Would you like to save some money? I know I do. These days it's getting harder to come by! I have recently sold my family retail store. This is the reason I am away from my studio this last month. We found a buyer..and that's great, but I really need to be frugal now as I focus on my jewelry business..since that's all I am going to be doing! Yes, so wish me luck!
I don't know about ya' all, but one of my largest monthly bills is my cell phone. My gosh..I did the math and for a two year contract I am paying for two smart phones with Verizon at a whopping $180 a month which equals out to $4,320...and this is just for the service. This does not include the the extra little cost to initially buy your phone!!!
Well, in my quest to search for my options...since my contract expired..I have discovered the world of Prepaid cell phones! And recently, I have found that if you want..you can now bring your own phone to the service of Straight Talk! Yes, I have researched my options with most of the prepaid services that work up here at 4000 feet elevation in the mountains of Bend, Oregon. And, what I find is most work..because they all seem to be using the towers of AT&T and even Verizon!
Well, I am happy to announce that I am using an Iphone 4s with my new Straight Talk service. I had the option to pay monthly at $45 per month..but since I know I need the phone for a year..I went ahead and purchased the yearly card which really breaks down at $41 per month. The service includes unlimited voice, text and data. ( Data does have a true limit 2G, but that was what I also paid for with Verizon.) I rarely use 2G myself as I don't have time to watch videos or youtube all day on my cell phone.
The catch with Straight Talk is, you must have an unlocked GSM phone or an AT&T or T-Mobile compatible phone to use your own. I myself, started educating myself on cell phones, and it appears that 70% of the world uses GSM, which is AT&T and Verizon uses CDMA. CDMA is a different cell phone technology and honestly is more complicated. It appears that CDMA phones do not use SIM cards. STraight Talk basically sends you a SIM card and you insert it into your unlocked GSM phone and change a few settings and ...Presto! Your phone works..like a charm! Yes!!! It was that simple for me.
Here is a You Tube video that made this process of changing a few APN settings for my IPhone 4s so much easier to understand if you need help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXHf80AaSU
Don’t forget the Straight Talk Plan
Why Straight Talk?
- Unlimited GSM service on the best nationwide networks
- $45 per month – Unlimited Data, Talk & Text*
- $60 Unlimited International Plan with Unlimited Nationwide Minutes, Unlimited Messages & Unlimited data plus Unlimited* International calling to over 1,000 destinations including cellulars in Mexico, Canada, India and china.
- No contracts, no bills, no credit checks
- Use any compatible or unlocked GSM phone – including smart phones
- Bring your T-Mobile compatible 4G phone and keep your 4G service
- Keep your phone number
- Works with SMS, IM, social networks, email, web
So, let me tell you just how much I am saving. I purchased two used unlocked Iphone 4s's for $600. Then I purchased two one year plans for $990. Of course we will use the phones for at least two years..hopefully more. So if you do the math..and compared to a two year plan with Verizon. I am actually paying $2580 for two years. Which saves my family a total of $1740!! WOW...that is awesome! I can buy a vacation or a few plane tickets with the money I am saving!
Also, if your a person who can use your phone for more then two years..then YOU will save even MORE! If you need smart phone insurance you should also check out Square Trade Warranty services. It's an average of $6.99 a month with them..
The cons about Straight Talk..is you have to purchase the unlocked GSM phone up front first! But, I have heard recently that you can now purchase the Iphone through Walmart and use the Straight Talk service inclusively ..click here: Or if your like me ..I like a good deal and try to buy a factory unlocked GSM phone. I found mine on Craigslist and Ebay. But, you can also buy them new at Best Buy or probably some cell phone store. You really need to shop around.
Straight Talk has been in service for at least the last five years. I have recently met a family who has been saving good money for this long.. Gosh, I cringe at what I paid for the last six years with Verizon..uugh! I know that I could have saved well over $6000 looking back!
Straight Talk has different types of service phones too. It always seems that prepaid services use older model phone versions that have older operating systems. When Straight Talk decided to let you bring your own phone...I jumped on it! I can officially say I am done with paying super high prices for cell phones. I am done with playing that "renew your contract game". I have had enough!
Your probably wondering if I am affiliated with STraight Talk..and I AM NOT at all! I am just a purely delighted customer who will be saving a lot of money. My phone works well with 4 to 5 bars average and 4G services! It is using AT&T...but for the last month both of our phones are working marvelously! So go ahead my friends...save yourself some money! Straight talk works great and can work with many unlocked GSM smartphones...not just the IPhone!
Also a quick update on my jewelry store. The transition for the new owner is Feb. 1st and that is when I will re-open my jewelry store on Etsy! Please check back then! I will be 100% dedicated to my work with Helenes Dreams from now on! I am just so excited to have finally reached this place in my life!
If you want to read more..check out this review here: http://9to5mac.com/2012/07/30/review-the-iphone-on-straight-talk/
Cheers everyone!
4 comments:
Hi, I was googling info on straight talk sim as I lost my job a month back and need to save anywhere I can. It gave me a link to your blog & I read your story. :-) . I was wondering if you are as happy now as you were a little over a month ago when you switched to straight talk. Have u encountered any issues or connection problems? Thanks, Joan
Hi Joan,
Straight talk has been working very well over all for me. The only thing is with the Iphone 4S that when you do the bring your own phone deal with the sim card, you have to change the APN settings on the phone to get the data and internet to work. I have noticed that I have to do it whenever there is a software upgrade. Not, much..but still worth the huge amount of savings.
YOu can now buy an Iphone with www.Walmart.com and use their STraight Talk plan. YOU are going to still save LOTs of money then going with a contract plan with a large carrier.
YES, I am very happy and thrilled with my phone service and still saving money!
Hi Helen,
I read your very first blog from 2009. I feel as though your 2009 blog basically describes where I'm at currently. I've always been a creative individual, mostly painting and drawing, and recently started playing around with oven bake ceramics (just for some creative R&R) until I came upon an article about metal smithing. For whatever reason, I became transfixed, and have the urge to start. My gut tells me I will love it.
My question is, is it possible for me to start, just like that? Could you perhaps provide a list of the basics I would need? Also, do I need to take a class to learn? I live in a rural area where there are no opportunities for metal smithing classes. Furthermore, the cost of classes may not be within my budget at this time.
Whatever info you could share would be greatly appreciated!
So lovely to come across your blog :-)
Much obliged,
Julie
Hi Helen,
I read your very first blog from 2009. I feel as though your 2009 blog basically describes where I'm at currently. I've always been a creative individual, mostly painting and drawing, and recently started playing around with oven bake ceramics (just for some creative R&R) until I came upon an article about metal smithing. For whatever reason, I became transfixed, and have the urge to start. My gut tells me I will love it.
My question is, is it possible for me to start, just like that? Could you perhaps provide a list of the basics I would need? Also, do I need to take a class to learn? I live in a rural area where there are no opportunities for metal smithing classes. Furthermore, the cost of classes may not be within my budget at this time.
Whatever info you could share would be greatly appreciated!
So lovely to come across your blog :-)
Much obliged,
Julie
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