useful. i can see why some people use it , especially w/ hearing impaired folk. but for most people it reduces them to a 13 year old little girl passing notes in class. same mindset.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

exactly!! i totally agree- everything is so overly techonological. people sitting right next to eachother IMing one another. so silly. not enough one on one contact anymore.

Pywacket 3 years, 2 months ago

Ah, Mel.... I saw a f***wit juggling a chalupa and a chihuahua while driving down 23rd St the other day. He almost ran up the back of a garbage truck (which might have been hugely amusing). On that evidence, would you say that eating is an asinine method of sustenance or that dogs make asinine pets? Break out the IV bags and send in the lemurs!

Texting isn't asinine, Mel---PEOPLE are asinine. People can (and will) do dumb things with just about any useful object or technology, unfortunately. Doesn't mean the object or technology is itself idiotic.

You may not be a texter yourself (have you tried it?), but for a lot of us it helps avoid unnecessary jawing (or listening to others jaw) and promotes transmission of Just The Facts, Ma'am.

Texting also settles arguments:

Mom: What's this in these grocery bags?! This isn't what I asked you to bring home! Fudge Ripple ice cream? Count Chocula? Doritos? Coke? and what's this--animal paper plates??

Teenage kid: I got exactly what you said! You always get mixed up--you're not getting any younger, Mom. Also, you owe me $15.37.

Mom: What?!I told you to get plain yogurt, Wheaties, sunflower seeds, milk, and toilet paper! Check the text! And you owe ME the car keys. You'll get them back in a week. And let me know how those animal paper plates work out in your bathroom.

See? With phone calls, it's a matter of "he said, she said." With a text, you can nail 'em to the wall. ;-)

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i didn't say it was useless. i said that the technology itself can be useful, especially for those who are hearing impaired. i fully realize that it is people who make dumb decisions, that's why i stand by what i said. it is an asinine mode of communication because people misuse it. if they used it sparingly (like it was probably originally intended), i would have no problem w/ it. another thing that i hate is how people now write in "text'ese", which is effing pathetic. as if our younger population didn't already have problems w/ spelling, proper word usage, punctuation and grammar, now they have a "language" which promotes dumbassedness even moreso.

"would you say that eating is an asinine method of sustenance or that dogs make asinine pets". oh yes, i would definitely say that if you're referring to chihauhaus! LOL

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

oh, and chalupas are overrated.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

dude, those sea monkeys were the most bogus out of everything you listed! remember the picture? it was wonderous! an underwater kingdom, and in your own little bedroom! hours of entertainment were to be had just watching the king of the sea monkeys rule over the serf sea monkeys.

and then you get them and all they are is some kind of algae type of stuff. what. the. hell????!

you were a cool kid if you had all that stuff. especially the phony arm cast, dog poo and pepper gum. ESPECIALLY the pepper gum!

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i want my money back.

craigers 3 years, 2 months ago

Get Sprint for the cheapest plan out there with everything you need. I don't want to cut services!! I need them all!

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

craigers message paid for by sprint-nextell.

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

i know, spacehog. between you and your siblings and me and my brother-- we'd have a fortune! i had all 3 charlie's angels dolls. man... my brother had rock em sock em robots and several GI joes w/ kung fu grip. i had a bionic woman doll and he had a 6 million dollar man.

you are not the only person i have heard say they disected stretch armstrong to see how it worked-- someone else i know told me that a while back. i also have a friend who disected her jimmie "dynomite" walker doll. i don't know if she was trying to find the voicebox or if she just wanted to shut it up. lol

Mel Briscoe 3 years, 2 months ago

BUT, multi, our point is, they did not resemble the men from atlantis, as advertised.

Liberty275 3 years, 2 months ago

We use Net10 phones. It's $15 a month. That's already pretty cheap.

Pywacket 3 years, 2 months ago

Autie~ Agreed! I miss Miss Chokesondick, though. Don't you? That episode saw her demise.

(Now let's see if I get pinked for innocently typing the name of a cartoon character.)

Alexander Neighbors 3 years, 2 months ago

I dont have a Cell phone cut it out completely. As for TV I have a free to air Satellite receiver Gets tons of free channels. http://www.ftalist.com/index.php Over 220 Channels for free Enjoy ! ( you can get the FTA receivers from ebay for 20 bucks )

pace 3 years, 2 months ago

I would add the feature to block a certain number from being able to connect to my phone number or voice mail.

I share the phone with a friend and I pay about $30. a month, no internet, just calls.

charliejohnson 3 years, 2 months ago

Shoot fire and save matches...hadn't heard that one for a long time.

compmd 3 years, 2 months ago

If you are one of those people who has a fancy phone (like me) don't waste your money on handset insurance. Odds are the deductible is greater than or equal to the street price of the same model phone used. Example: The T-Mobile G1 has a $125 insurance deductible, and the monthly cost of the insurance is $5.99. There's a plethora of used G1s on ebay for $125.

LadyJ 3 years, 2 months ago

Here's a hint for all you ATT customers. Their Go Phone and regular cell phones are interchangeable. If you are on their monthly plans, you have to sign a two year contract to get a phone free or reduced. The Go Phones are a lot cheaper, the only thing different is the chip you put in it. I go to their website, order a refurbished Go Phone, and when they send it, I throw away the chip that came with it and put in my other chip. We haven't signed a contract in years. Sometimes I can get a nice phone for $20 or $25, I'll order a couple so I have extras on hand when ours break. Just slip your chip in and your good to go. Once I forgot my phone in KC and didn't want to drive back up there for a few days. I took an extra out of the drawer, drove over to the ATT store and told them I lost my phone, but I had an extra phone, just needed a new chip with my phone number. Problem solved, drove up that weekend and got the old one. Of course they deactivate the old chip. Just checked their website, have some as low as $15, a camera phone for $20. Come to think of it, I'm out of spares, and it about time for my daughter's to quit.

LadyJ 3 years, 2 months ago

compmd --the extended warranty for the Iphone is definitely worth it, my son learned that the hard way. The next time he got the warranty and when a problem popped up, he drove to KC and the gave him a new one. It cost $200 for them to just look at it, and the warranty was $80. Now that is different than what you are talking about because I don't think it is covered if he loses it, but they do develop problems. If you don't have a warranty, there is a place in Olathe called Irescue that did a good job on the first one. They work on Ipods too.

George_Braziller 3 years, 2 months ago

I use my cell phone as "gasp" just a phone. You can call me and I can call you. No texting, no internet, nothing. I really don't understand the the mindset of people who think they have to be constantly in contact with the entire world.

Ace_Ventura 3 years, 2 months ago

The best way to save money on a cell bill is to get a job that provides one. Then shut yours off. Thats what I did. Now I pay nothing. And its nice!! BUT, you do have to pick it up when they call you. It's part of the deal I guess.....

gccs14r 3 years, 2 months ago

So you admit to embezzling phone service. I'm sure your employer is thrilled.

cletus26 3 years, 2 months ago

i had got rid of texting and internet, but found that people don't like talking on the phone anymore and had to get my texting added back on my bill. if i did it again, texting would go; i did w/o it for a year or so, i think i could go longer.

Pywacket 3 years, 2 months ago

George~ I don't understand the mindset of people who think everyone who uses text function "has to be constantly in contact with the entire world."

Most people I know who text (other than teenagers, of course) use it primarily to avoid phone calls, which a) usually last longer due to niceties and protocols and b) fail to leave you with a record of what was said (see grocery list example in my previous post).

If someone doesn't want to text, there's nothing wrong with that, but why the hostility toward those who do? Those who text while driving are fair game, obviously, but what harm are others doing--and where do the negative (and often false) assumptions come from?

I'd actually prefer to see someone wandering through a store or the zoo texting quietly to having to hear them carrying on a pompous, loud conversation. (Another texting advantage--in public, strangers don't have to be captive audiences.)

I imagine it was the same way when phones first became available in small towns and rural communities. The anti-texter counterparts back then probably made remarks such as:

"Why do those gol-danged fools need them newfangled telly-phones, anyway? Does Sarah really need to be yakkin' it up with Polly all mornin' when she should be puttin' the wash through the wringer an' hangin' it out afore it commences to rain?! The good ol' U. S. mail is good enuff fer me and it should be good enuff fer everbody, dagnabbit."