Reddit reviews $15/Month Mint Mobile Wireless Plan | 3GB of 4G LTE Data + Unlimited Talk & Text for 3 Months (3-in-1 GSM SIM Card)

> like reflux

I'm right there with you on that one!

The one mental downfall from working my entire life is that I am already fucking sick of working and I still have decades left of it. It's better now that I have finally gotten into a role that I actually enjoy, but still the thought of working until 65 kills me, let alone by the time it comes around for me the retirement age will probably be higher. With my investments I am really hoping to be able to retire in my 50s, but unless we have a real healthcare system in Murica (instead of our mess of a web of disparate programs like private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare) I probably will end up working solely because of healthcare. And on that thought it shows just how fucked up our country is.

I would just advise you to save what you can and even look for legitimate deals. Some of this will depend on your area and offerings and such but I would say:
Go internet only. If you live alone 25mbps should suffice just fine.
Shop around for cell phone plans. This is a huge pet peeve of mine with my gf. I have a $40 prepaid T-Mobile plan that ends up costing $44.50 after PA's shitty 20%+ tax on cell service. She has some stupid unlimited plan for $80 a month or something like that. I am actually looking at switching to Project Fi since I work from home most days now. I also saw a new provider that uses the Sprint network, Mint Mobile, and costs as little as $15 a month if you buy 3 months at once. I am waiting that one out since it is very new.
If possible take the bus to work. I pay half of what my coworkers pay to park and my commute is hardly different. Also, less money on gas and less wear and tear on your vehicle.

Try not to fall into the trap of getting into payment plans on items that aren't a necessity, even if it's interest free. I always like to know what I am paying for all up and in. That may just me being a weirdo, but for instance I looked at my mortgage right around closing and looked it thinking, "Ok, so taking the full 30 years to payoff my loan making the minimum payments will make my $190,000 house cost almost $300,000." As soon as I see how much larger that number is it gives me all the motivation I need to pay it off early. BUT, at the same time my loan's interest rate is 4.25%, and based on some recent material I was reading it was advising on mortgages with these low rates saying the homeowner is likely better off making the minimum payments while investing the money in the stock market instead of their house because in the 30 years of the mortgage that money's growth will most likely exceed any savings from paying off the mortgage early. That gave me a different thought process that I am considering for my mortgage as a minimum. I want to talk to my brother about it. I know his mortgage is 15 years and that he could pay it off any time he wants, but apparently he told my dad he won't and I suspect it is for a similar reason.

Those are just a few dumb examples of small savings that add up over the course of a year.

Sorry I kinda went off on a tangent there and rambled for a bit. I really hope some of this was helpful in some sort of way. I guess an easy word of advice that I recently saw (when it was talking about not paying of a mortgage early) is to make sure you max other items out before paying off a mortgage early, like your 401k and (I assume) an HSA if you have a HDHP garbage insurance plan.

Mint Mobile SIM Purchase on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Mint-Wireless-Unlimited-3-Months-SIM/dp/B0741FV7ZV

Mint is not a bad option, if you know what you're getting into. Mint does require an upfront estimation of your actual usage before you purchase in bulk ahead of time. I contend that the bulk purchasing to get the best rate is effectively a contract. You can only get their best price per month if you promise not to leave for 12 months. If you leave, you didn't get the deal you thought you did.

That limits your ability to shop around until your 'contract' ends if you do want to come back to Ting or look at another carrier.

To many, this isn't a concern. I just take issue with it being effectively a "no contract" carrier. They get your money either way.

/r/mintmobile has probably the best temperature gauge for what you can expect. Lots of enthusiasts, lots of detractors. They're probably where a significant chunk of our customers defect just on price alone.
Some report they come back for our customer service, as Mint outsources to south Asian call centers, as it's less-expensive for them.

They did just get a carrier bundle, so iPhones are easier for them now.

If you're going to trial them, go with the 3-month new customer deal at $15/month for 2GB. You can't re-up at that price unless you sign up for 12 months (again, I contend a contract), but it's a really good way to get your feet wet on what the company is about. Also, make sure you get your bugs out of the way quick -- no returns after 7 days.