What should I pay for a mobile phone contract?

I have no landline phone as I have unlimited minutes and texts plus 2GB data with PlusNet for £6.50pm. been the same price for18 months and more on a rolling monthly agreement which I can stop at any time.
I bought my own mobile phone and barely use any mobile data outside the house so 2GB is plenty.
I'd never have a contract again.

I live in Godalming, South Surrey (areas do matter when it comes to utilities and networks) and change every year if my supplier won't give me a better deal.
My gas DD is just under £12.50 pm. I have gch and cooking and hot water (of course)
My tariff is 2.46 pence per unit and 11.5 pence per day standing charge with Utility Point. That is a ridiculously low price and they have a rewards system for customers whereby you can get up to 20% off when shopping at any if a list of retailers or other companies.
If I got my electricity from them too, I would pay even less over both bills.
As it is, my electricity is on a business rate fixed for 5 years and is very competitive.
I like to swap banks regularly to get the most from savings rather than have cash loose in a current account getting nothing.
Not good for large amounts but good for anything up to £5k which would languish in a current account.

What matters most when looking to change gas and electricity companuest is the unit price and the kilowatt price plus the standing charge...nothing else.
That determines your bill.
It's better to choose a slightly higher standing charge with a lower unit price, as the number of days is always going to be between 28-31 days but the amount of gas and electricity will fluctuate massively throughout the year.
The number of units used x 39.2 x 1.02264 ÷ 3.6 x unit rate (cost) ÷ 100 will give you your gas cost.
Note the number of days in the month from your last reading and x it by the daily standing charge ÷ 100 to get the cost and add both figures together.
That will be your total bill taken to the 2nd point ie: £28.77869 will be £28.78.
Always ask for the unit price and standing charge when changing supplier, not the tariff they think you should be on, as they are the only figures that matter to you, the customer.

companuest companies

i guess with fuel tariffs, the best require a smart meter.
i feel i am paying too much for fuel, and tried to query it, but the answers seemed to be just repeating what i has asked, so i gave up.
eg why is it so much in summer when i don't have the heating on and little hot water, answer: that is the charge for that period. i know, but surely i haven't used as much then as in winter? answer: that is the sum that is owing at the moment, and so on...
it just gives me a headache. i have never been in debt. it would upset me more than going short. i don't want them to say i am trying to wriggle out of paying, or to make such a comment on my account. so it seems easier just to pay it.
i have almost no income at the moment, with none in prospect. having to live off savings for the foreseeable.

Tesco all the way. Free phone and free upgrades, £7.50 per month, 5000 texts and 500 minutes. Been with them now for about 10 years. Brilliant reception and good customer service.

I own my phone and pay £10 a month to 02 for unlimited everything. I dont even ever turn my data off.
My iPhone 6 was about £250 new a year or so ago from O2 shop.
You can do better than what you are on.

welbeck
Please do not give up.

Some companies charge according to season on some of their tariffs. Some quote a monthly amount based on THEIR perception of your usage.

Comparison websites do not and will not give you the unit or kilowatt prices or standing charge. They quote only for the size of property (number of bedrooms) and average use in your area as judged by them.

They get that average from Lowri Beck, a company which verifies every reading you about 10 days after you give the reading.

Best thing is to directly ring the company who you think offers a good deal but ask them for the unit price and the standing charge including VAT. (some quotes do not include VAT and you have to add the 5% on top of your calculations)
Then you can work out your bills to the penny.
They have to inform you of the numbers and they are on your bills, usually on the 3rd or 4th pages if you have paperless billing.
I hope you find a way to manage your energy and other suppliers in a way that satisfies you and not feel manipulated by them.
Take care ?

I have a sim only deal with Three. £20.5 a month with unlimited minutes, texts, data and tethering, bargain!

We also have homefi internet with Three, so no need for a landline.

I pay £29.99 per month for my landline and broadband - with BT - this includes and payment of £5 monthly to give me all calls to landlines in UK and mobiles without any extra charge. My mobile (which I always buy outright) is with 02.

Originally, I paid £10 a month and never ever came close to using all the data on it. Just over a year ago, I had a problem with my phone, and took it into an 02 shop and they asked me how I used it -and then suggested they change my contract to £7 per month!

The only time I ever came close to using all my data was in the first week after I moved home, and was waiting for BT to install my landline and broadband, and was having to make loads of calls, etc regarding my new home.

Think we have to think about checking these sort of arrangements annually, in the same way as we do our other utility bills, and insurances.

PS: Both BT and 02 have slightly increased these charges, by pennies, due to cost of living index - I did query this with BT as I have a two year fixed contract, and was told that they are permitted to pass these increased on to to their customers.

Sim only with Giff Gaff £6 per month. Unlimited texts and calls.
I decided when my contract was up with O2 that I wasn't going to enter into another one paying well over the odds for what I need. A lot of contracts now are for 3 years, far too long for me.

I recently upgraded from an antique to a smart phone, bought the phone outright a lovely Samsung for 130.00 and 8.00 a month sim only deal with loads of minutes, data etc way more than I'll ever use.
And I love my new phone.

I pay £15.90 broadband, includes landline to Post Office Broadband. I pay only £3.79 a month to Sky mobile. unlimited calls and texts, don't use internet on it! have own phone! I don't use landline phone! I renew each year with Sky mobile and also search for cheapest broadband deal each year.