Miscommunicating on What is "Important"

[fureverywhere]

On our weekly trip to the supermarket last night we had our weekly " You're spending too much money" discussion. Something amusing is when he was fretting " I don't know if I can even make the $200 for Verizon this month". In my head I was thinking " WAIT. YO. YOU SPEND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ON VERIZON A MONTH...WHHHHHAAAATTTT?????".

I guess it's like him trying to understand why I need my fake nails filled in once or twice a month. If you have natural nails that might be puzzling to you too. Why do I pay maybe thirty or forty dollars a pop to sit and inhale toxic solvents and have my nail beds mauled? Why would anybody do that?

I watch TV for maybe a half hour a month. Pick up the phone once in a great while and would be content to use the computer for free at the library. I had no idea Verizon was so expensive jeez. A question for those more techy...how could he cut that bill down? Or is that the going rate for service?

 

[Don M.]

I, too, am constantly amazed at how much money some people spend on cell phone service. I cannot imagine walking around all day with one of these toys glued to my face, carrying on endless conversations and texting nonsense, etc. Since things like pay phones have virtually disappeared, a cell phone is a good thing to have for emergencies, etc., but that's about all such a device is worth having for, IMO. I pay $7 a month to maintain a tracfone, and have hundreds of minutes built up on it....probably will Never use them.

 

[Wilberforce]

me too .the credit I have on my cell phone would almost pay my car insurance. This $10 a month which is carries forward only of you pay the $10 by the right date is a rip off . Pay as you go in the Uk is different you pay whatever amount you like up front and when it is gone you buy some more and thats it.

 

[nvtribefan]

I had no idea Verizon was so expensive jeez. A question for those more techy...how could he cut that bill down? Or is that the going rate for service?

2 people, 2 phones, unlimited voice and text, sharing 4G data on Verizon. I pay less than $100. Cost depends on services.
Question - Someone in your household has a $200/mo bill you were not aware of?

 

[Butterfly]

me too .the credit I have on my cell phone would almost pay my car insurance. This $10 a month which is carries forward only of you pay the $10 by the right date is a rip off . Pay as you go in the Uk is different you pay whatever amount you like up front and when it is gone you buy some more and thats it.

I have the same kind of deal here with T-Mobile. I bought the phone, and I put $$ on it and then use that and have to put more $$ on it. I do not pay ANY monthly fee.

 

[fureverywhere]

My husband has always been in charge of the bills. Great at organizing and able to keep track what is due what day in his head. It's just that if he becomes more feeble or the unthinkable happened I have to know what bills are what. I'm just kinda horrified that the phone, the cable, and the computer even...three things I barely use really...are $200 a month

If I lived alone I probably wouldn't even have a TV never mind cable. Alone and my main bill after rent, electric, and people food would be food for dogs, cats, rats, and lizard.

 

[bluebreezes]

Like reviewing your insurances once a year to see what the coverage options and competitive rates might be, it's worth considering options for internet, phone and cable/streaming/TV services too. I have an unlimited talk and text/wi-fi only prepaid plan with Verizon for $30/month. Cutting out any premium cable channels and opting instead for one streaming service at a time can save money too. I had my cable internet rate cut almost in half when I told Time Warner I wanted to disconnect it.

The bigger concern though is that all of the financial stuff is in his head and, from your description, you're not involved with everything each month. I can't image not knowing where every penny goes, income versus expenses, net worth, account balances, and investments, not to mention details concerning every account including account numbers. IMO everything needs to be written down and discussed so that you're in the loop.

 

[tnthomas]

I typically buy a nice mid range cell phone from Google, unlocked and no contract. That way I can go to any carrier I choose. Consumer Cellular has nice pick n' choose options, for voice, text, and data service. I'm paying $60/mo. for unlimited text, 100 minutes of voice and 1.5GB data, shared between 2 phones, that I own outright.

 

[SeaBreeze]

I, too, am constantly amazed at how much money some people spend on cell phone service. I cannot imagine walking around all day with one of these toys glued to my face, carrying on endless conversations and texting nonsense, etc. Since things like pay phones have virtually disappeared, a cell phone is a good thing to have for emergencies, etc., but that's about all such a device is worth having for, IMO. I pay $7 a month to maintain a tracfone, and have hundreds of minutes built up on it....probably will Never use them.

I'm with you Don, not a big chatterbox here and don't use my phone for anything but short communications with my husband, or have it for an emergency when I'm out alone, have yet to ever send or receive a text....except from Tracfone when my service is about to run out and they want to give me a promo code. Tracfone here too, flip phone, usually get the 90 day service, 60 minute card for $20, 4 X's a year. Always use bonus codes for extra minutes, but always have plenty to spare sitting on my phone if I ever need them. I can't see paying money on manicures or pedicures either, I can do my nails myself if I want to, can count the amount of times over the years I went out for a mani or pedi on my fingers.

 

[fureverywhere]

In the Spring I did a huge clean up and sorting of documents, important bills, and tons and tons of things to shred or burn. Woooof, I realized hubby was a paperwork pack rat. There are many bills he pays online. But then the paper copy was put aside an envelope at a time...for ten to fifteen years. I have to get my notebook and sit down with him and get all the dates, all the accounts, all the billing info organized so I can see exactly what needs to be paid when. There's also the issue of names. He pays a bunch of bills in his father's name. I don't understand why exactly. He also let's a friend who's off the grid use us as a mailing address...so he takes care of things for him too and the friend pays him back in cash. So at the moment it's a big ball of confusing.