Post by pim on Nov 11, 2013 11:49:09 GMT 10
My old Telstra/Bigpond contracts expired recently and I thought I might rejig the whole kit & caboodle. I'd been paying a fortune for landline phone, mobile on a 2 year plan plus ADSL and a T-Box. I'd get monthly bills up to $180 or more. That sucked and I couldn't wait for the contracts to expire. The first thing to go was that bloody T-Box. What a waste of time that was. Even if I hired a movie I'd find that a couple of times the bloody movie would suddenly cut out and I'd still get billed for it. So it went. Besides, I got myself a PVR so bugger the T-Box. Next to go was my landline phone. It made budgetary sense - in fact economically speaking it was a no-brainer - but I'd always had a landline telephone going right back to those days when you had a round dial, you lifted the handset and actually dialled the number. I'll never forget my old landline telephone number. Do you find that? A telephone number you've had for decades becomes part of who you are. So it was a bit of a wrench - surprisingly! But I hardened my heart and did it: landline telephone ... begone! I hereby cast you into the outer darkness! Next was the mobile phone. Bugger renewing the 2 year contract! I picked up a Samsung smartphone for about $150 from the Telstra shop and I feed it $30 a month. That gives me all the calls I want. Why the hell did I bother with a "plan" before this!! Finally, the internet. I pay $60 a month for a wireless broadband gadget that I can take anywhere and gives me 8GB a month.. The danger is taking it somewhere and losing it so I'll have to get into some good habits. I don't know that I really need 8GB so I'll see how I go. The best news is the economic news: I've already halved my monthly bill from $180 to $90 and I can probably get it down further.