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WilliamKorn's avatar
WilliamKorn
Explorer
May 28, 2014

Full timing Internet, entertain, communication on the cheap

We use cell phones for both voice, messaging and limited internet through the Verizon pay as you go plan. ($1.99 / day for voice / messages, $.02 per text sent or received and $.99 per 24 hour period for web access). Magicjack provides access to our cell phone messages without charge and phone service when internet is available. Magicjack costs $99.75 for five years. With the free internet access available in so many locations we never even think about any other source and when available, we download free programs / movies / music to entertain us when we not connected. A cheap wifi antenna allows us to sit outside in our RV and receive internet (Signal King on Amazon, SK-950WN, $21.89 delivered is a great unit)

Cell phone service for both phones was $1284.00 a year with a “plan” and now cost just $200.00 per year for both phones. Verizon service is active for a year with a $100.00 annual payment. We ended our first year with a carry over credit of $42.00 on one phone and $86.00 on the other. We average cell phone use about 35 days a year.

Voice mail on the cell phones is retrieved and answered via Magicjack if it is available through free internet otherwise messages from both phones is retrieved and answered on one cell phone.

So, to sum up our annual costs incurred when full-timing are either $120.00 for Magicjack and one cell phone or $220.00 with two cell phones.
  • TechWriter wrote:
    WilliamKorn wrote:
    WWith the free internet access available in so many locations . . .

    This hasn't been my experience.


    Nor ours. In many RV Parks, IF they have Wifi and we are on a monthly rate, then we would have to pay for it. Or they don't have enough repeaters and it constantly knocks you off.
  • WilliamKorn wrote:
    WWith the free internet access available in so many locations . . .

    This hasn't been my experience.
  • That's terrific info as we are becoming full-timers within the next 60 days. We use ATT for cell but I'm sure they have something similar. We've used a Magic Jack for our "land line" for several years and it works great as you indicated. I'll have to check out the Signal King. Appreciate the information!

    Any other tips for newbies to full-timing are appreciated.

    Alan and Kathleen
  • Thanks. I don't full time but, I want to lower our cell phone bills.