Telecom
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Switch to an MVNO like Mint, Visible, or Cricket to use major carrier towers at half the price.
These resellers use the same infrastructure as major companies but are cheaper.
- MVNOs have lower data priority when the network is busy.
one person who lived it
Switch to Mint Mobile if you want to reduce costs compared to typical Verizon bills.
A six-month plan paid upfront can be cheaper than standard monthly Verizon charges.
- Requires paying for the plan period up front.
one person who lived it
Buy a used phone that is one or two model years old outright instead of financing a new device through carrier contracts.
Most people stay with big carriers to get new phones with no money down, but buying older models avoids this debt structure.
one person who lived it
Switch from a smartphone plan to a feature phone plan if you rarely use smartphone features.
It is cheaper.
one person who lived it
Check online carrier maps for your specific zip code to identify coverage gaps before switching.
Carriers with spots of empty coverage near you were an automatic no for one person.
- Based on one person's preference.
one person who lived it
Download podcasts and videos over Wi-Fi to conserve mobile data.
Media files can be large, and downloading them while connected to Wi-Fi prevents using your cellular allowance.
2 people, independently
Be aware that MVNOs often have poor international roaming support compared to major carriers.
Almost all MVNOs fail spectacularly at international roaming, though some report it works but isn't fantastic.
- International roaming isn’t fantastic, but works.
one person who lived it
Expect slightly slower speeds compared to higher-tier users on the same network due to deprioritization.
MVNOs are subject to back-of-the-line behavior during heavy traffic.
4 people, independently
Review your bills closely to identify unexpected charges or errors that companies may hope you overlook.
Companies may make accidental charges and hope you do not notice them.
2 people, independently