55+ Living Guide Spring 2014 | Page 32

Independent Living Independent Living TECHNOLOGY B Y R o bert N a z arian Plan B Costs Plan A Costs Plan C Costs Plan D Costs INSIDE ADVICE ON HOW TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE RIGHT CELL PHONE & PLAN T he cost of owning a mobile phone has skyrocketed over the years, but there are simple ways to minimize your costs. The first thing you need to decide is if you really need a smartphone. Smartphones are great, but if you are already out of the workforce and do not need to be connected constantly, I recommend buying a Wi-Fi tablet and using a basic phone for the times when you need to receive or place calls. If you go this route, your best bet is to sign up with a pay as you go or prepaid plan. Not only are they cheaper in the long run, you [