I just read a Forbes article on the real costs of smartphones when one foregoes the 24-month contracts service providers try to lock customers into. According to Forbes, the cost was around $450 - $600.
I've got a cheap mobile phone with a cheap monthly plan: $28.34 in monthly charges. I won't be switching to a smartphone unless it can absorb or eliminate other budget expenses. Can a smartphone help me save $50 in groceries, 10% at the gas pump, 15% off my utilities, et cetera?
Anyone have any true stories to share?
Will I save money with a smartphone?
September 21st, 2014 at 05:15 pm
September 21st, 2014 at 05:35 pm 1411320935
We each paid under 100 for a Moto G phone at Wal-Mart. It does far more than my iPhone 4 ever did. Our child reprogrammed it to work with our provider which uses Verizon towers.
September 21st, 2014 at 05:56 pm 1411322201
September 21st, 2014 at 06:01 pm 1411322479
September 21st, 2014 at 06:07 pm 1411322859
I wouldn't say that we are saving money utilizing a smart phone (using apps to save money on goods and services), but our cell service is cheaper than it was with our dumb phones. It is only $15/month per person. Maybe even cheaper (per person) when we add our kids on. I am sure we are saving dollars and time and frustration with the convenience. Lately I am enamored with the waze app (a GPS app). It made navigating LA a breeze and has kept me from many a last-minute traffic jam with the up-to-date info. Switching from dumb phone to smart phone 2 years ago or so I noticed a huge increase in convenience.
September 21st, 2014 at 06:10 pm 1411323006
September 21st, 2014 at 07:13 pm 1411326788
September 21st, 2014 at 07:59 pm 1411329572
Republic Wireless is another cell carrier that I have heard good things about.
Ting is only $6/month to add a line. I think this makes it an exceptional phone service for kids. (Even if you sign up for a different service and just have your child sign up for Ting).
September 21st, 2014 at 08:42 pm 1411332137
September 21st, 2014 at 10:34 pm 1411338896
September 21st, 2014 at 11:23 pm 1411341821
September 22nd, 2014 at 11:04 pm 1411427051
There are also GigWalk and other apps (can't remember) for doing secret shopping gigs.
Then of course there are the Swagbucks video apps - EntertainNow and SwagTv where you can earn a varying amount of Swagbucks each day. Also with SBs there is the SB app itself where they have mobile only offers.
There is also PerkTv where you can also earn points towards giftcards.
There is Receipt Hog where you earn points for taking a picture of your receipts from grocery stores, etc. Gift cards.
There are budget apps galore where you can record your transactions on the go - my fave of course is YNAB.
You can also sign up with Nelson Research Mobile to earn points by allowing them to run in the background - I've read up on the privacy info here, and it looks pretty strict - not using personally identifying data. Again - gift cards.
Then there is Bing Rewards - earn an extra ten points per day.
Like others said above, coupon apps - I don't know if you'd be able to save $50/month using a smartphone, but you sure can make money with it!
September 25th, 2014 at 11:57 am 1411646226
For example, I handle all of my personal finances with just my phone nowadays, which includes taking snapshots and sending in its images to deposit paper checks. Earlier on, I also bought and sold my stocks and mutual funds right on my phone since I was very casual about it. This also includes whatever budgeting that I do, all right on my phone.
I have also migrated all my relevant documents, pictures, and other personal data into the cloud, where it can be shown on any computer, including my smartphone, which I find quite handy to either find obscure information to to sharing family photos.
And yes, they can be expensive, but the bulk of the cost lies in the monthly service rates, and not really the phone itself. This is especially true if you take something like the Moto G, which is a decent set for not a lot of money.