Phone, cable, and internet - need advice
Alright, we currently have a bundle package - internet, basic Dish Network, and basic phone service (no caller ID, call waiting, etc.). We pay $105/month. I also have a really old cell phone plan where I get 600 minutes, free long distance, etc for $35/month. While we are ok with these services, I think we need to re-evaluate and put our money to better use. I have several questions here, so if any apply to you, please share your opinions :)
We've considered getting rid of our home phone - would save $25/month. But then I would need to upgrade my cell phone plan because I think 600 minutes a month would be cutting it awfully close. That would really only allow for 20 minutes a day, and my husband and I talk a few times a day, my parents lives out of state and when we talk, we talk (and I'll admit, sometimes I ask my mom to "babysit" over the phone....ie, talk to Luke for 30 minutes while I run like crazy doing dishes or laundry, etc :). Does anyone here use their cell phone all the time, rather than basic phone service? How many minutes does your cell plan allow, and how has it worked out for you.
I know it's almost unheard of anymore, but how many of you don't have cable or satellite, and have just basic local channels? We are considering ditching our Dish because we've realized we pay alot for no more than we use it! Other than my husband watching bits and pieces of the Cubs games and an hour of Nick Jr or Noggin each day, most everything we watch is local channels anyway. We will truly miss our DVR, but we could always make better use of our DVD player and the library :)
Wireless internet card - if we cancelled our entire ATT bundle, we would need to get internet from somewhere! Internet is a must in our house! I'm thinking about a wireless network card, or whatever it's called. I know it's much pricier than what we currently pay for internet, but I would be able to take it wherever I go. Right now I have to hit WiFi spots when I have a sitter and need to go work, so this would allow me to pull out my laptop and work anywhere I please! Any suggestions on this??
Thanks for all your help!! :)
Cell Phones
I do not have a home phone, just a cell phone...When we did have a house phone, people would call my cell before they called the house so I figured it was a waste of money to have a home phone...I go through Verizon and am on the family share plan. For three people (two of who hardly use their cell phones) we have about 1400 minutes to share. The good thing to this, is anyone who also has Verizon, Verizon to Verizon is free...Then nights and weekends are also free...I forget exactly how much we pay a month. I want to say it's about $90.00 for 3 lines and 1400 minutes (However, I get a discount through my employer)...
As far as the wireless card goes, I've heard great things about Verizon's cards. I haven't checked the pricing yet, but perhaps they have a special where you can get a cell phone and a card (not sure but maybe)...
Cable TV
I am a proponent for going cable free! We have actually never had cable in our home, so with the exception of when I got married I haven't actually paid for cable and gone through the "withdrawal". However we are now getting 12 local digital channels, and some of those do have the same programming like 16.1 & 16.2 for most of the time but that will be changing in the near future as the conversion to digital happens. I am sooo impressed with PBS because a lot more of the time it has children's programming on 34.1 and adult programming on 34.2, so if you can shift the kids over to public children's tv then they will still be able to enjoy their new favorites everyday. There is also a couple hours of Nickelodeon programming on local TV on the weekend. I am clearly in the minority on this, but I have the conversation frequently with people at work who spend $200 monthly on the big cable/movie packages with hi-def etc. and I always tell them that PBS becomes my food network, nickelodeon, discovery channel etc. I just have to read the TV paper to see what will be on and when I need to watch it.
We have only a local phone and it is $20 a month, but we have a business high speed line for internet and it is around $60 a month. We don't use long distance at all on that phone, but I would be hesitant to remove the home phone in case of an emergency and I or the kids or whomever needs to call 911. I don't keep my phone on me all the time, but I am always within steps of a home phone. There are a lot more cell phone towers, but I remember after a really bad storm with power outages a few years ago no one could get through on their cell phone because everyone was calling each other and all circuits were busy. It would have been awful to try and call for help in an emergency and not be able to get through for 20-30 minutes. I keep my cell phone at the minimum plan of $35 a month andd just use the free night and weekend minutes to call long distance when i need to.
VERIZON
I called my husband who works at Cellular Connection which sell Verizon and Dish. He said the Air cards which is what I believe you are talking about it is $100 with a $50 mail in rebate and the service is $59.99 a month. He said the speed is comparable to DSL. I don’t know too much about that stuff but I can give you his number if you like. We both have Verizon it just the low plan of 69.99 a month for both of us and its for 700 minutes. We have never went over because they have free Verizon to Verizon calls. So I talk to my mom and husband the most and those calls are free.
We also looked at getting media com. My husband doesn’t want to since he sells dish but with Mediacom you can get internet and cable for just $29.99 a piece and you don’t have to have a home phone. We don’t even use our home phone, we just have it so we can have the internet.