How to Save Money on Your Phone Bill by Switching to Virgin Mobile

From the moment my husband and I decided to get a joint cell phone plan, we have been paying anywhere from $120 to $150 each month, and this did not include a data or text messaging plan on my husband's phone. While this plan did provide me with unlimited text messages, on the rare occasion that I texted him, we added another $.20 to our bill. After spending years calling representatives at AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile in search of a cheaper plan, we finally stumbled upon Virgin Mobile. Although Virgin Mobile is nothing new, we always assumed that a pay-as-you-go or no contract phone service would be a worse deal than any two-year contract. How wrong we were.

Believe it or not the days of $100 plus cell phone bills are over thanks to Virgin Mobile.

How a Virgin Mobile Plan Can Save You Hundreds Each Year

Virgin Mobile offers no contract plans on a wide range of cell phones. However, don't be alarmed, although there is no contract, Virgin Mobile uses the same network as Sprint, and the service is on par with any provider.

The customer service is even more impressive. When my husband called Virgin, he was able to talk to a knowledgeable representative much faster than he ever could navigating AT&T's automated system. The representatives were also quick to answer questions and when the representative did not know the answer, hold times were brief.

One of the best features with Virgin Mobile is also the one feature that gives people pause: the lack of a contract. While this may appear to be a gimmick, it isn't. As cell phone consumers, we've been subjected to a contract for so long that we don't know what to think about a provider that gives us true freedom of choice. The lack of a contract demonstrates Virgin Mobile's confidence in their service. If that doesn't sell you, remember that no contract means that if a better deal does come around you have the freedom to switch.

The only potential downside is that you must purchase a Virgin Mobile phone. However, the cost involved in purchasing the phone is mitigated by the immense savings of the low-cost service. For example, my husband and I now pay $45 per plan for 1200 minutes each and unlimited text and data. However, you can get a plan as low $35 for 300 minutes and unlimited text and data. Combine the 300 minute plan with Skype or other voice chat services, and you can really save a bundle. At AT&T, we were paying about $150 per month for fewer features. We are now saving $60 per month with more features and excellent phones. Virgin Mobile smartphones start at about $100. We opted for the recently released Motorola Triumph (Check out a review by clicking HERE), available through Best Buy for $250 to $300, depending on their promotions (keep in mind that the 10% and 12% off coupons that Best Buy sends to its Reward Zone members can be used on Virgin Mobile phone, but not AT&T, Sprint, or T-Mobile phones). At that rate, we will have recouped our losses in 5 months. When all is said and done, we will have better phones, better service and more money; what we won't have is a stifling contract.