All the Things You Can Spend Your Money on Instead of a Phone Bill

If you’re still paying a monthly phone bill (don’t feel too bad about it — you’re not the only one), and you ever wondered just what life could be like if you didn’t have to pay it, you've come to the right place.

Before we start, we probably should explain: While phone providers traditionally don’t furnish any service unless you pay for it, TextNow’s service starts at $0/month. That's in comparison to the average $141/month Americans pay — and you get access to a local phone number with unlimited nationwide calling & texting, plus data for select essential apps (like email, maps, finance, and rideshare) without ever having to pay. If you would like to access more on-the-go, you can purchase unlimited data by the day, week, or month, whatever works for your needs and budget.

The important part here is that even if you pay absolutely nothing at all, you will still have service. That's a huge relief for those of you looking to cut down on your phone bill and start allocating that money elsewhere, such as:

Groceries & essentials 

Eliminating a $120/month bill can add up to:

• A week’s worth of groceries — or more — for the average person.  

• A Walmart haul to fill your pantry.  

• Perhaps even a few take outs during busy nights.  

Because nobody wants to think “my phone bill = all the meals I could be eating instead.”  

Transportation  

• Two tanks of gas to get to work, depending on your vehicle. 

• A monthly buss pass and perhaps some rideshares (Uber, Lyft) for when you’re stuck late or the bus schedule doesn’t work for you.  

• Car insurance coverage.  

That “I could get to work and back for a whole month instead of giving [insert phone carrier here] my money” sting hits hard.  

Household needs 

• Diapers and wipes for a month.

• A utility bill or two covered.  

• Cleaning supplies, toiletries, and the boring-but-crucial stuff that somehow all runs out at the same time and racks up a less than desirable bill.  

Treats!  

Don’t forget, just because you have bills to pay doesn’t mean that you can’t also enjoy the little things in life that make life, well, worth living.  

• Movie night out with friends or your kids (make it out more than once even). 

• A Target run where you don’t have to count every dollar. 

• New toys or books for your kids “just because.”  

Honestly, the list could go on.

And if you’re worried about not having unlimited data service all the time, don’t be. Americans spend most of their time on Wi-Fi, and you likely do too. Having access to fun content like music or videos without Wi-Fi is still possible simply by downloading the content in advance. And if you’re really strapped, you can add a TextNow data plan by the day or week if you don't want to spring for a whole month.

The advantage is, TextNow lets you keep more money in your pocket every month to cover whatever expense or treat comes up. That makes budgeting a whole lot less stressful.