S/O affordable luxuries

[Deleted]

how much is your iPhone worth to you? (assuming you have one.)

I'm an apple junkie. I'm typing this on my macbook air with my iPhone and 32GB iPad next to me. 

SO has a finance-savvy friend who is trying to talk us out of our iPhone contracts. apparently we can get an android through verizon with 4G/unlimited text (only 100 minutes of calling/mo) for $30/mo each. SO's job would pay for his (they won't now because we use a different carrier), so it would bring our total bill from $150 to $30 a month. 

our contract doesn't expire until this end of this year, but he was asking if I'm interested in making the switch. I think I love my iPhone too much, but it would be nice to have an extra $1,440 a year for something that seems like it should be NBD. he said I could pick out any android I want, and we'd sell our iPhones on CL.

would you do it?

[Deleted]

Why can't you use your iPhone and iPad on VZW network?

ETA: Yes I would switch

[CloudBee]

100 minutes of call time a month isn't much. Would you get free mobile to mobile?

[kadams767]

Yes, I would switch. I've said it a million times, but I would never pay that kind of money for a smartphone. I only have an iPhone because its free for me.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2013 16:07:15 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Why can't you use your iPhone and iPad on VZW network?

ETA: Yes I would switch

we can in Dec but we're currently under contract with sprint. 

if they paid for his iphone I'd still need my own plan so I'm guessing that would be $80-90 a month. 

I guess this new plan doesn't require a contract - it's just monthly so you don't get a new phone. we would sell our phones and buy androids (which are cheaper) outright. 

we currently don't use our minutes much. I wouldn't miss minutes as much as I'd miss my beautiful phone.

[suzyq]

Switch. Based on your previous post, sounds like you and your SO are concerned the costs of your current arrangement so I'd try to find ways to save him money before getting married on paper.

[Heisenberg]

Feb 2, 2013 16:08:24 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

100 minutes of call time a month isn't much. Would you get free mobile to mobile?

this is what I was thinking, too.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2013 17:44:00 GMT -5 suzyq said:

Switch. Based on your previous post, sounds like you and your SO are concerned the costs of your current arrangement so I'd try to find ways to save him money before getting married on paper.

we have no problem with our current arrangement - he is a high earner and we save a large chunk of his income. if we can save an extra $8,500 a year by filing together and switching our phones it certainly is worth considering though.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2013 17:51:18 GMT -5 Heisenberg said:

Feb 2, 2013 16:08:24 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

100 minutes of call time a month isn't much. Would you get free mobile to mobile?

this is what I was thinking, too.

I'm not sure of this. all the information is third hand - boyfriend's friend has the plan and was telling him about it.

[gt7301b]

If you like the iPhone so much why not jail break it and use it with the other carrier?

[SJ]

I would not give up my iPhone. I used a Blackberry for many many years. Now that I have an iPhone, I can't imagine going back.

It is worth noting that I don't pay for my phone.

[Deleted]

One hour and 40 minutes a month? There would not be one month in which I wouldn't go over. Also, I love my iPhone, I'd have to seriously need the money.

[smiley]

Feb 2, 2013 16:05:09 GMT -5 tacom said:

how much is your iPhone worth to you? (assuming you have one.)

I'm an apple junkie. I'm typing this on my macbook air with my iPhone and 32GB iPad next to me. 

SO has a finance-savvy friend who is trying to talk us out of our iPhone contracts. apparently we can get an android through verizon with 4G/unlimited text (only 100 minutes of calling/mo) for $30/mo each. SO's job would pay for his (they won't now because we use a different carrier), so it would bring our total bill from $150 to $30 a month. 

our contract doesn't expire until this end of this year, but he was asking if I'm interested in making the switch. I think I love my iPhone too much, but it would be nice to have an extra $1,440 a year for something that seems like it should be NBD. he said I could pick out any android I want, and we'd sell our iPhones on CL.

would you do it?

I am interested to see this plan you are referring to because according to the Verizon website the prepaid smart phone plans are either $60 or $70 per month which is little to no savings over having a contract.

[Roc A Bee]

No I wouldn't give up my iPhone. I'd wait til December and switch.

[DarcyLongfellow]

This is a no brainer to me. Apple makes good products, but they're not unique (anymore) and they are so friggin' expensive.

If you get a comparable phone, I promise you won't miss the iPhone. DH and I switched from iPhones to android phones (Samsung Galaxy... something 3G 4S?). There is nothing my old iPhone did that my new phone can't do. And in some ways it was easier, since I use gmail and the phone is set up for that.

[gt7301b]

Feb 2, 2013 18:24:58 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Feb 2, 2013 17:59:22 GMT -5 gt7301b said:

If you like the iPhone so much why not jail break it and use it with the other carrier?

Cuz you can be fined $500K for jail breaking a phone?

I know lots of folks who jail break their phones and no one has been fined, but even if you are fined $500 < $1,440.

[magpie]

I have an android instead of an iphone for this reason. I have a (great!) android smartphone that I pay $30/month for unlimited text/data + 100 minutes. H is going to switch from his ancient flip phone soon and we will switch to a plan for two android smart phones with unlimited text, 1000 minutes a month and high speed data for $80 total for the both of us. I like some apple products (I have an ipad and used to have macs/macbooks before I decided that they don't suit my needs so much), but the monthly fees on iphones seem so overpriced (although you can get an unlocked iphone and do prepay to get similar rates). I don't know, I guess I feel like my phone is just as capable and nice as an iphone...it seems to work better for a lot of things. So, in answer to your question, yes, I'd switch! But I'm cheap, especially about monthly fees and I don't feel that I've sacrificed my smartphone experience. You should go try out some android phones though to see if you like them.

[ghost]

What the heck is jail breaking?
I must be very sheltered..
BTW, I would switch in a second. I am not familar with androids but I am sure they are just as good.
Besides if your SO is paying, he should get to choose what he is paying for and how much.

[Deleted]

Nope. Sometimes I'm willing to pay for something I like.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2013 19:29:00 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

Nope. Sometimes I'm willing to pay for something I like.

Quoting myself. I also don't believe that you won't have to pay for data. Everyone would do this if it would be $30 a month for unlimited data/text and 100 minutes. I don't use my phone much to actually talk to people, but I'm sure I use more than 100 minutes.

I believe the jail break laws just went into effect. I definitely wouldn't do that.

[Deleted]

Feb 2, 2013 19:25:11 GMT -5 ghost said:

Besides if your SO is paying, he should get to choose what he is paying for and how much.

we make decisions together. he is currently supporting us and I will return the favor later when he gets his MBA. 

[Deleted]

I have an android. From what I can tell, none of my friends with an iPhone can do anything I can't do. Unless you count Siri?

I'd do it, as long as 100 minutes will be enough.

[magpie]

Feb 2, 2013 19:34:48 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

Feb 2, 2013 19:29:00 GMT -5 dbsk8dance said:

Nope. Sometimes I'm willing to pay for something I like.

Quoting myself. I also don't believe that you won't have to pay for data. Everyone would do this if it would be $30 a month for unlimited data/text and 100 minutes. I don't use my phone much to actually talk to people, but I'm sure I use more than 100 minutes.

But, I do pay $30 a month for unlimited data/text and 100 minutes!  It's real.  I don't know why everyone doesn't do it (except for all you iphone addicts who can't handle android ).  The trick with my data is that only the first 5gb are at 4g speeds.  If I ever went over that, which I've never come anywhere close to, despite my streaming music/heavy phone use, it would slow down to 3g speeds for the rest of the billing cycle.  100 minutes isn't much though.  I don't talk much either and I find myself close to going over some months.  It's ten cents a minute if I go over, which so far has been cheaper for me than moving to the $50/month unlimited minute/text/data plan.

[Deleted]

magpie, I think you're on the plan he was talking about. he mentioned dropping to 3g speed after some data usage. that isn't an issue for us because we don't even have 4G now at $150/month.

[stephm0188]

I made the jump from Android to Apple. I won't go back. Sure, on paper my Android did everything an iPhone could, but iPhone does it better. It's more intuitive.

I couldn't do 100 minutes a month, but we also do not have a home phone. The cost of our cells negates what we'd spend on a landline.

[Deleted]

FWIW, I love my android. Samsung Galaxy.

[heygrey]

If I didn't have a MacBook and an iPad I'd be more inclined to let go of my iPhone, but the compatibility is huge for me.

I'm glad Canada doesn't have a plan like this. I'd be so torn between my love for my iPhone and saving money. I don't know what I'd do...

[MrsE]

Nope, I love my iPhone too much.

[ghost]

Feb 2, 2013 19:38:48 GMT -5 tacom said:

Feb 2, 2013 19:25:11 GMT -5 ghost said:

Besides if your SO is paying, he should get to choose what he is paying for and how much.

we make decisions together. he is currently supporting us and I will return the favor later when he gets his MBA. 

That is a different story then. I misunderstood/didn't know the details of your relationship..

[awkwardpenguin]

If you can use your Sprint iPhone on Verizon, just pay the early termination fees and switch. They'll be much less than finishing out the year.