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Original poster

How skint would you have to be before ditching your mobile phone?

30 replies

Ceolas · 30/05/2007 12:59

DH and I spend around £80 per month on our mobiles. (combined bill)

I suggested binning them last night, but he nearly had a fit.

I do use mine a lot, but I can't believe my life would be so much different without it.

Might cut down to pay as you talk and limit our use.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 30/05/2007 13:01

you could find a better deal than £80

zephyrcat · 30/05/2007 13:01

We use pay as you talk and hardly use them any more. It wasn't that long ago they didn't exist and you soon realise how little you actually need it!

kittypants · 30/05/2007 13:02

i use pay as you talk.i can only use it then if i have the cash to put on there.which isnt often

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 13:03

Every time I get 'better deal' on a package I end up paying more in call charges

I thought even if I put £15-20 in a month, that would cut the bill in half.

OP posts:
jinxed · 30/05/2007 13:03

I use pay as you go, and tbh - i use about £5 every 3 mnths!

I dont find a mobile essential

nailpolish · 30/05/2007 13:03

get pay as you go then

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 13:04

I think it's a state of mind

You do get used to it.

But 6 years a go I didn't have one. If I wanted to talk to someone I phoned them on the landline. If they weren't in, I called tham back.

OP posts:
nally · 30/05/2007 13:05

would like to go 'pay as you go', but am locked into contract until september so can't change it yet

ScottishThistle · 30/05/2007 13:06

I'm pay as you go, not a huge chatter though so I have a deal with 1000texts & my mobile costs me £30pm which I don't think is excessive as I know people who have phone bills upto £80pm!

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 14:04

OK, if I'm going to switch to pay as you talk, I can still keep my phone, right? I just need to get a new SIM card?

Currently with Vodafone. Who would be cheaper?

OP posts:
kslatts · 30/05/2007 14:51

Dh and I used to have a contract but changed to pay as you go and saved a fortune. I only buy a £5 top up every few weeks, but wouldn't want to get rid of the phone completely.

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 19:53

Any recommendations on a cheap network?

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 30/05/2007 19:54

I would go to Virgin pay as you go probably

FrannyandZooey · 30/05/2007 19:55

Yeah, ditch one of them and share the other

I don't have one and I borrow dp's once a week or if I am out late, just for pure convenience, I could do without it very easily

littlemissbossy · 30/05/2007 19:56

I suggest you call your provider and tell them you want to cancel because you've been offered a better deal with 'whoever' - look on 'whoevers' website so you can quote rates - they will do anything to keep your business IME

NuttyMuffins · 30/05/2007 19:57

I use pay as you go, if i don't have any money then i don't buy any credit, simple as.

expatinscotland · 30/05/2007 20:04

Same as Nutty.

IMO, if you're spending that much on your mobiles, you're not skint.

I haven't even got a mobile, actually. DH has a pay as you go one.

NuttyMuffins · 30/05/2007 20:12

O2 are good by the way, when you top up your credit they give you extra.

bookwormmum · 30/05/2007 20:13

Look on Uswitch or google for a website that compares mobile rates. Don't forget that your handset is probably locked to Vodafone. It may not be worth getting it unlocked. You can buy bog-standard payg mobiles in Argos for about £20 (this is how I used to replace my handsets if I didn't want to pay £££ for the latest phone from my network) but you'd need to check the call tariffs.

Chandra · 30/05/2007 20:17

I have a CarPhone Warehouse pack that included a Nokia L'Amour 7410 phone and 500 free any time minutes per month for £5. Downside is that you have to remember to send the vouchers to get a refund on the £30+ they charge your per month.

cylonbabe · 30/05/2007 20:17

i have only just got a contract pohone, well 8 months ago. before this ten pounds credit would last me about six months. but, thats usually coz i never remembered to charge it up, or have it on me, or hear it when i did have it and it was charged. now i pay 30pm, and our landline has gone down to almost nil. its only ever used for international calls, and even then the call charges are less than a fiver, the line rental is a lot lot lot more.
if i were to ditch a phone because it costs too much, id ditch the landline.

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 20:20

Didn't say I was skint expat. We need to cut down a bit. That was my thought - set a limit and once it's done it's done.

OP posts:
misdee · 30/05/2007 20:25

i dont have to be skint, icant wait to ditch the mobile phone.

oh to leave the house without it would be bliss [asighs]

Original poster
Ceolas · 30/05/2007 20:26

misdee

OP posts:
misdee · 30/05/2007 20:28

before i wasnt bothered about it, only had PAYG for years, but have had a contract phone for dh+myself for 2years. its anice phone. and its handy. but i just hate beign tied to it all the time. i cant even take the kids to school without it.

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