Such an investment scheme is gaining popularity with each passing day. You can invest money and get returns either through periodic payment or through lump sum premium payment. Incomes on annuities are not taxed until they are provided to you and are regulated by the IRS or Internal Revenue Service.

Annuities make you independent

With an investment scheme like annuities you become independent. You need not depend on your family members and you do not create a burden of your own self to your family. You can keep your head high and walk proudly as you earn a lot from annuities. If you have a dream of owning a brand new car, you can fulfill it with the income from an annuity. Such an income gives you the right to possess a property or you can clear your past debts if you have taken any.

Regulations of tax-deferred annuities

Tax-deferred annuities are significant retirement plans that are given out by insurance companies and are rendered by government organizations or public schools or some other organizations that do not levy tax. The most interesting thing about the annuities offered by employers is that the employees enjoy such income on investment even after their term of employment gets over.

How are the taxes regulated?

Tax calculated on deferred annuities depends upon the annuity plan and the structure of the contribution made by the employment. Employer sponsored schemes contribute money and levy tax before the payment is made. On the other hand a supplemental investment scheme or annuity gives out after tax money. This serves as an added advantage to the employee who is the annuity owner as the whole amount of distribution money gets added to his ordinary income.

An important notification

If you are a retiree you can withdraw money from such annuities any time. A tax deferred annuity is very helpful at an old age and you can get high benefits from this investment if you are above 59 years or more than that. If the annuity is a sponsored plan of the employer, you can get early retirement advantages and start getting the money even at the age of 55 years.

Added advantages

Tax-deferred annuities give the retirees some additional advantages. You can even name your beneficiaries in case of this type of annuity. If you die, the cash value gets transferred to your beneficiaries. Generally, most of the retirees make their spouses as their beneficiaries if the concerned person is married. However, supplemental annuities have no such regulations regarding beneficiaries.

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Author’s bio -

The author, Jonathan James here focuses on the retirement schemes like annuities. A tax deferred annuity is a very significant investment plan and you get some added advantages from such an income.

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Although there are some financial plans available, yet an investment scheme like equity release which is provided by various equity release companies is of best help. The return or release on equity is nothing but the net income of a company available against the equity of the stockholder. It is a kind of profit from the funds that are invested.

Advantages of return on equity

Easy to calculate – The first benefit of release on equity is that it is absolutely easy to calculate. Do you know from where the numbers come? Every month the number comes straight from the financial statement of an equity release company. The statement of a person’s income accounts for his or her net income and the balance sheet provides information on the equity of a stockholder. If you are an internal stakeholder, you can easily review such information on the return by an entry to the financial statement of the company. You can earn return on your investment through lump sum amount or on installment basis. There are some companies which release equity based on quarterly financial statement letting the external stakeholders to make use of this information.

Analyses historical trend – This is another advantage of using huge returns on investment. You can use retirement equity release as an analysis of historical trend. By making use of many years or quarters of financial accounts, the stakeholders are allowed to ascertain whether there has been any improvement or decline of the equity release company based on its release or income from equity. The evaluation of the financial operation of the company can tip off the shareholders on their potential losses earned.

Helps in benchmarking – With the help of this, a stakeholder can easily compare the return on equity of one company to that of another. Such an income from equity is a primary tool of benchmarking. The stakeholders relate the benchmark to the company while evaluating profitability. If any company fails to update itself with the industrial standard, it symbolises that the company is not worthy of making good investments.

A famous equity release company situated in UK makes investment strategically in various management firms and it provides distinct investment products to the aspiring retirees and makes their life rich and healthy.

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Author’s bio –The author, Jonathan James here focuses on how people can earn even after their retirement. Retirement equity release is a famous scheme for earning after you retire from your job and there are some significant advantages of the return on such equities.

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The income is generally dependent on several factors – your age, your annuity’s price, term length and other terms of the contract. The investors determine the amount of income they require and for how long before you can invest in an annuity. But first you need to understand the definition of annuity income.

What is Income Annuity?

Income annuity is a type of income which is provided by various life insurance companies for specific number of years. It is not a life insurance policy. It pays you the money while you are alive not after your death. Income from this plan gives financial protection against the risk of loosing your income after retirement. The plan can be brought at a lump some amount. The annuity provider immediately annuitized your plan after the selection of a particular plan.

Options

There are numerous ways to establish an annuity. You can choose to take one premium at lump some and the rest in monthly program. The plan starts working immediately after your purchase. The second option is that you can make one lump some payment and start the rest of the program one or more years after the initial payment. The third option is to make payment in installment over a number of years and start the program at a predetermined time in near future. Usually the people start the plan 10-20 years later. The third option is ideal for mid forties and early fifties professionals.

Why would you buy Annuity?

Most of the people purchase annuity to secure their retirement life. They are all concerned that they will outlive their money in near future. The increasing cost of products and the changing life style have made them determined to invest on their protection. The income annuity plans are a good way to fuel your income flow in future. Others use annuity as supplement to their actual retirement income or to take care of the loved one after their death.

Choose the right Combination

It is important to select the right plan for your future protection. The selection of the interest rate is also an important factor. The Fixed annuity offers steady income with a steady interest rate. The income rate is fixed and is free from any fluctuations in the market.

The variable annuity plan is determined by the market interest rate. Here, the interest rate fluctuates with the abnormality of the market. This plan helps an individual in long run. The person can gain benefits with higher interest rate and similarly can lose his income with lower interest rate. It is always advised to choose correct annuity plan based on your investment performance.

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1. Fill up on a Wednesday – Statistics show that gas prices are actually cheaper on Wednesdays than any other day. (However, this may not be the case for each and every week, so take advantage of it if you see a great deal).

2. Drive the speed limit – Speeding puts your life and bank account at an unnecessary risk. Each time you press down on the gas pedal thing about the dollars and pennies that are literally falling out of your pocket just to pay for your impatience. Accelerate gently, and keep in mind that it will take 20-30 percent more gas to drive at 70 mph than 50 mph.

3. Remove unnecessary items in your car – Lugging around extra items in your vehicle while you drive around can put a damper on your fuel tank. Keep in mind that an extra 100 pounds in your  vehicle can actually reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. Some say that putting your tailgate down on your truck can get more gas mileage, however this is disputable.

4. Idle away – Coast through a drive-through and save money on gas prices. Idling instead of  pressing down on the brakes will save you a lot of money. You should also be aware that even when your car is idling it still uses a “fixed amount” of gas, especially if your AC is on.

5. Use cash instead of credit cards – Some retailers will offer deals to customers who use cash instead of credit cards, and may even offer deals that are 5 to 10 cents less per gallon if paid by cash. If you’re really strapped for cash, you shouldn’t be using your credit card anyways unless you want to pay a ton of interest rates.

6. Don’t use your air conditioner – This of course depends on where you live and what season it is…but try to turn off your AC approximately 5 minutes before you park your car. Also, try switching your air condition to an “economy” or “recirculation” setting to help cut down on gas costs.

7. Apply for credit cards that offer gas savings – Some credit card companies will offer discounts or even frequent flyer miles whenever you use their card to purchase gas.

8. Join the club – If you’re a regular shopper at a particular gas station or grocery store, check to see if you can sign up for their membership and get great discounts on gas.

9. Don’t fill up on a holiday – Because families tend to travel more on holidays and weekends, companies will hike up gas prices just to make a profit. Apparently if you fill up three days before  a holiday weekend you will save loads on gas.

10. Make sure your car is in tip top shape – We all know how expensive replacing car parts can be. But if you fall behind on your car maintenance, it could actually be costing you more in gas.  Think long-term and shell out the cash now, otherwise you could have some serious financial  issues down the road. Look for worn spark plugs, misalignment, bent wheels, leaks, etc.

11. Park in the shade – Shockingly enough the gas in your tank will actually evaporate if your car is sitting in the sun for too long. Then your AC doesn’t have to work as hard when you start up your car again. If you can’t find a shady parking spot, then try parking your car so it faces the opposite  direction of the sun. Try and purchase a windshield shade as well, and be sure to keep your sun or moon roof closed at all times.

12. Do it all in one trip – Try to do all your errands and shopping when you’re either driving to work, or coming home from work. Avoid filling up your car on weekends altogether, as gas prices may be slightly higher.

13. Don’t spend forever searching for a parking spot – Even if the first parking spot you see is far away from your destination, suck it up and walk for an extra two minutes. Driving around a parking lot for an extra minutes will cost you more than a few extra pennies.

14. Fill it up all the way – If you’re the type of person who likes to spend $10 on gas one day, and then $20 on gas two days later, you could be doing a lot of damage to your bank account. Fill it up all the way and save a ton of money. It’s better for the environment too.

15. Don’t wait until you’re empty – Once your gas tank is down to a quarter tank will not only  save you money in the long run, it’s also better for your car because you’re reducing the risk of condensation in your fuel tank. Not only that, by running your car on less than a quarter of a tank it can actually damage your electric fuel pump.

16. Your GPS is your friend – If you already own a GPS, take it with you everywhere (even if you know where you’re going) so you can use it to help you calculate the shortest driving distance from where you need to go. If you don’t own a GPS but you know your way around the area, try to look for alternate routes that are shorter and straighter so you don’t have to press down on the gas pedal as much.

17. Don’t leave your car running – If you’re parked waiting for train to pass, or if you’re waiting to pick someone up after work. Just turn your car off! It’s so simple, yet a lot of people forget to do this.

18. Brake it – This is specifically for drivers who are stuck in traffic jams when they’re driving to and from work. Keep a distance between you and the car ahead of you rather than pressing down on the accelator just to brake a few seconds later. Not only will it get you 10-20 percent better gas mileage, it will also force everyone else around you to do the same. (Everyone wins!)

19. Check your tire pressure – You should be checking your tire pressure on a weekly basis. Statistics show that if your tires are five pounds underinflated, you’ll actually be using up to 30%  more gas!

20. Replace your air filter – Believe it or not replacing a clogged air filter can actually improve your gas mileage by 10 percent!

21. Get a rental car – If you’re driving around an SUV or a gas-guzzler, maybe you should park it for a few months and drive a rental car until the gas prices go down. (If they ever do…) Choose a smaller car that is great on gas and watch your savings go up.

22. Drive in silence – Charging your iPod or even playing the radio can actually increase your gas mileage. It may not be a lot, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

23. Carpool – Split the cost of gas with a friend or co-worker and cut down on your gas costs by 50%. If the thought or driving with your co-workers to and from work everyday makes you cringe…suck it up until the gas prices go back down.

24. Take the bus – Public transportation is there for a reason. Taking advantage will not only save you money, it will also help the environment too. Look for daily, weekly, or even monthly passes to cut down on transportation costs.

25. Ride a bike or walk – Spring is right around the corner, are you taking advantage of this beautiful weather? Take advantage of the beautiful weather while it lasts, and use your car only on rainy days or when you’re running behind so you don’t feel as guilty. Park your car and save hundreds of even thousands of dollars on insurance and gas costs.

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Bio: Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go College, where recently she’s been researching teaching scholarships as well as biology scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing,practicing martial arts, and taking weekend trips.

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Maintaining personal finance with frugality

Frugality helps you to get the maximum value for your dollar as you spend less. The different ways to maintain both your finances and frugality are:

• Rent rather than own – Staying in a rented house is les costlier than buying a house. Buying a house does not only involve the cost of financing it and buying insurance for the same, it also includes the extra costs of maintaining and repairing the house.
• Stop impulse-buys – Stop yourself from buying things just out of impulse. If you buy an item out of your impulse you may find it useless later. Avoiding impulse buys helps you to save quite a lot of money that you can use towards making your credit card payments or other loan payments.
• Avoid getting new credit cards – In order to avoid getting into more debts and to save money, avoid getting any new credit cards other than the ones that you already have. Credit cards generally charge you high interest rates and so there is a possibility of incurring high debts if you miss payments on the accounts.
• Try saving on gasoline – Save some money on gasoline and if needed change your motoring habits. You should avoid warming up the engine for longer periods, or starting and stopping the engine simultaneously several times. You can also buy the gasoline for your automobile in the morning or in the evening when the weather cold enough to make the gasoline dense.
• Save some money on energy – You can save some amount of money on your electricity bills. Instead of using incandescent bulbs use compact fluorescent lights. Remember to switch off the fans and lights before leaving a room. It is also better to avoid keeping the refrigerator door open for a long time. Changing the filter of the A/C can save you money. One of the most effective ways to save energy is to use a Smart Power Strip that provides a power surge protection. It puts off all of the selected equipments if not used for some time.
• Take advantage of coupons and discounts – You can also take advantage of coupons and discounts to save money on daily expenses. You can strategically club together coupons with discounts offered by different stores. You can also save some amount of money through stockpiling.
• Review your credit reports – Other than saving as much money as possible you should also remember to review your credit report from time to time. You as a consumer are entitled to get a free copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus at least once in a year. So, remember to check your credit report at least once in a year. This helps you to remove wrong listings if any on your credit report and also helps you to better your credit.

So, you can see that frugality is minimalism. As you practice minimalism, you are able to save money for your future, for your financial obligations and also your tax payments. As it helps you save money it is one of the best solutions to credit card debt as said before. Thus, it is true that your personal finance benefits a lot from minimalism.

Photo credit:  http://freeloanfinance.com/

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Author Bio :

Ryan Smith is a contributory writer associated with the Debt Consolidation Care Community and has written several articles for various financial websites. He holds his expertise in the Debt industry and has made significant contribution through his various articles.

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So, how do you stay strong the next time you run into your local retailer? It’s actually a lot easier than you think if you follow our tried and true rules to take control of your spending and combat impulse shopping.

1. Wait it out. So maybe you would look amazing in those new heels. But are you sure they’re really going to make you as happy as you think they are? The simple way to

find out is to wait. Make a commitment to think it over for a week. Then, if you still think they’re a vital purchase go back for them. Or, if the item in question is on sale, give

yourself to the sale end date to go back for them. More often than not you won’t even bother.

2. Pay cash. One simple way to curb those impulse buys is to leave the credit cards at home and only pay in cash. When you do this your bank account will be instantly affected, as well as your daily budget. It’s a great incentive to spend less and save more!

3. Consider layaway. It’s not just for Mom anymore. Store layaways have made a big comeback since it allows you to really assess whether you’re willing to shell out the cash for the item over a period of time. Plus, since you’re forced to save up for the item before you can take it home, you’ll know for sure it’s worth it.

4. Compare prices. You may be tempted to jump on that 20% off deal with a particular retailer, but are you sure it’s really the best deal? Often, stores will jack up prices and then attach a sale to that higher cost so you are actually paying the same as you would at another store. Do your homework and compare prices before buying big-ticket items.

5. Know your triggers. For some people it’s a candy bar at the cash register and for others it’s a new book. Know which aisles in the store yield the most temptations and try to avoid them when you’re shopping. The old adage, “Out of sight, out of mind” really works in this case.

6. Stay out of the stores. It may sound simple but many people visit their local mall for entertainment rather than necessity. By staying out of mall or retail stores, you won’t be tempted and you may be inspired to find healthier activities. Remember, you can’t spend if you don’t shop!

Finally, ask yourself why impulse buying is such a temptation to you. Maybe you’re bored, lonely or are simply in need of a new hobby. Whatever the reason, make an effort to commit to saving – not spending!

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Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, where recently she’s been researching online kinesiology degrees and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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1. Trim your gift list. It may sound obvious but one of the best ways to spend less is to buy fewer gifts. If you and your family traditionally buy gifts for everyone, consider only playing Santa to the kids. Or, draw names so everyone makes a purchase for just one adult.

2. Set a limit. It’s easier to stick to your budget if you know exactly how much you can spend on each person. And with Internet shopping now so simple, you can search for gifts based on the price point and not get enticed by more expensive options.

3. Buy in bulk. If you know you’d like to get many of your holiday gifts from the same online retailer, buy them all at once. It’s a great way to save on shipping costs – and sometimes you can get discounts when you spend over a certain amount of money.

4. Pay with cash. When you spend only cash on your purchases, you won’t have to worry about costly interest rates when you get your credit card bill. Or, if you prefer the convenience of plastic, just use your banking check card.

5. Get creative. To cut costs even further, consider making gifts for everyone. For example, if Aunt Bea loves scarves, learn to knit. Or if Dad loves music, make him a CD of his favorite tunes.

6. Hit the sales. Some stores typically start holiday sales after the Halloween festivities end. And you’re not a fan of Black Friday crowds – don’t forget about the savings on Cyber Monday, which falls after the Thanksgiving weekend.

7. Recycle gifts. Try a white elephant swap to get rid of some unwanted gifts. Or, ask friends to pick out treasures at second hand stores. You’ll be amazed at how one man’s trash can be another’s treasure!

8. Opt for apps. Instead of a big sit-down holiday dinner, plan a lighter menu that features lots of appetizers. Your guests will have just as much fun, and you can save a bundle.

9. Hit craft fairs and flea markets. They’re a great alternative to the traditional stores, and you can buy interesting gifts you probably wouldn’t be able to find at your local mall.

10. Recycle your wrapping. One of the easiest ways to save on gift wrapping supplies is by reusing the ones you received the year before. You’ll be amazed at how quickly those gift bags can add up!

Remember that the holiday season is more about spending time with family and less about overdoing it financially. By setting spending goals up front and sticking to them, you’ll enjoy a stress-free holiday season. And remember, the earlier you start saving next year, the better off you’ll be. Happy Holidays!

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Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching areas of online degree programs. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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It’s one of the basic necessities needed for life, but for most of us, clothing has become an excess that we spend too much on. We have closets of clothes, most of which we buy on a whim and never use more than once. Long gone are the days when clothes were supposed to protect against the elements; it’s all about fashion now. And that’s the reason why we end up spending much more on clothes than we should. It’s not wrong to want to be fashionable, but when fashion digs a deep hole in your pocket, it’s time to take make amends and start saving on your clothing expenditure. You can start by:

1. Using all the clothes that you own – when you buy clothes and let them hang idly in your closet, you’re wasting money.
2. Taking good care of the clothes you own – wash them according to instructions and maintain them well.
3. Buying clothes that suit your figure and face – it’s all well and good to follow fashion, but when clothes that look great on supermodels make you look stupid, you have to say no to them.
4. Buying clothes that are bound to remain fashionable for a few years – when you shop for extreme fashion that disappears in a month or two, you have to restock your wardrobe more often.
5. Not buying clothes on a whim – set yourself a goal where you aim to buy only one or two new sets of clothes every year. This way, you can rein in your clothing expenditure.
6. Making do with clothes that you already have when you want something new – mix and match pants and tops, skirts and shirts, tees and jeans to create stunning new outfits. Accessorize them with cost-effective yet striking jewelry and bags; no one will guess you’re wearing something you’ve owned for ages.
7. Choosing neutral colors for most of your clothes – louder colors don’t lend themselves to most occasions and so end up languishing in your closet.
8. Shopping out of season – buy winter clothes in summer and vice versa, when they’re cheaper, yet still in fashion.
9. Shopping at sales – you can pick up great bargains if you wait for year-end sales to buy clothes.
10. Avoiding brands – you don’t have to pay top dollar to be dressed well; very often, you can find unbranded quality clothing at less than half the price of their branded equivalents.

Use your head rather than your heart when it comes to buying clothes; clothes should make the man, not break his wallet.

Photo credit:  www.sxc.hu

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The key to good financial health is to know when and where costs can be saved – you may be good at spending only within your means; you may pay off all your bills on time to avoid huge interest rates; and you may know how to stay within your budget. But in addition to all these good financial traits, if you know how to cut costs on expenses that are necessary, then you’re never really going to find yourself in the difficult position of debt.

When it comes to medical expenses, there are some that cannot be avoided and others that can be prevented if you use your common sense and take the right precautionary measures. Most families spend way too much on medical care than they need to, and if you want to know how to reduce your expenditure, here are ten tips that are sure to help:

1. Shop around for the best insurance policy – when you take time to select the best policy based on the needs of your family, you don’t have to pay more than you need to by way of premiums and you ensure that you’re going to get the best and comprehensive care if you fall ill or need hospitalization.
2. Pay up on your premiums every month without fail – even one missed payment could prove to be costly if your policy lapses and you meet with an accident or a child falls ill.
3. Ensure that your family eats healthy food – it’s cheaper and healthier to buy fresh ingredients and cook all your meals at home than to eat out or buy takeaway junk food.
4. Exercise regularly and make sure your kids are involved in a sport or in a physical activity like dancing, swimming or skateboarding. If nothing, get them out to play once every week; make a day of it in the park or at the beach with your pets and balls and Frisbees. The outdoors air is good for health and you also indulge in some much needed physical exercise.
5. Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol – you not only set a good example for your kids but also safeguard your health and prevent cancer, lung disease and cirrhosis of the liver.
6. Don’t self-medicate – even with OTC medicines that you think are safe, you could go horribly wrong when you mix drugs or when you’re allergic to a compound in them.
7. If your doctor prescribes medication, ensure that you follow the prescription to the letter – don’t stop taking your drugs when you start feeling better and don’t take them for longer than necessary.
8. Don’t abuse antibiotics – they’re very powerful drugs that can mess up your immune system and leave you prone to all kinds of diseases if you take them without a prescription or if you stop taking them for the recommended period of time.
9. Keep your medical records in order and be aware of hospital procedures and treatment methods to ensure that you prevent medical errors and oversights.
10. Consider seeing a nurse practitioner instead of a primary care physician – they’re well qualified, they tend to spend more time with you listening to and taking care of your problems, and they’re more cost-effective than doctors.

Note from Alma:

Living a frugal life is a choice.  What I would like to say is that not prioritizing medical needs defies frugal living.  The tips above intends to help you minimize medical expense as YOUR health and that of your family should and must continue to be a priority.

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But as a consumer, is it really worth it, at all, to maintain 3 prepaid lines on an Unlimited service? Or is it actually better to just keep a plan and not worry about needing to remain connected to everyone?

Let’s see.

Phones

An old Nokia or Sony Ericsson model from China costs as low as Php 500 in China Phone stores. These models are called “recon” or reconditioned models. These have been manufactured in the Chinese factories that have been commissioned to produce Nokia Phones. For some reason, despite the fact that these are ancient phone models, they’ve kept producing them, just labeling them as “reconditioned.” Either way, these are very cheap phones and honestly, you get what you pay for.

On the other hand, you can opt for a China Phone Dual SIM, which is usually a knockoff of a Nokia phone. They can cost anywhere from Php 1,000 to Php 6,000, depending on the model. If it has WiFi and TV, expect to pay more.

There are also the licensed, mainstream Dual or Triple SIM phones from Cherry Mobile, Torque, and MyPhone. MyPhone was the pioneer in the Dual SIM phone industry, however, the quality of their units left much to be desired, thus, Cherry Mobile and Torque were able to take over the niche they left. They’re still in business, but aren’t as favored by the consumers as much as Cherry Mobile and Torque. These phones can set you back anywhere from Php 1300 to Php 6500.

Then the mainstream big-company phones, usually Single SIM, or, as in the case of LG and Samsung, some models are Dual SIM. These could take up anywhere from Php 1,500 up to Php 20,000+ of your budget. If you’re going for the iPhone, expect to pay at least Php 25,000.

Plans

There are different plans involved. Some plans are consumable, while some have free minutes. Let’s explore those that are closest to prepaid with Unlimited offers: the Unlimited plan offerings. But for comparison’s sake, we’ll also note the lowest consumable plans, and the standard plans with freebies.

Smart:

Entry-Level Promo Plan: Gold Lite 300 (No Free Phone)
Consumable Value.
Free Minutes: 0
Free SMS: 75

Call Rates:
Smart to Smart: Php 2.00 per minute
Smart to Other Networks: Php 7.64
SMS Rate: Php 1.02
IDD Rate: $0.40

These two other Smart Plans come with Free Phones, as well as a Loyalty Program wherein Smart gives the subscriber a new phone every 2 years.

Lowest Consumable Plan: Plan 500
Free Minutes: 0
Free SMS: 150

Call Rates:
Smart to Smart: Php 6.62 per minute
Smart to Other Networks: Php 7.64
SMS Rate: Php 1.02
IDD Rate: $0.40

Plan With Free Minutes And Texts: Plan 500
Free Minutes: 20 minutes
Free SMS: 500

Call Rates:
Smart to Smart: Php 6.11 per minute
Smart to Other Networks: Php 7.64
SMS Rate: Php 1.02
IDD Rate: $0.40

Unlimited Plan: Applicable Only To Smart Gold Lite Plans:

Php 500 – Calls Only, worth 30 days, billed on top of plan.
Php 60 – Texts Only, every 5 days, billed on top of plan.

So, in order to take advantage of Call and Text unlimited on a Smart Plan, you would have to pay:

Php 300 – Smart Gold Lite Monthly Service Fee
Php 500 – SmartTalk Unlimited Call Promo
Php 360 – SmartText Unlimited Texting Promo (Php 60 for every 5 days x 5 times of enrollment to cover 30 days in a month)

Unlimited Call and Text, including Plan Total: Php 1,160 a month
Unlimited Text, including Plan Total: Php 660

Smart Prepaid Version:

Unlimited Call and Text:

Php 500 – SmartTalk Unlimited Call Promo
Php 360 – SmartText Unlimited Texting Promo (Php 60 for every 5 days x 5 times of enrollment to cover 30 days in a month)
Php 50 – Allowance for maintenance load

Total: Php 910

OR

Php 360 – SmartText Unlimited Texting Promo (Php 60 for every 5 days x 5 times of enrollment to cover 30 days in a month)
Php 50 – Allowance for maintenance load

Total: Php 410

There is an offer that gives you free 20 minutes worth of Smart to Smart calls every time you enroll in the promo. It expires when your Unlimited promo expires, as well. In a month, that would give you 100 call minutes (20 x 5 times of re-enrollment in the unlimited texting promo).

Globe:

Lowest Consumable Plan: Globe Fully Loaded 299
Freebies (This Plan may choose only ONE option):

Free 10 minutes of calls and 200 SMS to Globe
Free 5 minutes of calls and 25 SMS to other networks
Free 20 minutes of IDD calls and 10 International SMS
Free Mobile Internet Surfing
Free Unlimited Calls and Texts to ONE Globe or Touch Mobile Number

Call Rates:
Globe to Globe: Php 6.00 per minute
Globe to Other Networks: Php 7.50
SMS Rate: Php 1.00
IDD Rate: $0.40

Unlimited Plans:

Unlimited Text (No Calls) Offer: Php 349
Calls are billed on top of plan.

Unlimited Calls and Texts: Php 599
Calls to other networks are billed on top of plan.

Globe Prepaid Version:

Globe UnliTXT: Php 80 for 5 days x 5 times of reloading to cover 30 days
Globe UnliTXT Monthly Cost: Php 450
(Covers the Php 50 extra for maintenance of the promo.)

Globe Super Unli: Php 150 for 7 Days x 4 weeks
Globe Super Unli Monthly Cost: Php 650
(Covers the Php 50 extra for maintenance of the promo.)

Sun Cellular:

Lowest Postpaid: Easy Line 250

Unlimited Sun to Sun Texting
Free Call Minutes: 600 minutes

Standard Postpaid Line: Plan 350

You may enroll your Plan 350 in either Unlimited Text or Unlimited Call and Text Offers:

Call & Text Unlimited

Unlimited Sun to Sun Calls & Texts
Free SMS to other Networks:  250
(No consumable calls to other networks. Calls to other networks are charged on top of Monthly Service Fee, up to the account’s credit limit.)

Text Unlimited

Unlimited Sun to Sun Texts
Free SMS to other Networks:  250
Consumable Amount: Php 200
(Consumable amount could be applied to for calls to other networks.)

Sun Cellular Prepaid Version:

Text Unlimited: Php 150 per 30 days, includes 240 Sun to Sun call minutes

Call and Text Unlimited: Php 450 per 30 days, includes Php 50 regular load

Thus, if you maintain 3 networks, you’ll be spending:

Unlimited Text Only/Postpaid:

Smart: Php 660
Globe: Php 349
Sun: Php 250

Total: Php 1259

Unlimited Call and Text/Postpaid:

Smart: Php 1160
Globe: Php 599
Sun: Php 350

Total: Php 2109

Unlimited Text Only/Prepaid:

Smart: Php 410
Globe: Php 450
Sun: Php 150

Total: Php 1010

Unlimited Call and Text/Prepaid:

Smart: Php 910
Globe: Php 650
Sun: Php 450

Total: Php 2010

By these figures, you can see that it is more frugal to actually go for the Unlimited Text Only options for Prepaid. After all, you do get free minutes with Sun, and Smart does have free minutes as well. However, in terms of best value for money and freebies, it would make sense to get a Sun Plan, but then keep your Globe and Smart lines text-only.

Personally, it is crucial for me to maintain a Smart prepaid account on unlimited text, because most of my contacts are on Smart. However, I do have a few friends on Globe, and their Immortal Text offer has been helpful. Immortal Text and Immortal Calls are no-expiry enrollments of your regular Globe load. Their previous “plans” were at Immortal 15: 50 Globe to Globe texts/5 minutes of calls per Php 15, and Immortal 20: 75 Globe to Globe texts/10 text to other networks. I only load their SUPER UNLI Php 25/24-hour Unlimited Call/Text offer, as needed.

So my personal set is:

Smart: Php 410
Globe: Php 250
Sun: Php 250

Total: 910

Globe is set at Php 250, because I had loaded only Php 150 last July 2, then enrolled the value on ImmortalTXT and ImmortalCALL subscriptions and I’m giving a generous estimate of needing to load it Php 25 a week for the 24/7 call and text unlimited offer. Now that the promo is gone, I may just load around the same amount, for the occasional text to Globe subscriber friends and loved ones. We’re not sure if there’ll ever be another offer like ImmortalTXT or ImmortalCALL, but I’m thinking about adding another Touch Mobile SIM to my growing collection of SIM Cards. This is because Touch Mobile has cheaper options, like the Php 5 SulitTXT, which is 25 text messages from TM to Globe, for only Php 5.

But then again, maybe it would be easier to just use regular prepaid load, since I’m not even texting a lot of people on Globe anyway. We’ll see.

So, to wrap up, in order to be able to text everyone you need to, across all three maddening networks, you may need to spend a minimum of Php 1,010 a month on Prepaid, or Php 1,259 on Postpaid. Not a lot of difference, actually. On one hand, if you’re looking to absorb the cost of your phone, it actually makes more sense to stay on the Postpaid, since you’ll get free phones every 2 years. While you can get free phones on Globe’s Text Unlimited Plan, and on Sun’s Plan 350, take note that you would have to get a Regular Smart Gold Plan, or its consumable version, for Smart. You cannot get a free phone for Smart Gold Lite.

Maybe the free handset every 2 years is worth it. Maybe you have a thing for phone brands that are not on the phone lineups of either Smart, Sun or Globe. Maybe you’ll be content with just one plan on one network. Or just one single postpaid account on one network, because of the free texts or call minutes. Either way, we’ve given you how the bills look from a Postpaid or a Prepaid perspective, especially on the Unlimited Texting and Unlimited Call and Texting side. Now, it’s up to you to take a look and see which mobile network carrier, and which Unlimited plan or promo is best for you.

Photo Credits: Pinoy Tech Blog

For Part 1 of this article, click please: UNLIMITED MADNESS

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More On Saving On Phone Costs: How To Make Cheap Phone Calls and Lower Your Phone Bill

Little kid running around the Internets posing as a 26 year old Freelance Online Writer slash Virtual Assistant for Hire. She loves God, Theology, Technology, and Thinking Too Much. And don’t forget her boyfriend.

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