Best prices on home internet, cellular, and TV entertainment

People often ask how I pay $25 for cellular, $60 for home internet, and $30 for TV. It isn’t quite that simple, but I wanted to write it down.

Service definitions and what they should cost

Cellular (or mobile) service — this is probably the one thing you need as a modern human. This is not the phone itself; it is the service that connects you to the world for voice, texting, and the internet. Expect to pay $15 to $60 per month.

Home internet — people often call this Wi‑Fi, but that is really the wireless connection inside your home. Internet is the connection from your home to the world. It isn’t required if you have strong cellular service, but most people like the speed and capacity. Expect to pay $40 to $100 per month.

TV entertainment — some people call this cable and streaming. It isn’t required and can be free with an antenna or online services like YouTube. This is content, and there is no single package that gives you everything. Pay $0 to $300+ per month.

Home dial-up voice — largely gone these days, as most people use their cellphone. There are free options for the tech-savvy. Try to avoid it, but it may be needed in places without cellular service. $0 to $60+.

How companies complicate things to get more money out of you

• Bundling the services together. This almost never works out for the consumer, because you end up paying for things you don’t use. Before agreeing to a bundle, itemize what you actually want.
• Introductory offers. Companies often raise the price after 1 year. If you try to get out of a long contract, there may also be a penalty. Check both before being tempted by the “deal.”
• Discounts on a phone or router. It is almost never a good financial decision to rent or get a free phone from a carrier. They are simply charging you more each month, and after paying for the phone, they keep reaping the rewards. Also, carriers often lock phones to their network, so you can’t switch carriers without getting them to unlock the phone. Simply buy the phone. If you can’t afford it, you are probably buying a device that is too expensive for your income or not managing your money well.
• Personal service is a cost and a choice. If you want to walk into a store and have someone help you, that costs the company. So what you pay will be higher. If you want to pay less, you take on the risk and hassle yourself.
• Internet speed. Almost nobody needs more than 50 Mbps, and most basic plans are already greater than 200 Mbps. The catch is that if you have 3 people in your house, some companies will push you toward 1000 Mbps. Get the lowest price for 50 Mbps or greater. In some very rural places, 50 Mbps is already a challenge.
• Unlimited Cellular - This is a tricky one. Many people use very little data. Some use a lot. If you watch movies or listen to music, you could use a lot. You phone has statistics about how much you use. Don’t get too much data or unlimited unless you really need it.

Suggestions

1. Write down what you want in the 3 categories. Example: I want an iPhone, and I use Spotify to stream music in my car for 1 hour per day. I want Wi‑Fi for my laptop at home and to watch Netflix and local news. I also want someone to help me in person, not just over the phone.
2. Ask people who live near you what internet providers there are. Verizon and Xfinity, for example, provide wired connections to houses. T-Mobile may provide a connection to your house via wireless (5G), which may be cost-effective if you are not streaming many hours per day. Satellite is also an option, but it tends to be more expensive. Look up online what each company charges. Shoot for $40-$60.
3. Ask people what cell companies they use. There are really 2 types of companies to consider. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are the top tier; they run the networks and have stores. Expect to pay more (shoot for $50/month) for these carriers, but choose one with a store and good coverage where you live. The lower-cost companies basically rent signal from the major carriers, so most of the time the actual service is the same. For example, Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile (and is actually owned by T-Mobile). Mint costs about $15-$25 per month, but all support is over the phone. No store.
4. TV entertainment is largely streaming, meaning you pick what to watch on demand instead of flipping through channels. If you want local network channels (like cable), there are 2 choices: a set-top box like traditional cable or streaming through the same device as services like Netflix. For example, Sling TV starts at $30 per month for a bunch of channels. If you only care about the Hallmark channel, you could pay for Hallmark+ for $9 a month.
5. Devices — there are 3 main devices you need: a cell phone (make sure it is unlocked when you buy it), a streaming box (like Roku or Apple TV, or what is built into a modern TV), and a router (which gives your house a Wi‑Fi signal). Costs are $250-$1000, $75, and $75 respectively. Buy them and don’t rent!

What are my devices?

• iPhone - Replace every 4 years. Cost about $650 or about $15/month
• Apple TV - Replace every 6 years. Cost is about $150 or $2/month
• Router - eero (3-4) Replace every 5 years. Cost is about $300 or $500. Note Verizon FIOS includes a router for $100 so the eero is not needed for most people. $5/month

What are my services?

• Cellular - Mint Mobile $25/month (1 year commitment)
• Home Internet - Verizon FIOS 300 Mbps - $55/month
• TV entertainment paid - Youtube premium $20, 1 other service (Hulu or Netflix or Apple TV) at a time $20, Spotify for 2 (music) $20

Total cost per month

Devices $22 + Home Internet $55 + Cellular $25 + Entertainment $60 = about $160 / month

To add another person is $40 extra per month