In preparation for this journey I’m about to start I had to take a look at my life and figure out what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to let go. And in that evaluation I took a look at what I would have as an on going bill. The only on going bill that was optional was my cell phone.
Now for a little back ground: I have had the same phone number since I was 16. I have been with Verizon almost as long. I am grandfathered in on my current plan of unlimited EVERYTHING for $84/month. I buy full price phones online specifically to keep this plan. And at one point I used 10 gig/month.
At one time I walked into the store to look at my newer options and the cost was going to be double for less minutes, text messages, and data just to cover what I used.
So in thinking about being gone for a year I had to make sure that I didn’t loose this position with Verizon. So I budgeted in my plan for $84/month.
Then today I got a text letting me know that my bill was due for the month and it wasn’t the normal $84 it was $100. I freaked out. What was going on? So I pulled everything up and turns out they had raised my bill.
I hadn’t gotten any notice about the change so I went online, found their contact number and called them. I reached the nicest guy named Sean. He put me on hold to look into things and came back and let me know that they had raised everyone’s prices $20 that were grandfathered in. He apologized and started to read the standard lines about how as technology gets better it costs more to offer services.
I’m not going to lie, I had a moment. But I didn’t take it out on him. It was all in my mind, the yelling and freaking out. I know $20 isn’t much, but every month when I’m about to not have any income it’s a huge deal.
So I told Sean, in the grand scheme of things $20 ($16 with my employer discount) wouldn’t be a big deal if I had a job. I then told him about what I’m about to do. I explained how I am on a massive budget and have to save every penny I can. I told him about how much money it would cost to even go on this journey. And he sat and listened patiently.
When I was done he asked me to hold. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I just didn’t need to add this to the list of things I needed to worry about. I already have a long list. So I waited patiently until he came back to the phone.
When he came back Sean let me know he wanted to do what ever he could to help me. He told me that there was nothing he could do about the monthly cost but he could discount this months cost $22. (That’s giving me a savings even looking at what I used to pay) And then Sean said something else. I can keep my phone and my plan as is and not pay while I’m gone.
What?!?!
He let me know that they have a special program for the military and for volunteers where I can place a hold on my account and keep everything exactly how it is while I’m gone and when I come back they can reactivate me and put me right back. And I don’t have to pay while I’m on hold!! Sean made my night.
God will provide 🙂 And He just saved me $1,008 for the year.
