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Our phone bill is now $5 a month.

That’s right, $5.

Background: We have been happy primus customers for years (see previous complementary post), paying ~$25 a month for VOIP service and 300 minutes North American long distance. We rarely go over 300 minutes, and when we did it was $0.05 a minute.

However, Primus’ rates started to creep up, and other options came on the scene.

Enter voip.ms. You need to buy your own VOIP hardware, but once you do, it’s $0.99 a month for your number, $1.50 for e911 service, $0.01 per minute to the US, $0.005 per minute to Canada, voicemail, call display, etc. etc. etc. all included.

Our bill for our first month? $4.90 for 9 hrs of talk time/long distance, and $2.49 for the number and e911, $7.39 total including tax. Shan’s mom was here for a week, which at least doubled the talk time (we don’t talk on the phone much), so I expect our average bill will be $5.

FIVE DOLLARS!

2 caveats:

– Porting your number over costs $25. If you are OK with a new number, FREE!
– Hardware costs ~$54 (Cisco PAP2 ATA or similar)
– Primus gouged me for $35 on the way out. Duds.

If you’re at all tech savvy, and have dry DSL or cable internet, don’t walk, RUN and start saving yourself over $20 a month!

Sincerely,

Unsolicited Product Endorser

Making it up to you…

I’ve been slacking.  My comfortable summer routine has come to an end and I’ve found myself feeling a bit swamped over the last little while.  Blogging officially took the back seat.  And it will again.  Life happens when you least expect it.  And with only a couple of weeks left before school starts, I’m squeezing every ounce out of life.

To make it up for it, I present this:

August 25, 2011 - 8:30 pm

Vinnie Lyon - Just when I think I’ve seen them at their cutest…

Sharpies left unattended

My boy. All boy. Loving fire trucks and all things mechanical. But also so sweet and by far the snuggliest baby I’ve ever known. Even when he’s deep in play, he’ll stop, notice us and race over for a quick hug or a squish your face smooch before getting back to it. I love him more than words.

Even when he gets into the Sharpies and writes on our red leather chair, our light beige carpet, and, not surprisingly, himself.

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Oh, Wes…

August 18, 2011 - 10:06 am

Alicia - Not the chair!!

August 22, 2011 - 10:55 am

Sarah - Sorry! I hate to LOL but a few month ago, Hayden did the same thing…our laptop and new white kitchen cupboards got the Sharpie treatment as well. It came out with the magic eraser…maybe it will work on the red chair?