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14 days agoNice find. A tip for anyone comparing: look at the total yearly cost, not the monthly promo price. Add equipment fees, taxes, and what the price jumps to after the first 12 months, then divide by 12. Putting a calendar reminder a month before any promo ends is also worth it, since that’s usually when a quick call or a switch saves the most. Even a $20/month drop on a recurring bill adds up to $240 a year without changing anything else in your budget.
Congrats, that’s a great way to see where the money actually goes. One thing that helps me keep a number like this realistic: split the year into fixed costs, flexible costs, and one-off big purchases (like appliances or a watch). The one-offs are what usually blow up an annual total, so setting aside a small monthly ‘irregular expenses’ amount keeps them from feeling like surprises. Tracking the three buckets separately also makes it easier to see which one is worth trimming.