You can keep your existing phone and take it to Mint Mobile to get great service at a great price. You’ll use the towers of T-Mobile, but you’ll pay Mint Mobile. Prices start at only $15 a month.

Below we will tell you which phones you can use and which plans you can pick from.

Be sure to read the details, as just being on the list below is not good enough – your phone must also be unlocked or locked to T-Mobile.

Also, if your phone is not on the list below it may still work if it is unlocked or locked to T-Mobile. This is not an exhaustive list of all phones that work.

If you are unsure, ask us in the comment section below!

Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone Plans

Here are some of the plans you can choose from:

If you aren’t familiar with Mint Mobile, take a moment and read our writeup on Mint Mobile to learn some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing Mint Mobile’s prepaid, no contract required cellular service.

When you’re ready to purchase your SIM, please be sure to see our money-saving tips below to save even more!

Keep reading to find out which phones will and won’t work with Mint Mobile:

Phones that will work with Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone

(1) Look below at the list of phones & make sure your phone is unlocked or locked to T-Mobile; then it will work on Mint Mobile.

(2) If your phone is not on the list, it may still work if it is unlocked, or locked to Sprint. Also, please make sure your phone is not on the list of “Phones that won’t work” at the bottom of this article.

(3) If you still aren’t sure, leave us a comment below and we’ll try to help as much as we can!

If your phone won’t work, or you just need a new phone, consider purchasing a phone from the list below, or a low-cost phone from Mint if you are in this situation.

Popular Phones that work with Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone

Below is a list of popular phones that will work with Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone. If the original carrier for these phones was not T-Mobile, the phone will likely need to be unlocked to work with Mint Mobile. You can ask your current carrier to unlock your phone for you, or check out Amazon’s books on phone unlocking.

Click on the phone for more information or to purchase the phone.

Once you have found the phone that suits you, head over to Mint Mobile, sign up for a plan and get your SIM!

Buying a New or Used Phone for Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone

If you are looking to get a phone for use with Mint Mobile’s Bring Your Own Phone program, here’s what I would recommend:

Your best bet is going to be to look for a true unlocked phone, one that was unlocked from the beginning. Use any of the links above to find unlocked versions of those phones.

However – you may also be able to save some money by buying a used, locked phone from T-Mobile. Only buy a locked phone on T-Mobile, any other locked phone will not work!

Phones that won’t work with Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone

Phones on these carriers will not work unless they are first unlocked:

• Verizon Wireless Locked Phone
• AT&T Wireless Locked Phone
• US Cellular Locked Phones
• C Spire Locked Phones
• nTelos Locked Phones
• Metro PCS Locked Phones
• Verizon Prepaid Locked Phones
• AT&T Go Locked Phones
• Total Wireless Locked Phones
• TracFone Locked Phones
• SafeLink Locked Phones
• NET10 Locked Phones
• Straight Talk Locked Phones
• Boost Mobile Locked Phones
• Virgin Mobile Locked Phones
• Cricket Locked Phones
• Republic Wireless Locked Phones
• PagePlus Locked Phones
• Jitterbug Locked Phones
• Greatcall Locked Phones
• BlackBerry Phones
• Nextel Phones

Some phones, particularly international / imported phones will also not work on Mint Mobile, even if they are unlocked, as they do not support the correct frequency bands. Check Frequency Check if you have one of these types of phones, to verify that it will work on the network that you wish to use on Mint Mobile.

Purchasing Your Mint Mobile SIM

To purchase your Mint Mobile SIM, simply head over to Mint Mobile and place your order. The purchase wizard will walk you through selecting the proper SIM for your phone.

Conclusion

If you have a question on whether another phone not listed here will work on Mint Mobile, leave a question below in the comments, and I’d be happy to help you. Be sure to include the following in your question: (1) Phone name, (2) Phone model number, (3) Carrier the phone is running on now, (4) If the phone is locked or unlocked.

The post Mint Mobile Bring Your Own Phone List of Compatible Phones appeared first on Wise Finish.

The Mint Mobile Promise: A Breath of Fresh Air

Let’s kick things off with the good stuff, shall we? Mint Mobile is all about bringing some fresh air to the stuffy world of mobile carriers. And let’s be honest, we all need a little fresh air in our lives.

Sweet, Sweet Savings

First and foremost, Mint Mobile is the budget-conscious individual’s dream come true. Their plans start at $15 for unlimited text, talk and 5GB of high-speed 5G data, and unlimited 2G data. You can also pay $30 a month for 40GB of 5G data. They don’t believe in overcharging you for things you don’t need, like unlimited data when you’re glued to Wi-Fi 90% of the time (admit it, we all are). With Mint, you can choose from plans that cater to your actual usage, leaving more cash in your pocket.

Coverage That Competes with the Giants

Don’t let the lower price fool you; Mint Mobile runs on the backbone of one of the big shots in the industry, T-Mobile. So, in terms of coverage and reliability, you get the best of both worlds. It’s like having the red carpet service without paying the VIP price tag. You will have 5G coverage, Wi-fi calling, hotspot, and pretty much all the features you would expect a regular cell phone carrier to have.

No Pesky Contracts

Mint Mobile keeps things flexible and commitment-free. No lengthy contracts, no early termination fees, no handcuffs, so to speak. If you’re tired of being in a one-sided relationship with your current carrier, this is your chance to break free.

International Roaming

For all you jet-setters out there, Mint Mobile sweetens the deal with affordable international roaming options. Say goodbye to the outrageous bills that normally accompany international travel. With Mint, you can Instagram your adventures without fearing the post-vacation phone bill shock.

Bring Your Own Device

In an era where smartphones cost as much as a used car, it’s nice to know that you can bring your own device to Mint Mobile. No need to break the bank for a new phone if your current one is still doing the job. Your wallet will thank you.

Decent Security Options

Mint Mobile offers 2 Factor Authentication and account protections to help prevent SIM Swap Attacks. Though they don’t go into a great deal of detail about how they prevent SIM Swap Attacks, they have apparently learned from some issues they had with this in the past and offer customers ways to lock down their account to make this significantly more difficult. They also check with you before making account changes, another tool that prevents SIM Swap attacks.

Now, Let’s Talk About the Catch (There’s Always a Catch, Right?)

No, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the Minty paradise. There are a few cons you need to be aware of before you switch or start licking your chops over those promised savings.

No Physical Stores

If you’re the type who prefers to handle business in person or talk to someone face-to-face, you might be disappointed. Mint Mobile operates entirely online, which can be a tad inconvenient if you have a complex issue or simply miss the old days when you had a friendly neighborhood store to visit.

Customer Service That’s Not Always Minty Fresh

Speaking of online services, some folks have reported that the customer service experience isn’t always a walk in the park. It’s not terrible, but it’s not as amazing as some other carriers, especially the big players in the field. So, if you’re the type who needs their hand held through every little issue, be prepared for a little extra DIY action. However, they are making an attempt to change this by offering to even get on the phone and help walk you through a number port with Verizon or AT&T.

Coverage Variability

While I did mention the fantastic T-Mobile network that Mint Mobile operates on, it’s worth noting that the signal strength can vary depending on your location. It’s like that rollercoaster ride at the amusement park that’s a blast on one side and a snooze on the other.

Also, even though you are using the T-Mobile network, your data requests will have a lower priority than those paying T-Mobile directly for service, leaving you with poor performance in times of high demand (sporting events, concerts, peak times of day)

Limited Unlimited

The unlimited plan is limited to 40GB of data at high-speed, and videos stream at 480p. Elsewhere you will pay a LOT more, but you wouldn’t have these restrictions.

Is Mint Mobile Right For You?

For most people wanting to save on their monthly expenses, Mint Mobile is a no-brainer to try, as long as you can live with the drawbacks. The low monthly price could save you hundreds on your cell phone bill every year, and as long as you can live with the downsides, it’s a smart choice for your financial future. Check it out today and start saving!

The post Mint Mobile – The Best Cell Phone Plans out There? appeared first on Wise Finish.

Older Kindles do not have a user interface that handles two-factor authentication, so a special procedure must be used for accounts that have two-step verification turned on.

Method 1 – The Amazon Suggested Kindle Login Method (Append OTP to Password)

Below, you will see Amazon’s suggested Kindle login method for devices that do not have a user interface that supports a separate prompt for the two-factor authentication code (OTP).

The steps are as follows:

1. Sign in with your password. An error message will occur.
2. An OTP may be sent to your phone, or you can use a OTP code from an TOTP authenticator app, like Google Authenticator or Authy.
3. Add (“append”) the OTP to the end of your end of your password, and sign in again.
4. You should see success! If not, try one of the other methods below.
   

Method 2 – Turn off 2-Step Verification

If you cannot get the above process to work, you also have the option of temporarily disabling Two-Factor Authentication. Make sure the removal of OTP is temporary, as you do not want to leave your account unprotected. Also, if you are at significant risk of account breach, you should not attempt this procedure. Do this at your own risk.

Steps:

Note that throughout this process you may face additional security prompts for two-step verification that are not listed below, such as clicking a link sent to your phone, or verifying your password again.

1. Access your Amazon account.
2. Choose “Login & Security”
3. Under “2-step verification” choose “Turn off”
4. Sign in on your Kindle device
   • Note that Amazon may send you an SMS code when you sign in that requires you to sign in the same prompt again, using only the code they send
5. You should see success! If not, try one of the other methods after turning Two-Step verification back on.
6. Go back to your Amazon account
7. Choose “Login & Security”
8. Under “2-step verification” choose “Turn off”
9. Important: Go back to your Amazon account again
10. Choose “Login & Security”
11. Verify “2-step verification” is turned on

Method 3 – The Double Prompt

This method is not likely to work if the above two methods fail, but some people claim this works while allowing you to leave two-factor authentication on.

1. Sign in with your password. An error message will occur.
2. An OTP may be sent to your phone, or you can use a OTP code from an TOTP authenticator app, like Google Authenticator or Authy.
3. Use the OTP as your password, and sign in again.
4. You should see success! If not, try one of the other methods.

Method 4 – Buy a Newer Kindle

Newer Kindle devices may support two-factor authentication better than their older counterparts.

Shop Amazon for a newer Kindle device.

Any questions or suggested improvements? Leave them in the comments below.

The post How to Sign on to Kindle Devices with Two Step Verification (OTP) Active appeared first on Wise Finish.

Bring your own phone to Straight Talk with Straight Talk SIM and save thousands on your cell phone bill.

Want to get unlimited talk, texting and data on Straight Talk or Net 10 for $45 a month?

You can keep your existing phone and take it to Straight Talk or Net 10 to get great service at a great price. You’ll still use the towers of AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, but you’ll pay Straight Talk instead of your current carrier (even though you’re still using their towers).

Below we will tell you which phones you can use and which plans you can pick from.

Be sure to read the details, as just being on the list below is not good enough – your phone must also be unlocked or locked to postpaid Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile.

Also, if your phone is not on the list below it may still work if it is unlocked or locked to postpaid Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile. This is not an exhaustive list of all phones that work.

If you are unsure, ask us in the comment section below!

Straight Talk and Net 10 Bring Your Own Phone Plans

Here are some of the plans you can choose from:

Other plans are available – check Phone Bill Cut to compare all your options.

If you aren’t familiar with Straight Talk, take a moment to read our writeup about some of the advantages and disadvantages of choosing Straight Talk’s prepaid, no contract required cellular service.

When you’re ready to purchase your SIM, please be sure to see our money-saving tips below to save even more!

Keep reading to find out which phones will and won’t work with Straight Talk & Net 10 SIM:

Phones that will work with Straight Talk SIM / Bring Your Own Phone

(1) Look below at the list of phones & make sure your phone is unlocked or locked to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint, it will work on Straight Talk or Net 10 SIM.

(2) If your phone is not on the list, it may still work if it is unlocked, or locked to AT&T, locked to Verizon, locked to Sprint, or locked to T-Mobile. Also, please make sure your phone is not on the list of “Phones that won’t work” at the bottom of this article.

(3) If you still aren’t sure, leave us a comment below and we’ll try to help as much as we can!

If your phone won’t work, or you just need a new phone, consider purchasing a phone from the list below, or a low-cost phone from Straight Talk if you are in this situation.

Popular Phones that work with Straight Talk SIM / Bring Your Own Phone

Below is a list of popular phones that will work with Straight Talk SIM Bring Your Own Phone. If the original carrier for these phones was not AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon, the phone will likely need to be unlocked to work with Straight Talk. You can ask your current carrier to unlock your phone for you, or check out Amazon’s books on phone unlocking.

Click on the phone for more information or to purchase the phone.

Once you have found the phone that suits you, head over to Straight Talk and buy your Straight Talk SIM!

Buying a New or Used Phone for Straight Talk SIM Bring Your Own Phone

If you are looking to get a phone for use with Straight Talk’s Bring Your Own Phone program, here’s what I would recommend:

Your best bet is going to be to look for a true unlocked phone, one that was unlocked from the beginning. Use any of the links above to find unlocked versions of those phones.

However – you may also be able to save some money by buying a used, locked phone from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint. Only buy a locked phone on these carriers, any other locked phone will not work!

Phones that won’t work with Straight Talk SIM Bring Your Own Phone

Phones on these carriers will not work unless they are first unlocked:

• US Cellular Phones
• C Spire Wireless Phones
• nTelos Wireless Phones
• Metro PCS Phones
• Verizon Prepaid Phones
• AT&T Go Phones
• Total Wireless Phones
• TracFone Phones
• SafeLink Phones
• NET10 Phones
• Straight Talk Phones
• Boost Mobile Phones
• Virgin Mobile Phones
• Cricket Phones
• Republic Wireless Phones
• PagePlus Phones
• Jitterbug Phones
• Greatcall Phones
• BlackBerry Phones (may not work even if unlocked)
• Nextel Phones (may not work even if unlocked)

Some phones, particularly international / imported phones will also not work on Straight Talk, even if they are unlocked, as they do not support the correct frequency bands. Check Frequency Check if you have one of these types of phones, to verify that it will work on the network that you wish to use on Straight Talk.

Purchasing Your Straight Talk / Net 10 SIM

To purchase your Straight Talk SIM, simply head over to Straight Talk and place your order. The purchase wizard will walk you through selecting the proper SIM for your phone.

To purchase your Net 10 SIM, simply head over to Net 10 and place your order. The purchase wizard will walk you through selecting the proper SIM for your phone.

When purchasing a SIM, you will need to make a choice about which SIM kit you want to use. Below is a brief guide that describes what the various kits do. Any of them can worked with unlocked phones if the phone is compatible with the network and available in your area.

If you’re not sure what kit to get, contact Straight Talk customer support.

Conclusion

If you have a question on whether another phone not listed here will work on Straight Talk or Net 10 SIM, leave a question below in the comments, and I’d be happy to help you. Be sure to include the following in your question: (1) Phone name, (2) Phone model number, (3) Carrier the phone is running on now, (4) If the phone is locked or unlocked.

The post What Phones Work with the Straight Talk & Net 10 Bring Your Own Phone BYOD Programs appeared first on Wise Finish.

When you move into a newly constructed home or business, especially if it is on a new street, you are unknown when it comes to online mapping providers.  This causes all kinds of problems, from packages not being delivered properly to friends not being able to locate your house.

Adding your home or business to each of the mapping providers below as soon as possible will help reduce the amount of problems you have.  It can also help carriers like UPS, FedEx, Amazon and others find your new location.

Apple maps

Use the mapping program on Mac to report.  I’m not currently aware of a way to do this through the web.

Bing Maps

Report feedback through Bing Maps.

Google Maps

Use the Google Maps web interface to report a problem.

Here Maps

Here Maps is used by Amazon Web Services (AWS), and many businesses, possibly including Amazon Delivery.  Use the HereMaps Map Viewer to report.  You can also use the HereMaps Map Creator to directly fix your issues.

Mapbox

Mapbox has an improve the map tool to make updates.  Mapbox appears to also pull data from OpenStreetMap, so it may not be necessary to update Mapbox directly.

MapQuest

Look up your address (or nearby) on MapQuest and choose “provide feedback”.

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap allows direct map updates (recommended) or allows you to leave a note for someone else to fix.  This appears to populate several other apps and providers, such as RoadTrippers, Maps.me and others.

Rand McNally

View their map, and if your location is missing, e-mail RandMcNally at tndsupport@randmcnally.com to fix.

Tomtom

Use TomTom Online Map Share Reporter to report a problem.

Waze

Use the Waze App or the Waze Live Map to report.

Others

Do you know of others we are missing?  Please leave a comment below so we can update this article.

The post Mapping & Navigation Sites To Add Your New House or Business appeared first on Wise Finish.

Comparing the Best Free Internet Filters

We’ve compared the Best Free DNS-based website filters by testing them against nearly 10,000 adult domains to see which ones are the best at blocking objectionable content. Because the results varied significantly, you might be shocked at the results, as some of them do very poorly in comparison to others. But first, before we get into the results, let’s talk a little bit about why these types of filters are good for you to use.

Why Everyone Needs an Internet Filter

If you have children or ever have children in your home – you need an Internet filter. Early exposure to explict content can change the brain in ways that are hard to overcome, leading to a lifetime of struggle with addiction, sexual identity that can ruin relationships, cause isolation and like any additiction, generally ruin your life.

If you are an adult or live with adults – you need an Internet filter.  Addiction to explicit content robs you of life and ruins relationships. Instead, choose to block that junk from your home and your life!

The advantage of Internet Filters that are DNS-based

To begin with, the main advantage of DNS-based Internet Filters is that they protect all the devices on your network (including Chromebook, iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, PC, or Linux). They do this through setup as an internet filter for your router, and not something that is installed on individual devices. Because of their central setup on your router, they are superior to internet filtering software. They can be used on individual machines as well, but they are primarily designed to be used across your entire network!

Additionally, there are other side benefits from using these filters:

• First, they can force SafeSearch on sites like Google, YouTube and Bing, stopping adult and objectionable content from being part of search results.
• Secondly, they can improve your Internet browsing speed by providing faster responses than your ISPs DNS servers.
• Thirdly, these DNS-based internet filters will also protect you from malicious websites that can install viruses or scam you in various ways.

Everyone should have an Internet Filter that is DNS-based

Because DNS-based website filters protect your entire network from bad websites, every home should have a Internet Filter that is DNS-based as part of their plan to protect themselves and their families against dangerous adult content like: pornography, drugs, phishing sites, inappropriate ads, viruses and other dangerous websites.

You should still still choose to use other parental control techniques as a an additional layer because as you will find out looking at the results below, these filters are not perfect.

The Results – Explicit Content Blocking

For this article, we will look at the Pornography Blocking capabilities of these filters alone, as that is the primary thing we are trying to protect against, as exposure is an extremely dangerous, life-changing situation for kids & adults alike, and can turn into a powerful, life-destroying addiction.

As you can see, Cleanbrowsing is the winner when it comes to comprehensive blocking. In our tests, we found that Cleanbrowsing blocked about 93% of all adult sites, much better than the 82% blocked by OpenDNS, the runner-up. For the detailed results, and important additional steps everyone needs to take to protect themselves and their family, look below.

Detailed Results: Checking 9298 Explicit Adult Websites Against DNS Internet Filters

First, we checked around 9300 adult websites, and found that some filters did much better than others at blocking. Below is a list of each filter, along with how many of the domains it blocked, and the overall percentage of blocks that it represents.

CleanBrowsing Family: 8519 [91.6%]
CleanBrowsing Adult: 8504 [91.5%]
OpenDNS FamilyShield: 7521 [80.9%]
CloudFlare Family: 6704 [72.1%]
DNS For Family: 5907 [63.5%]
Neustar FamilySecure: 5537 [59.6%]
AdGuard Family: 2277 [24.5%]
CleanBrowsing Security: 435 [4.7%]
CloudFlare Regular: 239 [2.6%]
Domains analyzed 9298

Detailed Results: Checking the Hackernoon 88 Explicit Sites & 10 Proxies Against DNS Internet Filters

After that, we checked 88 Sites & 10 Proxies that allow bypass of internet filters that were part of the famous Hackernoon article by Nykolas Z that compared explicit content filters.

CleanBrowsing Family: 98 [100.0%]
OpenDNS FamilyShield: 95 [96.9%]
CleanBrowsing Adult: 88 [89.8%]
CloudFlare Family: 83 [84.7%]
AdGuard Family: 72 [73.5%]
DNS For Family: 71 [72.4%]
Neustar FamilySecure: 65 [66.3%]
CleanBrowsing Security: 4 [4.1%]
CloudFlare Regular: 4 [4.1%]
Domains analyzed 98

What do these blocker results tell us?

• DNS filtering can block a huge amount of junk, and it should be part of your solution for blocking websites
• Choose your DNS internet filtering solution carefully, as some block websites much better than others
• Do not rely on DNS filtering a 100% solution, and you should have other things in place, especially for children that are browsing unsupervised (read below for more information on this)

Adding to Your Website Blocking Protection – Beyond DNS Internet Filters

In addition to setting up a DNS-based Internet Website Filter, you should also do the following:

For Younger Children

• Use a locked-down device with a tool like Infilter to create a custom Internet for your child. Infilter only allows them to visit the websites that you allow them to. A “whitelist” approach such as this is much safer than relying on a “blacklist” approach, especially for younger children.

For Older Children

• Use a online activity monitor like Covenant Eyes or Accountable2You in addition to DNS-based Internet Filtering
• Have open communication about online activities

For All Children & Household members

• Have a rule in your house that device use is in a public area. Screens facing out so that everyone is held accountable for what they are doing online
• Know the passwords and account information for everyone in your family so you can check up on their online activities.

If You Need Help With Your Internet Filter

Do you have questions about how to get a DNS-based internet setup, or any other questions? First, check the website of the specific filtering provider you wish to use, and if you’re still stumped, leave a comment below, we’d love to do what we can to help.

If you need help with addiction

Lastly, Are you trapped in addiction of any kind? There is help and hope for you. Check out these studies by Setting Captives Free and find your way to freedom!

For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
    and her mouth is smoother than oil.
But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
    as dangerous as a double-edged sword.

Proverbs 5:3-4 NLT

Photo by Julia M Cameron from Pexels

The post Best Family and Kids Internet Filter: Free DNS Internet Filters Compared appeared first on Wise Finish.

The free service includes:

• 200 Minutes
• 500 Text Messages
• 500MB LTE

A Great Phone

The phone is the BLU Studio Mini 5.5HD, which is an outstanding 32GB 5.5″ Android phone running Android 9 Pie. It comes with great extras like a screen protector, extra battery and case!

I believe this is the best phone to pair with FreedomPop free cellular service for a few reasons:

• Unlocked – so you can easily change carriers if you so wish.
• Powerful, fast phone – this is not a stripped-down phone. It is running the full version of Android, rather than Android Go. One downside of Android Go is that you have to enable the browser so that applications like Google Maps can work; something you may not want your kids to have access to, and there is no ability to share your location through Google Maps
• Low price – It’s not the cheapest phone out there, but it’s very inexpensive. I found that the $40/50 phones had issues; an Alcatel phone I tried first that was an AT&T prepaid phone incessantly reminded me to setup Wi-Fi calling (which I couldn’t do), and it also was running Android Go, the light, limited version of Android
• 4G Support – This is necessary for FreedomPop to work; also, many carriers are dropping 4G support in the future

What’s the catch?

When it comes to the BLU phone, there’s no catch at all. This is a great phone at a great price.

However, there are a few challenges with the free FreedomPop free phone service for kids that you should be aware of. Keep in mind that you should expect some of this because you’re getting something for nothing and FreedomPop isn’t a charity, they are ultimately trying to make money to pay their employees and shareholders.

• FreedomPop is always trying to upsell you
• FreedomPop will charge you if you go over your data allowance
• FreedomPop has limited customer service options
• FreedomPop forces you to use their application for texting (unless you get a Google Voice number)
• FreedomPop may, in some cases, not be totally free – there could be taxes that apply if your local/regional/state government has decided to levy them
• FreedomPop charges an excessive amount to ship the SIM card (it will end up being $15 between the card and the shipping)

These were all limitations I was willing to live with, considering the low cost of “free” for the monthly service.

Setting up the free phone service for kids with FreedomPop

Go to FreedomPop and see if you qualify for the free phone service for kids where you live. If you don’t qualify, you might want to check out other low-cost plans by Straight Talk or Republic Wireless.

When you check out, be sure to purchase the “Talk, Text, & Data” 4G LTE SIM card. This SIM card comes in multiple sizes so it can fit in just about any phone, and the nano SIM fits very well in the BLU 5.5HD phone.

Watch out for them trying to add extras on at checkout – you just want the SIM.

Setting up the BLU Phone for use with FreedomPop free phone service for kids

Purchase the BLU Studio Mini 5.5HD (we may earn a small commission if you purchase through this link).

Uninstall Unwanted Apps

First, uninstall all applications that you don’t want your kids having access to. For me, this was a number of the games and apps, like TikTok that came with the phone. This is supposed to be an emergency-type phone with ability to make a few calls, send a few texts, and maybe look at a map. However, what you remove and what you leave is up to you. If the phone’s for you, you can leave everything if you want!

Removing the Google App

This section requires some advanced computer skills, so skip it if that doesn’t describe you. Instead, you can just leave the Google Search app (not recommended for kids), choose a different unlocked phone, such as the Moto x4 that will allow you to disable/uninstall the Google Search app.

What you may find is that you can’t remove all of the apps that you want to. It appears there are some apps that BLU has locked and prevented removal, such as the Google Search app. For this, you will need to use an advanced technique to disable the app using the Android Debug Bridge. Here are the steps to use to remove these apps if you are so inclined:

• Install ADB
• Turn on USB Debugging on your Android Phone
  • Go to Settings, About Phone – Click 10 times on the version and you will become a developer.
  • Go back out to the settings menu, then go to Developer Settings and turn on USB Debugging
• Connect your Android phone to your computer
• Run the following commands:
  • pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package>
  • I chose to remove the following this way:
    • com.opera.browser
    • com.opera.preinstall
    • com.google.android.youtube
    • com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

Locking Down Other Apps

To lock down applications that remain on the phone, and the settings, use the application AppLock (or similar) to prevent access to undesirable applications and settings.

Setting up FreedomPop APN

Before your phone will connect to FreedomPop’s network (via AT&T), you will need to setup the APN. Follow FreedomPop’s instructions to do this.

Installing the FreedomPop Messaging App

To use the FreedomPop text messaging service, you’ll need to install the FreedomPop Messaging App.

Enjoy your phone with free phone service for kids

If you made it this far, you have a fully setup, low-cost FreedomPop Smartphone that will be great for you to use with your kids or for your own personal / emergency use.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

The post Safe & Free Phone Service For Your Kids with a $60 Phone appeared first on Wise Finish.

There is some mystery around Straight Talk, and I hope to answer today one of the most frequently asked questions regarding Straight Talk:

Can I use my existing Verizon / AT&T / T-Mobile / Sprint / Tracphone / etc cellular phone?

The answer depends on the type of phone that you have.  Keep reading for more information

AT&T, T-Mobile or Unlocked GSM Phones

You can now take advantage of Straight Talk SIM, to use your existing phone on Straight Talk’s no-contract plans.  To take advantage of this, you simply order a SIM card from Straight Talk, place that SIM card into your phone and follow a few simple instructions.

Note: This does not include AT&T Go Phones.

Verizon, Sprint or Unlocked CDMA Phones

Much like AT&T/T-Mobile, it is possible to take your Verizon or Sprint Wireless device and use it with Straight Talk on the Verizon or Sprint network through Straight Talk’s Bring your own CDMA Phone Program.

Note: This does not include Verizon Prepaid phones or Sprint prepaid phones.

Other Unlocked Phones

Unlocked phones will almost always work on Straight Talk as long as they support the bands needed to communicate with the Straight Talk towers.  You might try contacting Straight Talk Customer Support to verify before purchasing a SIM, to make sure you purchase the correct one for your device.

Anything Else 

If you have a locked phone that is not from postpaid AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint the answer is: Probably not; proceed at your own risk.

Here is a list of the types of phones that won’t work unless they are unlocked:

• US Cellular Phones
• C Spire Wireless Phones
• nTelos Wireless Phones
• Metro PCS Phones
• Verizon Prepaid Phones
• AT&T Go Phones
• Total Wireless Phones
• TracFone Phones
• SafeLink Phones
• NET10 Phones
• Straight Talk Phones
• Boost Mobile Phones
• Virgin Mobile Phones
• Cricket Phones
• Republic Wireless Phones
• PagePlus Phones
• BlackBerry Phones (may not work even if unlocked)
• Nextel Phones (may not work even if unlocked)

What if my phone won’t work?

1. Sell your old phone on eBay, Craigslist or Amazon Marketplace.
2. Buy a compatible phones on Amazon, eBay, or you can buy one directly from Straight Talk.  Your best bet will be unlocked phones, but you can also find some good deals on phones that are locked to Verizon, Sprint, AT&T or T-Mobile.

Get up and Running on Straight Talk

As you read above, many phones are eligible to run on Straight Talk, but there are some that will not work.  If you have any questions about if your phone will work, see our article what phones work with Straight Talk and Net 10 BYOD SIM cards.

The post Using a phone from another carrier on Straight Talk Wireless appeared first on Wise Finish.

Do those home improvements you’ve always wanted to do – all paid for?  

Go out to eat, and pay nothing?  

You can save thousands of dollars over the life of a normal 2 year contract, and use it how you want!

Here are 63 ways to save money on your cell phone bill.  Try them out and leave us a comment below letting us know what you did with extra money.  Have questions?  Leave those in the comments too

1. Pick a better plan (and give up nothing)

This is the #1 secret to saving a huge amount of money on your cell phone.

… or you could go on a really nice vacation.

You can switch to a better plan that costs a lot less and still:

• Keep your phone (if you want too)
• Keep your number
• Keep or upgrade your service (coverage, minutes, texts, data, etc)

Finding the right plan and dropping contract phone service is the best thing you can do to save money on your cell phone, thousands of dollars.  And you don’t have to give up anything, unless you want to save even more.

Smartphone plans with “unlimited” everything start at $25 a month!  Use our cell phone plan search engine to find a plan that fits your needs, and saves you copious amounts of cash money.

2. Turn your cell phone to “Free mode”

Turn your cell phone to “Free mode” when you are in  Wi-Fi hotspot.  At work, at home, at Home Depot, wherever.

When you are in the coverage of Wi-Fi, use free calling and texting.  One way you can do this is by using Google Voice.

If you use a phone from Republic Wireless or T-Mobile or Google-Fi, you’ll automatically be able to make unlimited Wi-Fi calls at home.

3. Only buy unlocked phones

When you buy a phone, buy it unlocked.  Check out amazon.com for a great choice of unlocked phones and the world’s greatest customer service.

Why?  Because it will give you the broadest freedom to choose the phone plan that fits your needs.  Choosing the phone plan that fits your needs can save you thousands of dollars.

4. Never buy cell phone accessories at full price

If you are  buying your cell phone accessories (chargers, cases, cables, screen protectors, etc) in a retailer, cell provider’s store or kiosk, you are likely getting ripped off.

You can get top-quality accessories for your phone from eBay or Amazon at huge discounts over what you would pay other places.

A $20 charger at your local big box electronic store might be $2-4 on eBay.

When you shop on eBay, be sure to use Mr. Rebates to save an extra 1% on your purchase! (You can also get a $5 bonus for signing up!)

5. Buy a used phone instead of a new one

Apple: $549 eBay: $419, or less.

Sure, it’s tempting to buy a shiny new phone.  But, you could save $100 or more by buying a “gently used” phone from amazon.com, eBay (save 1% extra by using Mr. Rebates) or Craigslist.

6. Buy a phone that will last

Keeping your phone for a longer period of time can save you a significant amount of money.

Yes, you can buy a junky phone.  But will it work 2-3 years from now?

Yes, you can buy the latest and greatest thing.  But will it still receive updates?

Yes, you can buy a phone that operates on specific networks.  But can you take it to whatever carrier is the best deal?

Maybe you like to spend money and get new phones every year; if so, this idea is not for you.  But, if you want a phone you can use for a two to for years, you should consider looking at 2 types of phones:

1. The Google Nexus line
2. The Apple iPhone line

Why Nexus or iPhone?  Because they are well built, unlocked, network portable and are typically updated for years after their release.

7. Switch to a plan that provides enough minutes

If you’re on a contract and paying overage charges because you don’t have enough minutes, stop!  Get a no-contract unlimited plan or upgrade your plan to avoid paying ridiculous over-charges!

8. Switch to a plan that avoids roaming charges

Roaming charges are largely a thing of the past – but if they’re not a thing of the past in your life, stop!  Switch to a carrier with nationwide coverage that does not have roaming charges!  There are many options to choose from.  Use our cell phone plan comparison engine to find a plan that will get you out of this trap!

9. Sell your phone for all it’s worth

You can sell your old cell phone for real money.  Don’t just toss it in a drawer!  First, go to eBay and search for your phone, then choose “Completed Listings” to see listings that finished and sold.  This will give you a pretty good idea of how much you could make by selling your phone.

Once you’ve figured out that you can indeed make some significant money by selling your old phone, clean it up as good as you can.  Then, find all the accessories, the box, the manual, whatever you have.  And take several, detailed photographs of the phone and accessories from multiple views.  Accurately describe the phone and list it for sale on eBay.  You’ll be surprised what you can earn.

If you can’t make much on your phone, please give it to charity.

10. Look for international savings

Do you make a lot of international calls?  Many no-contract carriers offer fantastic rates on International, no calling card required!  Some even offer unlimited calling to certain countries.

If you’re paying a lot for international calls – stop!

11. Travel smartly: turn it off or use a prepaid SIM

Are you leaving the United States or Canada?  Either turn your phone off and never turn it on, or buy a prepaid SIM and use that.  Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased on the street in many countries, or you can buy them ahead of time online.  Just google “Prepaid SIM Card” and your destination country to see your options.

12. Find the “Secret” Plans that your brand-name wireless carrier has

Did you know that companies like Verizon, AT&T and Sprint have secret plans, some under the name of other companies that offer fantastic service on the same networks for a lot less money?  It’s true.  Verizon has Total Wireless, AT&T has Cricket Wireless, and Sprint has Boost Mobile.  Similar (or better) plans, same networks, less cost & no contract.  You can also compare them all with the Phone Bill Cut prepaid phone plan search.

13. Find a plan that has coverage where you need it

If you don’t have coverage where you need it – when you need it – you are throwing your money away!

Unless you work in a cave, or an extremely rural area, you can find a great plan that will give you great coverage.  Innovative plans from carriers like Republic Wireless allow you to get a connection anywhere there’s WiFi; even in a cave; even on the moon.

14. Stop paying for texts

Are you paying per text?  Say it isn’t so!  If this is you, you are throwing money away.  There are dozens of plans on nationwide networks that allow you to have unlimited (or a lot of) texts without breaking the bank every month.

15. Go with an unlimited data plan

Are you paying for data overages?   Make that a thing of the past with a plan that provides adequate data  at a low price.  Yea, there are even plans that still offer “unlimited” data (though no one really does at this point except for MetroPCS, some of them get a lot closer to this claim than others).   How about $25 a month for 5G of data on Republic Wireless?  For the latest “big data” plans, compare data and prices of phone plans using the Phone Bill Cut search tool.

16. Favor phone function over status

Vanity.  Throw it aside and you can save a lot.  Some really nice phones with really nice features can be had for a lot less than the latest shiny object from Apple or Samsung.  Get a cheap (inexpensive) phone that has the features you need, and you’ll be a lot happier, especially when you go on vacation with the money you saved!

17. Watch for sales on plans

Did you know that cell phone plans go on sale too?

It’s not a terribly frequent thing, but it does happen.  Keep your eyes peeled for these types of deals or special offers.

18. Make your own (everlasting) sale on your plan

Photo Credit: Ged Carroll @ flickr

When you pay for your plan, don’t pay full price for it.

First, pay for everything on a rewards debit or credit card.  If you don’t have one, consider the American Express Blue Cash card, which pays 3% back at supermarkets, 2% at gas stations, and 1% back on all purchases.  You can find recharge cards for phones at both supermarkets and gas stations.  And if you charge your plan card online or elsewhere, you still get the 1% back.

Second, consider using a “store” credit card, such as the Target RedCard.  The Target RedCard gets you 5% off at Target, who sells many types of cell phone plan recharge cards.

Third, if you buy plans online, use Mr. Rebates or eBates before you go shop to save even more.  These sites give you cash back for shopping at sites you already buy your plans from, like eBay, Target, and more.  Save an extra few % off.

Fourth, consider paying with a discount gift card.  Sites like CardPool allow you to purchase discount gift cards.  Buy some gift cards for a store that sells reload cards for your plan, and you can save an additional few % off!

All of this can easily add up to another 5-10% off.  If you’re spending $600 a year on your cell phone plan, you could save an extra $30-60 a year by using these tips.

19. Watch for deals on phones

You can pick up a great used phone for cheap if you watch.  Here’s how you can do that:

For Amazon, find the phone that you want, and then use CamelCamelCamel to watch for price drops.

For eBay, find the phone that you want and set up a saved search to alert you of new listings that match what you are looking for (and be sure to use Mr. Rebates or eBates to save an extra few percent on your purchase)!

20. Ask your frugal friend what phone and plan they are using

Think of your cheapest, most frugal friend in your area.  Now go ask them what phone plan they are using.  You might find a really great deal, or it might be an opportunity for you to show them this article and get them living even more on the cheap!

21. Consume less:  Data Texts Minutes

Consume less.  Save more.

Do you really need to text your significant other ever 3 minutes?  If so, get an unlimited plan.  If not, cut back and save!

Want to be paid to do this every month?  Consider the “refund” plans from Republic Wireless.

22. Look at reviews of coverage in your area

Consumer Reports does a yearly survey of cellular phone plans and coverage.  Check out what others think about coverage in your area before purchasing a phone.

Purchasing a phone that doesn’t work is not a good way to save money!

Also, check out the search feature on this website to compare basic coverage maps, and when you find plans you think will work, check detailed coverage with the carrier, friends and neighbors.

23. Consider group or family plans

Though you should consider family plans, beware: family plans are not always a way to a good cell phone plan deal.

Contract family plans are rarely a good deal.  Look at all your options, including customized no-contract plans sized right for each member of your family, over a “shared pool” contract plan.

At times, they cause some undue stress within the family (Uncle Bob sent how many texts this month!?).  So consider this “cost” as well.

24. Avoid data hogs (streaming audio/video/video chat)

Streaming video, video chat, Google Hangouts, Facetime all have one thing in common – they use a significant amount of bandwidth very quickly.

Avoid using these on your cellular connection, save them for Wi-Fi.  They’ll generally work better on Wi-Fi and they won’t chew through your data plan allotment.

25. Use yesteryear’s technology

Buy last year’s phone and save big.  For example, you can get a shiny unlocked iPhone 6 for $200-300 less on eBay now!    Here’s a secret about using older technology; the older phones have a lot more bugs worked out.  Being on the forefront means a buggier, more expensive phone.  It’s not worth it!

26. Use yesteryear’s data speed

Yes, it’s nice to have 5G / 4G LTE / Wi-Max.

But it’s expensive!

If you want a cheap phone plan, don’t go for the latest and greatest speed.  Sure, you CAN get these speeds, even on a low-cost no-contract plan, but you can save even more if you don’t.

For example, Republic Wireless has their $25 “Unlimited 3G” plan, and a $40 “Unlimited 4G” plan.  That’s $360 more over 2 years.  Worth it?  Perhaps, but only if you need it.

27. Save data by disabling background data & closing apps

Some applications can be vampires.  Even when you aren’t using them they can be consuming data in the background.  It might be silent, but it can really add up.

On Android, make sure that you disable “background data” on any apps that don’t really need to be silently using your data when they are not active.

On iPhone / iOS, disable “Background App Refresh” on any applications that don’t need to be silently using your data when they are not active.

28. Get a free phone, without the contract

You can get a free phone, even without a contract.  Not all providers have this offer, but many, like Straight Talk, regularly offer free phones when you sign up for one of their no-contract plans and buy 1 month of service.  Don’t expect the latest and greatest technology; you get what you pay for; but it’s FREE.

Use the Phone Bill Cut cheap cell phone plan search engine to find plans that offer free phones.

29. Use Wi-fi Whenever Possible

Photo credit: miniyo73 @ flickr

To save your cellular data, don’t use it when you’re around a Wi-Fi access point that you have access to save money on your cell phone bill.  Set your phone to
auto-switch when at work or home so that you don’t have to remember to do anything to activate the Wi-Fi once you arrive.

30. Don’t rely on your carrier for updates

To make your phone last longer and work better over a longer period, do not buy a phone that requires the carrier to approve an update before it is rolled out.  Instead, purchase the Apple iPhone or Google Nexus line which are updated directly by Apple & Google, respectively.  Then you won’t be stuck with a buggy phone, or an insecure phone after a short amount of time.  And you won’t be without updates when you leave your carrier (because you should if you are paying too much or they are not giving you the service you should have)

31. Find your phone when it’s lost

If your phone is lost, find it.  Then you don’t have to buy another one.  Ok, that was obvious.  Here’s what’s not obvious:

For Android, make sure you setup Android Device Manager to find your phone, and ring it loud on demand.

For iPhone, make sure you setup Where’s my iPhone to find your phone.

These tools can help you avoid, or reverse theft or loss of your device, saving you big money.

32. Disable your phone when near the border, on a cruise, on a plane, etc

When traveling, even in the CONUS, put your phone in Airplane mode or turn it off altogether in these situations, or you may have some unexpected charges from international towers:

• Traveling near an international border
• Boarding a cruise ship
• Flying in an airplane

You don’t want to get nailed with an international roaming charge.

33. Wipe your phone before you sell it

Identity theft is a major crime now.  Before your sell your phone, be sure to do a factory reset on the device to avoid someone from taking your identity, and ultimately your money.

34. Unlock your phone before you sell it

A simple way to profit:

1. Carriers are required to unlock devices these days
2. Unlocked devices sell for more money
3. Unlock before you sell

35. Drop your cell phone insurance

Cell phone insurance is one of the biggest wastes of money ever.

It’s expensive.

There are many limitations, restrictions, legalities and fine print.

You could be without your phone for weeks.

It’s not worth it.  Cancel today.

36. Get Cell Phone Insurance For Free

If you are going to get cell phone insurance, don’t pay for it.

37. Earn easy money with your phone

Use apps to earn money by using your phone

38. Buy a no-name phone

Yes, there are some nice things about the latest and greatest SAMSUNG or Apple devices, but they come with a cost.

Check out devices by OnePlus, ZTE, or many other non-household names.  You can get a lot more for a lot less.

39. Buy a phone with a 2nd tier operating system

You can get a Windows phone or a Blackberry phone for a steal.

Yes, your app choice might be somewhat limited, but you may find that you don’t really use that many “non-standard” apps anyway.  It might be worth looking outside of the Android and Apple iOS world to save some dough.

40. Setup data alerts so that you know when you are close to hitting a limit

Most phones have a feature to alert you when your data usage crosses a threshold.  Use this feature to avoid paying data overages or running out of data!

41. Use only free apps

Don’t pay for apps.  There are many great apps out in the Google Play and Apple App Store.

Try Amazon Underground to use thousands of paid apps for free on Android phones.

Try Free apps before going with a paid app.

42. Prevent in-app purchases

Make sure to turn off in-app purchases, or force a password to be entered before they are made.

Whether it be your leg or your kids, you don’t want extra charges for things you don’t want!

43. Check for corporate & senior discounts

Many carriers offer some type of corporate discounts.  Check with your employer to see if they are partnering with any cellular providers for a discount.

One example corporate discount is 22% off for IBM employees.

 44. Don’t add things like roadside assistance to your plan

Roadside assistance, cell phone insurance, VIP parking at the cell provider’s store…drop them!

These add-ons are almost never a good deal and you would be in better financial shape to live without them.  Drop them and run!

Didn’t you get a cell phone so that you can call a tow truck anyway?

45. Use VoIP calling

Instead of making your next call using your regular phone dialer, make a VoIP call using Google Hangouts and your WiFi connection.

The call quality is great, and it won’t use any of your minutes!

46. Lock down your plan

Turn off expensive items on your plan like 1-900 numbers (yes, they still exist), and shortcode texting.  A simple call to your provider should take care of this!

47. Monitor your cell phone plan

Monitor your plan to make sure your usage is not getting out of control!

AT&T and Verizon give parents the ability to watch and stop data usage when it gets high, block calls, limit when they use the phone.  Kajeet offers similar parental controls without the contract.

Pretty much everyone allows you to check up-to-date balances online and set alerts when you reach a certain threshold.

48. Dump your family plan

Get rid of your family plan to save money on your cell phone – it might be cheaper to just get everyone in your house prepaid plans, and you don’t have to worry about overages either.

49. Pay attention to your bill

Look at your bill every month and make sure of the following:

1. No “cramming” or unusual charges have been added
2. Your plan rates have not increased, if so, shop for a new plan
3. You are not going over your allotted minutes/texts/data, as you are probably paying a huge amount for this
4. Check to see if you are in our out of contract – if you are out, use the Phone Bill Cut cell phone plan comparison engine to compare and see if another plan might be right for you

50. Stop paying taxes

Photo credit: 401(K) 2012 @ flickr

I’m not talking about tax evasion here – what I am talking about is reducing the taxes that you owe, legally.  Did you know that many prepaid plans don’t need you to pay many of the taxes you are forced to pay when you choose a plan from a “traditional” phone carrier?

Taxes can really add up, $5, $10, $15 a month or more.  This is a “secret” cost of many plans that you must consider!

51. Ask for a better deal – negotiate

If you think your bill is too high (and it probably is unless you’ve chosen one of the top no-contract providers, like Consumer Cellular), do the following:

Call your phone company and ask for a discount.  The worst they can say is “no”.  Tell them your plan is too expensive and you found a much cheaper, better plan using the search engine on Phone Bill Cut, and see what they say!

52. Watch for 411, short code and third-party charges

People average $60 a year in 411 and short code text charges.  $60!

There’s really no reason to pay to text, so just cut that out now.  Ask your provider to turn off short codes if you need help.

Replace 411 with 1-800-Free-411, use Google to look up the information, or phone a friend!

53. Forget custom ringtones

Sure, it’s only a dollar here, a dollar there — but do you really need to download ringtones that cost money, and sometimes load your phone with junk software and applications?  Just say NO to these.

54. Get out of your contract

You can get out of our contract without paying early termination fees!

Here are 3 strategies to do this:

1. The first thing to try is just call your cell company and ask.  Usually this won’t work, so go ahead to step 2.
2. The second thing to do is to see if any terms have changed on your contract since you signed up.  This happens more that you might think.  Call your cell company back, and tell them that they must free you from your contract since the terms changed.  This should work if there have been changes.  If not, try step 3.
3. Consider the following options to ease out of your contract, without really terminating it.
   1. Switch to the cheapest possible contract rate, which might be lower than paying the early termination fee.
   2. Switch to T-Mobile and they will pay your early termination fee.
   3. Sell your cell phone contract to someone else.
   4. Shop other cell plans, and you may find it is worth it to just pay the early termination fee, sell your phone and move to a better and less expensive plan.

55. Before you buy a used phone, check to see if it is stolen

It’s a great idea to buy a used phone to save money.  However, a “great deal” could show a stolen phone.

Be sure to check sites like Swappa and/or IMEI check before buying a used phone.

56. Make sure your coverage fits your travel patterns

If you are constantly traveling outside of your coverage area, you are throwing away money!

Dump your provider and find a provider that has coverage where you need it!

57. Bring your own phone to a no-contract carrier

You can keep your existing phone and switch it to a no-contract carrier, and save thousands over the life of a normal contract.

The first thing to do is to call your existing carrier first to get your phone unlocked.  Then,  find prospective carriers that fit your needs for minutes, texts and data — and those that can also accept your phone.   Then, sign up with your new carrier and ask to port the number.  When the number port is over, your service will be terminated with your old carrier.

Choose the right plan for your needs – avoid overages and avoid waste

58. Only use your phone for emergencies

This is a radical idea – but what if you switched to using your phone for emergencies, and instead had more face-to-face conversations, or e-mail or calls from home on VoIP?

It could save you a lot!

59. Pay as you go… or not

Consider pay-as-you go plans where only pay for what you use.  But be careful, often moderate to heavy phone users will pay more on a pay-as-you go type plan.

60. Replace your phone battery yourself

Sure, you can go to a phone store and pay someone $100-200 or more to replace your battery.  Or, you can get a decent quality battery from Amazon or eBay (remember to use Mr. Rebates when shopping on eBay for 1% cash back and a $5 bonus) and install it yourself.

Worried that it will be hard to do?  It’s not, really.  First of all, there are great YouTube videos that guide you through every step of the process.  And, there are great battery replacement kits that include all the tools and instructions needed to do the job.

You can do this!  Pocket $100+ today!

61. Make the right decision to repair or replace a broken phone

Here’s a simple trick to understand if it makes more sense to repair or replace your broken phone:

1. Look on eBay to see how much phones are selling for that match your phone.  If your screen is broken, find phones with a broken screen.  Tip: Use “Sold Listings” to find the ones that have actually sold, and see how much they sold for.
2. Look at what a used phone costs on eBay.
3. Take the difference between the used eBay phones and the broken eBay phones:  <Used Phone> – <Broken Phone> = <eBay Repair Cost>
4. Compare the eBay repair cost to the cost at your local repair shop.  If the eBay repair is less, you might consider exchanging your phone on eBay, selling the broken phone for parts/repair, and buying a used phone.

62. Shop Phone Repair quotes

When your phone breaks, don’t just take it to the local repair shop.  Call around and get quotes for repair first, look at reviews online and make an informed decision about who to have fix your phone!

63. Extend your phone’s warranty for free

When you purchase your phone using most major credit cards, you’ll get up to an extra year of warranty protection for your phone, at no cost to you.

• American Express Extended Warranty
• Visa Warranty Manager
• Mastercard Warranty Extension

64. Stretch your phone’s battery life

Make sure you’re recharging your phone as little as necessary:

• Don’t run background programs and processes you don’t need
• Use battery stretch or other battery saving features of your phone
• Set your screen brightness appropriately
• Use Wi-Fi when available
• Turn your phone to airplane mode when in a weak coverage area

How does this save you money?  Two ways:

1. Less electricity use
2. Less wear and tear on your battery so it lasts longer

65. Use a phone plan comparison engine or app to find the best plan for you

Last, but not least:

Make sure to cover all of your bases when you shop for a new phone plan.

There are lots of great prepaid, no-contract carriers out there, but there are only a few that will fit your needs.

Use a phone plan comparison engine, like our Phone Bill Cut search, iPhone App or Android App to quickly help you find and compare plans that will meet all your needs at a low, delightful price!

Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoyed the ultimate guide to saving money on your cell phone.  If there are ideas we missed or if you have questions, drop us a line in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

The post 65 Ways To Save Money on Your Cell Phone & Plan – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Wise Finish.

One thing to make clear up front:
A credit freeze — also known as a security freeze — is the only real way to protect credit from being taken out in your name.  Credit monitoring and credit locking services are expensive, and alert you too late, after someone has already stolen your identity and taken out credit in your name.

Know this: your information will be stolen if it hasn’t already been stolen.  If your information hasn’t already been made available to thieves in the massive Equifax hack of 2017, it’s only a matter of time before it is.

Don’t wait.

It is completely irresponsible not to lock your credit and consumer reports.  Identity theft is more impactful to people than violent crime, and can ruin your finances for years, if not forever.  Don’t wish later you had done this today.

Keep reading below as we look at how you can keep your identity safe and protect your wallet and your life.

What happens when your information is stolen?

When crooks steal your personal information, like your social security number, birthdate, address and/or drivers license number, the first thing that generally happens is that they sell that information on the dark web to another criminal.

The criminal that ends up with your information will most often attempt to take out credit lines in your name.  These can be anything from personal loans to reverse mortgages to credit cards and more.

Once the criminal successfully has access to your credit line, he will do what criminals tend to do – run off with the money!

What happens to you when you have frozen credit and a criminal that tries to use your identity?

If your credit is frozen, the story above turns out much differently.

Once the criminal has your information and tries to take out credit, the credit will be denied because the bank will not be able to obtain your credit report from one of the credit reporting agencies.  This protects your identity, your credit history and your life!

But freezing my credit costs money, and I don’t want to spend any money!

That’s mostly not true.  And though it may have a small cost, it’s totally worth it.

The cost to freeze your credit varies by state.  In most states, it costs $10 or less to freeze your credit at the 3 major credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Transunion and Experian), and $0 (free) to freeze your credit at Innovis and Chexsystems.

Therefore, it could cost up to $30 a person to freeze your credit.  That may sound like a lot, but consider the cost of identity theft, which is more impactful to people than violent crime, and often has a high cost to your time, money and health.

Also, consider the cost of credit monitoring services like Lifelock that cost anywhere from $9 – $24 a month, and yet don’t even stop thieves from accessing your credit report.  The $30 you will spend to lock your report pales in comparison to what you could spend for a solution that doesn’t even stop the criminals from obtaining your personal information.

Don’t be a fool, spend the little to lock your credit now and you will reap the benefits for years to come!

How to freeze your credit

Just about everyone knows the 3 major credit reporting agencies; but did you know there’s actually five consumer reporting agencies where you should place a lock for you and your entire family?

Below we detail how to place a security freeze at each.  Placing the freeze.  The fastest approach is to freeze online.

How to place a credit freeze at TransUnion

• Online (Recommended): TransUnion Security Freeze
• Phone: 1-888-909-8872
• Mail: Request your credit freeze by registered mail using this sample letter (PDF) (RTF)
  • Mail using registered mail to:
    • TransUnion LLC
      P.O. Box 2000
      Chester, PA 19016

How to place a credit freeze at Equifax

• Online (Recommended): Equifax Security Freeze
• Phone: 1-800-685-1111
• Mail: Request your credit freeze by registered mail using using this sample letter (PDF) (RTF)
  • Mail using registered mail to:
    • Equifax Security Freeze
      P.O. Box 105788
      Atlanta, GA 30348

How to place a credit freeze at Experian

• • Online (Reccomended): Experian Security Freeze
• Phone: 1-888-397-3742
• Mail: Request your credit freeze by registered mail using using this sample letter (PDF) (RTF)
  • Mail using registered mail to:
    • Experian Security Freeze
      P.O. Box 9554
      Allen, TX 75013

How to place a credit freeze at Innovis

• Online (Reccomended): Innovis Security Freeze
• Phone: 1-800-540-2505
• Mail: Request your credit freeze by registered mail using the letter provided here, which includes the address for mailing.
• Walk in: 875 Greentree Road, 8 Parkway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15220

How to place a security freeze at ChexSystems

• Online (Reccomended): ChexSystems Security Freeze Page
• Phone: 1-800-887-7652
• Mail: Request your credit freeze by registered mail using the letter provided here.  Be sure to include the information requested on the ChexSystems Security Freeze Page.
  • Mail using registered mail to:
    • Chex Systems, Inc.
      Attn: Security Freeze Department
      7805 Hudson Road, Suite 100
      Woodbury, MN 55125

How to get a free copy of your credit reports

The big 3: Equifax, Transunion, Experian

There is only one place to get the government-mandated free copy of your credit reports from the “big 3” credit bureaus, www.annualcreditreport.com  This was the website created as a result of government action, and will allow you to obtain your report once each 365 day period.  Some people choose to stagger their requests for the three over the course of a year to keep a better eye on things, but it’s fine to request them all at once as well, especially if you have your credit frozen.

You can request your reports from Innovis & ChexSystems also.  You can able to request these reports at any time, and as often as you would like.

What is the best way to unfreeze / thaw my credit report

The process to unfreeze your credit or consumer report varies by agency.  However, there are three basic options that most companies offer to do this:

1. (Best) Thaw, requiring a password to get access to for a time period
2. (OK) Thaw for a certain time period
3. (No way!) Permanently unfreeze the report

Thaw, requiring a password to get access to for a time period

This is the best way to unfreeze your credit.  Why?  It is the best because it is the most secure.

Here’s how it works: for a time period, you are allowing creditors that you provide with a pin number to get access to your credit report.  This is the only method of thawing your credit report that does not require opening up access to anyone that may request information during a certain time period.

You can request this type of thaw by going to the credit report agency’s website and requesting a

Thaw for a certain time period

This is the second best way to unfreeze your credit.  Why?  It’s better than permanently unfreezing your credit, but still somewhat insecure.

Here’s how it works: for a time period, you are allowing creditors that you provide with a pin number to access your credit report.  This is the only method of thawing your credit report that does not require opening up access to anyone that may request information during a certain time period.

Permanently unfreeze the report

A permanent unfreeze will forever unfreeze your credit report.  You do not want to do this under any circumstance.  After all, a credit freeze is one of the best things that you can do to protect yourself against identity theft!

How to apply for credit when you have a frozen credit report

Applying for credit when you have a frozen credit report is pretty straightforward, but usually adds some time to the process.  In my experience, submitting an application for credit or a loan is the same as if you had unlocked credit.

Here’s a checklist of how to navigate the process:

1. Apply for credit as normal
2. Wait for a rejection notice from the creditor (usually comes by mail)
3. Contact the creditor about the rejection.  If your credit is frozen, you know this is the reason and they will tell you that.
4. While talking to the creditor about the rejection, ask them which credit reporting agencies you need to unfreeze in order for them to process your application.  Also, ask the creditor if they can support a pin unlock or if they need to have you completely open access to your credit report.
5. Unlock the report in the most secure way possible (use pin if they offer it, and limit the amount of days the credit is unfrozen, to prevent theft during the time while your credit is unfrozen.
6. Wait a few hours and call back the creditor, and let them know they may now re-process your application.
7. The creditor will re-process your application and share with you their decision.

Other Questions

If you have other questions about freezing or unfreezing your credit, leave a comment below.  I’d be happy to help you navigate this process which is so critical to your personal finances and mental health!

Other resources:
Financial Protection Bureau – List of Consumer Reporting Companies
Clark Howard’s guide to freezing your credit
Consumer’s Union: State Security Freeze Laws

The post The Ultimate Guide to Placing & Lifting a Credit Freeze – Stop Identity Theft Before It Happens appeared first on Wise Finish.

Here are some lesser-known ways to get help with your phone, including Straight Talk Executive Customer Support

Before you contact customer support, please be sure to check the online guides that Straight Talk provides, that may very well answer your question!

Straight Talk genuinely wants to help their customers, but to keep prices low, they do use techniques such as offshore call centers that can sometimes be frustrating when you are trying to get your problem resolved.

Information to have when Contacting Customer Service

You’ll want to have the following on-hand when you contact Straight Talk Customer Service

1. Straight Talk MEID DEC / Serial Number
2. Straight Talk Cell Phone Number
3. Charged Phone
4. Straight Talk SIM Card (is probably in your phone)
5. Something to take notes with

Primary Customer Support Line

This is where you should start any interaction with Straight Talk customer support.  There’s a good chance that these folks can help you resolve your issue, so give them a chance first.

Here’s how to reach these people:

How to Get Additional Help from Straight Talk Customer Support

If you didn’t get anywhere with the normal customer service line, you are not alone.  The normal customer service line is limited in the types of issues they are able to handle, and I’ve had to escalate issues several times beyond the first representative I spoke with.

Note: Please do not use the advanced methods listed below unless your attempts to call the normal Straight Talk customer service line have failed.  If everyone uses these as their primary contact method to customer service, they will become much less useful.

Ask to speak to a Supervisor

While on the regular support line, ask to speak to a supervisor if you feel your concerns are not being handled.

Twitter

You can send Straight Talk a tweet @AskStraightTalk and they may reply with a mechanism to get more help.  They do not appear to be very active on Twitter anymore, so your experience may vary.  But it is worth a try.

Facebook

You can send Straight Talk a private message on Facebook for extra help. They are listed as being “Very Responsive” to messages on Facebook, so this is a pretty good option to get in contact.

Executive Customer Support – By Mail

A typed letter, sent certified or express mail is always a good attention-getter that shows you are serious about resolving your issues.  Here’s how to write to Straight Talk’s Executive Resolution Department

Straight Talk, Inc
Attention: Executive Resolution Department
9700 NW 112th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178

Executive Customer Support – Miami Corporate Office

Phone: 1-305-715-6500 extension 1029

Hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Eastern

Contact an Executive

Contact an executive at Straight Talk, like the CEO F.J. Pollack.  Chances are you’ll be routed to an assistant, rather than the CEO himself, but calling and asking for the CEO, or other executives can get your support case noticed.

Phone: 1-305-715-6500

If All Else Fails

If all else fails in dealing with Straight Talk customer support, you might consider some other options for resolving your situation:

1. Consider another phone carrier.  If all the above methods didn’t work, maybe Straight Talk just isn’t for you.
2. Submit a complaint through the Better Business Bureau
3. Contact us for extra help using the comment section below.  Please detail your problem and the mechanisms you have tried and we’ll suggest possible ways you can receive help.

The post Straight Talk Customer Support – How to get help appeared first on Wise Finish.

If you don’t currently earn cash back by using rebate shopping, you’re spending too much on just about everything you buy.  Read below how to get started!

If you do ship cash back, read below for how you can maximize your cash back.

How cash-back shopping works

If you’re not familiar with cash-back shopping online, I’ll explain a little bit about how it works to start:

Cash-back shopping allows you to receive a rebate of some amount of the purchase price (typically 1-8%) when you make a purchase online.  In order for this to work, you must start shopping at the cash-back site, and not go directly to the merchant that you are shopping at.  This allows the merchant to know that you are shopping in “cash-back” mode, so that they can credit you with your rebate after you checkout.

Keep in mind that this cash back is on top of any credit card rewards or coupons you may be applying to your order!

You might think 1-8% is not much money, but it can really add up  Consider the purchase of a $998 dishwasher on lowes.com.  You could earn 2% cash back with Mr. Rebates, which equates to $19.96.

Over time, these rebates will add up to a lot as you shop and (optionally) refer friends.

How-to cash back shop

1. Sign up for cash back sites (see below)
2. Start your shopping at the cash-back site
3. Shop and checkout
4. Watch your cash roll in!

How to choose the best cash back shopping site

When deciding on the best cash back site, there are a couple primary things to consider:

1. Is the site reputable?
2. Do they pay the best rate of cash back available?

Let’s take a look at the top two cashback sites, Ebates & Mr. Rebates.

Ebates Review

Is Ebates reputable?

Ebates, being the number one cashback site, is a reputable company.  They are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, and widely known.

They’ve been around since 1998, in the early days of the World Wide Web.

Does Ebates pay the best rate of cash back available?

In short: No.  Not always.

Ebates pays a decent amount of cash-back.  But, if you don’t consider other options for cash back, you might be leaving money on the table.

Let’s consider a few examples, comparing Ebates with Mr. Rebates (another A+ reputable cash-back shopping site)

*On select categories

As you can see in our Ebates review, Ebates trails Mr. Rebates in many of these examples.

Therefore, you should consider using Mr. Rebates when you shop along with or in addition to Ebates, unless you will obtain a higher rebate using Ebates.  It’s important to check both sites before shopping, as sometimes they will offer promotional cash-back amounts, especially around major shopping events like black Friday.

Need to sign up for Mr. Rebates?  Sign up right now through this link and get a free $5 in your account!

It’s also a good idea to sign up for Ebates and compare.  Sign up for Ebates right now through this link and get a free $10 in your account!

Mr. Rebates Review

Is Mr. Rebates reputable?

 Mr. Rebates has been in business for 15 years and has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.

I’ve found them to be very reliable in tracking rebate earnings and issuing checks to me.  They even remind you when you have a check waiting to redeem!

Does Mr. Rebates pay the best rate of cash back available?

As covered above, Mr. Rebates often does pay the best cash back rate of any reputable cash back site.  Always compare between the two when you make a purchase to ensure you are receiving the highest level of cash back.

Other Considerations

In addition to the two primary considerations we covered, there are a few other things to consider:

1. How easy is it to get paid?
2. How much do I have to earn before I can get paid?
3. What bonuses can I get for referring my friends?

How easy is it to get paid?

Ebates: After earning $5, you can cash out your rebate by Postal Mail or PayPal.  You can request this every 3 months.

Mr. Rebates: After earning $10, you can cash out your rebate by Postal Mail or PayPal.  You can request this every month.

What bonuses can I get for referring my friends?

Ebates: $5, and a $40 bonus when two friends sign up and make a purchase.

Mr. Rebates: 20% of all cash back the friend earns – forever.

Using multiple cash back sites at the same time

Can you use multiple cash back sites at the same time, stacking Ebates on top of Mr. Rebates, for instance?

No.

However, you can maximize your cash back by following the tips below.

Maximizing your Cash Back & Saving the Most While Shopping Online

How can you save the most when shopping online?

Scout out which site has the lowest price on what you want.

Once you know what you want, check the following sites to see who has the best deal:

eBay

Amazon.com

Wal-Mart

Google Shopping

Yes, there are other price comparison sites, but rarely will you find a better deal on anything outside of these sites, unless you are looking for a specific class of product.  For instance, if you are looking for Home Improvement supplies, you might want to check Home Depot & Lowe’s in addition to the above sites.

If you’re shopping for appliances, check out our article: You Pay Too Much For Your Appliances

Don’t buy now, watch for a better price

Instead of buying something now, watch the item for a better price.

For Amazon items, use CamelCamelCamel to setup a price alert.

For eBay items, setup a watch on the item you want to buy.

For any type of item, setup an alert on Slickdeals.net to watch for specials that may be available for the item.

Start your shopping with a cashback shopping site, in a new browser

After you find the deal you are wanting to take advantage of, start a new Incognito or Private browsing session.  Then, visit your cashback site (Mr. Rebates or Ebates) and use that to access your preferred shopping site.

If you do not do this, you may forefit your rebate, especially if you leverage coupon sites for your shopping.

Checkout with a cash back credit card

You can add to your cash-back savings by using a cash-back card in addition to the a cash-back shopping site.

You can save an additional 5% with the Amazon Prime Visa at Amazon.com

You can save an additional 2% with the Citi Doublecash Mastercard everywhere.

Use free shipping benefits

If you have an American Express Card, you have free 2-day shipping through Shoprunner on many sites.

You Too Can Save Big

By signing up for Mr. Rebates & Ebates, you’ll earn $15 without doing a thing.  Then, you stand to earn hundreds, even thousands more over time as you use these sites to shop.  We hope you enjoyed our Mr. Rebates & Ebates review!

If you have any questions how to get started, or comments as to how we can improve this guide, please leave us a comment below!

The post With Little Effort, I Earned $1,500 in Cash Back: Mr. Rebates & Ebates Review appeared first on Wise Finish.

1. GOD LOVES YOU AND CREATED YOU TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

God created you. In Psalm 139:13-14 the Bible says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!”

God loves you . “For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

God wants you to know Him. “And this is the way to have eternal life — by knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth!” (John 17:3)

Why is it that many people do not have a personal relationship with God?

2. OUR SIN KEEPS US FROM HAVING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

What is sin? “Knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.” (James 4:17) You see, God is holy and perfect…and we are not. Sin not only means doing wrong or failing to do all that God wants. Sin is also our attitude of ignoring or rejecting God. Because God is holy, He cannot accept our sin.

Who has sinned? “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

What happens when we sin? “But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God.” (Isaiah 59:2) “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Sin causes a gap between God and us. Death, which means eternal separation from God, is the penalty of our sin.

What is the solution to our separation from God?

3. ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST CAN YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Why Jesus Christ? In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way — the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except be means of me.” It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have a relationship with God.

Why did Jesus Christ have to die? “He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners, although He Himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that He might bring us safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, so we might be forgiven.

Why did Christ rise from the dead? Jesus Christ rose from the dead to prove He could give us eternal life. “Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said He would…He was buried…three days afterwords He arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold…He was seen be more than five hundred Christian brothers at one time…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

How can you begin your personal relationship with God?

4. YOU MUST PERSONALLY RESPOND BY TRUSTING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD.

You respond with trust in Christ. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.”

You respond by turning to God, and from sin. “Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to Him so He can cleanse away your sins…” (Acts 3:19)

You respond by receiving Christ. “To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust Him to save them.” (John 1:12)

Receiving Christ means:
TURNING to God from you own way of living (repentance).
INVITING Christ to come into your life and trusting Him to forgive your sin.
ALLOWING God to direct your life.

Receiving Jesus Christ is not just an emotional experience; nor is it just agreeing with your mind that Jesus is the Son of God. It means total trust, an act of your will.

Where would you place yourself in this example right now?

a. I don’t have a personal relationship. b. I would like a personal relationship. c. I have a personal relationship.

You can begin you personal relationship with God by receiving Jesus Christ by faith. You can express your faith (trust) through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. He knows what you mean even when it is difficult to express yourself. You may use the following words or you own.

“Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Can you say this to God, and mean it? If you can, pray right now and trust Jesus to forgive your sin and come into your life, as He promised.

What next?

YOUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST BEGINS A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP.

God commits Himself to you:

• God assures you that Jesus Christ has come into your life. (John 14:20)
• God will never leave. (Hebrews 13:5)
• God completely forgives your sin. (Colossians 2:13-14)
• God assures you that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
• God gives you his Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life. (Galatians 5:25)

TO KEEP GROWING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…

G o to God daily in prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7)
R ead the Bible every day. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
O bey God moment by moment. (Luke 6:46-48)
W orship in a local church regularly. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
T ell others about Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
H oly Spirit — let Him direct your life. (John 14:26)

NOW YOU CAN SHARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP!

Share this with a friend!

And please share it with me as well! If you have prayed this prayer, please contact me.  I will send you a Bible and give you all the support I can.

image copyright Moyan Brenn

The post Your Most Important Relationship appeared first on Wise Finish.

1. Park in your garage – Have a garage or carport ?  Parking there will save your car and your gas.  The main reason is that you won’t have to use your heater, gas-sucking air conditioner or gas-sucking defroster as much, but a secondary reason is that parking in the shade (see the next tip) can also be useful.  Also, parking in a garage is usually a good security measure (assuming that your garage is locked).
2. Park in the shade – Save your car’s paint and interior from the damaging rays of the sun, keep your car cooler (less cooling needed), and also save your gas.  Parking in the shade saves gas because it decreases the amount of gasoline that evaporates from your tank.
3. Use a windshield shade – Using a windshield shade when you park will keep your car cooler, which will require less air conditioning and could also reduce evaporation from your gas tank.  It will also save the interior of your car from the damaging rays of the sun.
4. Park in a well-lit, visible area – If you are parking outdoors, make sure the area your car is parked in is well lit (such as right under a street lamp) and is visible.  The more people that can see your car, the less likely it is to be vandalized or stolen.
5. Lock your doors – This may seem obvious, but many people do not take the time to lock their doors when they park.  Locking your doors can prevent your car from being stolen.  Thieves usually go for the easiest target, so if your car is unlocked they may prefer your car over another simply because it makes it a little easier (and more discrete) for them to continue the process of stealing your car.
6. Park as quickly as possible – Find a spot that is the closest “obviously open” spot that you can find.  Don’t try and cruise the isles to find a close spot.  This will save gas and allow you to get that prime pull-through spot you need to save your car and your gas.
7. Find a pull-through spot or reverse in – Parking in a pull-through spot will save wear and tear on your car, save you gas and make it less likely that you will get into an accident leaving the parking lot.  It saves you wear and tear and gas because you do not need to use reverse gear when you leave your parking spot.  Reversing out of your spot wears down your transmission and uses more gasoline.  If you can’t find a pull through, reverse into your spot because it will be better to use your reverse gear when your transmission and engine are warmed up and at top efficiency.  Both reversing and a pull-through will give you improved visibility when you leave your spot, which will reduce the chance of an accident.
8. Avoid parallel parking – For perhaps obvious reasons, the time, gear shifting, tire grinding and danger of parallel parking should be avoided whenever possible.  Besides that, you often will end up feeding a parking meter when you parallel park.

If you truly want to save gas and “Drive it Forever”, follow these simple tips to keep more money in your pocket!

Links:
Muzzle the Guzzle -50 Fuel Saving Strategies
Drive It Forever: Secrets to Long Automobile Life

(Photo: RCB)

The post Extend the Life of Your Car and Save Gas by Parking Smartly – Drive it Forever appeared first on Wise Finish.

A few years ago, I was reading through some of the Technical Service Bulletins that were available for my vehicle, which is a Chevrolet product.  I noticed several bulletins about something called “Top Tier” gasoline.  This began a journey that converted me from using the “discount” gas station in town (Speedway) to the “Top Tier” gas station in town, Shell.

You need to understand that I am a total cheapskate, so before I was made aware of the benefits of “Top Tier” gasoline, I just went  to whichever discount gas station had the lowest price (as most people tend to do).  Usually I saved a few cents per gallon at the pump by buying the “discount” gas instead of “Top Tier” gasoline, and I was happy with that.  But once I found out that for nearly the same price per gallon I could be keeping my car in better condition and getting better fuel economy I was sold, and I rarely have put “discount” gas in my car since.

What’s the big deal about Top Tier gasoline?
You may be thinking, as I did before, that “gas is gas” and it all comes from basically the same place.  For the large part you are correct.  However, when you purchase gasoline you are purchasing a mixture of products: detergents, gasoline, ethanol, and other additives.  This mixture is so important to understand how the gas will burn in your car.  “Top Tier” gasoline has a level of detergents and additives that has been specified an recommended by six of the world’s top automakers: BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi. They recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.  When your engine is not performing at its peak, your fuel economy suffers, as does the life of your engine.  GM’s fuel guru, Andrew Buczynsky, endorses Top Tier gasoline saying that “with gas, like almost everything else, you do get what you pay for. Buy cheap fuel, and you risk coating parts of your engine with thick deposits that can dramatically affect your car’s performance.”

The bottom line with Top Tier gasoline is this:  Usually (at the pump) it is the same price or slightly more expensive than “discount gasoline”.  However, it allows your engine to burn fuel more efficiently by being clean and in top shape.  When your engine burns more efficiently, you need less maintenance and you can drive more miles per gallon.  Therefore, “Top Tier” gasoline is smart choice, and will save you money tank after tank.

TOP TIER Gasoline Retailers:

• Costco
• Chevron
• Texaco
• MFA Oil Co.
• Conoco
• Phillips 66
• 76
• Entec Stations
• Shell
• The Somerset Refinery, Inc.
• Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
• Aloha Petroleum
• Tri-Par Oil Co.
• Turkey Hill Minit Markets
• Mileage Stations
• Chevron Canada
• Shell Canada
• Petro-Canada
• Sunoco Canada

Links:
Top Tier Gasoline
Your Car is a Temple, so Put in the Good Stuff

(Photo: midorysu)

The post Top Tier Gasoline is the Only Gas to put in Your Car’s Gas Tank – Drive it Forever appeared first on Wise Finish.

Options abound in the world of construction loans. The information we’ve compiled for you below can help you avoid the intimidation and confusion that is common when trying to find the best construction loan.

When do I need a construction loan?

You need a construction loan when you are building a home on a lot and to not wish to pay cash during the building process.

What are the benefits of a construction loan?

The benefit of having a construction loan is that you will have a partner (your lender) that will inspect the home & structure as it is being built to ensure that you are getting what you are paying for.  This can be especially helpful if you are unfamiliar with the home building process.

Construction loan checks generally include :

• An up-front appraisal, to make sure what you are building is worth what the bank is lending you
• An appraisal at completion, to make sure things are worth what they were anticipated to be
• Inspections at every draw (a draw is a withdrawal your contractor makes) to ensure that you got what is being paid for
• A deadline for your project, for instance: building must be finished by X date or there are penalties or repercussions
  • The deadlines can be a positive or negative aspect of a construction loan, as they could result in a penalty to you if your contractor does not meet the deadline.  It may be worthwhile to include penalties in the contract with your general contractor if they do not complete the home by the time your construction loan closes/converts.

Where can I get a construction loan?

You can get a construction loan from some of the places you might get a traditional mortgage loan, like credit unions, banks and mortgage brokers.

Warning: Do not just talk to “your bank” or “your credit union” or somebody “someone” recommended.  Check around to at least 5 or so different places in your area using the guidelines we provide below.

Choosing your lending partner for your construction loan wisely can save you a lot of money and a lot of headache later on.

Where can I get the best construction loan?

It depends on what fits your situation best, and what’s available in your area.  However, in general, I would order the options like this:

1. Credit Unions (Search for some in your area)
   • Tend to have the lowest fees and lowest rates
   • Generally are run locally, allowing for more flexibility, help and understanding through the process
   • Mostly do not sell loans to another party
   • Historically, have been hard to join; now are mostly as easy to join as banks
   • Tend to have exceptional customer service, and are run by their members
2. Mortgage Brokers (Search for NMLS professionals in your area)
   • Look at a wide range of options to find the one that is best for you
   • May have access to some unique products that may align well with your project
   • Sometimes are run locally
3. Banks (Search for FDIC banks in your area)
   • Tend to have the highest fees and rates
   • Generally to be run elsewhere, have more rigid rules and less help for you through the process
   • May sell your loan to another party
   • Are known for poor customer service

What types of construction loans can I choose from and how can I choose the best construction loan for me?

Options abound when it comes to construction loans.  Getting a standard home loan is fairly straightforward.  With construction loans, many lenders handle things differently.  Therefore, it’s important to interview each one of your options, consider the differences between your options and what might be the best construction loan for your situation.

Before you proceed, make sure you have a rough idea how much money you would like to borrow, and what type of long-term financing (30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, ARM, etc) you are interested in.  Once you know that, proceed and get ready to interview your lenders.

Basic Characteristics

The following are the basic attributes of  a construction loan that you will need to consider:

• One Time or Two Time Close
  • One Time Close – Take care of all of the closing details at once.  Usually avoids some fees of closing twice, but you should compare the numbers on both options.
  • Two Time Close – Close on your construction loan, and then later close on the long-term mortgage loan.
• What type of long(er) term mortgage loan does the construction loan convert into
  • Fixed Rate – Fixed interest rate through the life of the mortgage loan.  Most people will want this, unless you know you are going to move before an ARM loan would adjust.
  • ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) – Variable interest rate through the life of the mortgage loan.  This makes it hard to predict costs going forward and should not be used unless there are special circumstances.
  • Other
• Interest Rate for construction loan:
  • What is the rate?
  • Is it variable or fixed?
  • When can it be locked in?
• Interest Rate for long(er) term mortgage loan:
  • What is the rate?
  • Is it variable or fixed?
  • When can it be locked in?
    • At initiation of construction loan
      • With float down at conversion
      • Without float down at conversion
    • At conversion of construction loan
    • Some construction loans allow you to lock in the interest rate for your long-term mortgage loan when you close on the construction loan; some do not, and force you to take the “market” rate when your loan converts.  Generally, locking up-front will have a slightly higher interest rate, as there is more risk to the lender.  If interest rates are going up, then locking in up front could be worthwhile.  If you’re not sure, or anticipate they will drop, then waiting to lock in your rate later could be beneficial.
• Term of Construction Loan
  • Typically 6, 9 or 12 months – Choose longer than you think.  Problems arise during construction.
• Average Payments during Construction Loan Phase
• Payment during Long Term Mortgage Loan
• Term of Long Term Mortgage Loan
  • 30-year Fixed
  • 15-year Fixed
  • 5 or 10 year ARM
• Origination & Other Fees at initiation of construction loan
  • Origination fee
  • Appraisal
  • Title fees
  • Title insurance
  • Credit report
  • Inspections
  • Recording fee
  • Flood certificate
  • Other
• Origination & Other Fees at conversion to long-term mortgage loan
  • Origination fee
  • Underwriting fee
  • Escrow for taxes and insurance
  • Title/closing fees
  • Title insurance
  • Recording fee
  • Appraisal
  • Tax service fee
  • Endorsements
  • Other

How should I interview lenders about their construction loan offerings?

First, start by asking lenders all of the “basic” questions above.  Then, if you feel like this lender might be able to meet your needs at a reasonable cost, follow-up with these detailed questions:

• How do your construction loans work? (open-ended question, let them give you an overview)
• Do you credit any of the fees from the construction loan toward the permanent loan?
• Can equity in land be used for down payment?
• What are the down payment requirements for the construction loan?
• What are the down payment requirements for the permanent loan?
• Is any reserve required for the construction loan?
  • Some loans may require a reserve amount, over and beyond the amount of money you are contracted to sell for
• If there is a reserve, what can the reserve be used for, and who can use it?
• What type of loan products can a construction loan roll over into?
• When can I lock my rate for the permanent loan?
• When can I lock my rate for the construction loan?
• What fees are there for locking my rate?
• Are there options to float down the rate of my permanent loan?
• Is the second loan available at market rates, or are there raised rates to do it being a refinance of the construction loan?
• What payments are required during construction – do interest costs roll into the loan, or are they paid, or do I have an option?
• Can I have a good faith estimate of the fees for both the construction and permanent loan?
• What happens if construction goes longer than expected?  Will the rate no longer be locked?  Are there penalties?
• Who services the construction and long-term loans?
  • You might want to consider favoring companies that service their own loans, if you are concerned about having lousy customer service in case your loan is sold.
• What number of days does it take to close on the loan?
• Is the construction loan rate locked upfront or floating during the construction loan period?
• Is the rate during the construction loan the same rate when the loan converts into the mortgage period?
• What happens when building cost comes in lower than my loan amount?
• Will you work with my contractor? (If you have one picked out)  What contractors have been good to work with (If you haven’t picked one out)
• What types of things do you require my contractor to do in order to proceed with the loan?
• How often do you service construction loans in my area?
• When my contractor makes a draw, how long does it take for you to process his draw requests?
• Do you feel like you have the best construction loan product available?  If so, why?

Processing Interview Results & Deciding on the Best Construction Loan

Once you’ve interviewed several credit unions and banks in your area, it’s time to narrow down to a few different choices to compare.

First, eliminate all of the choices that have a payment amount in the construction or long-term mortgage loan that exceed 25% of your monthly take-home pay.

Second, eliminate all of the choices that do not offer the long-term financing that you desire.  For example, you may not want an ARM loan, but may find that over half of the lenders you interview offer only ARM loans.  Discard those lenders from consideration.

Third, eliminate any remaining choices that you don’t feel comfortable with, based on their answers to any of the questions above.

It is dangerous to look at just a particular aspect of a Construction-to-Long-Term Mortgage Loan and try to decide off of that; look at the total cost with all fees and interest rates included.

With those that are left, use our Construction Loan Comparison Calculator Spreadsheet to compare the total cost of all of your options.   We have a Google Sheets version that you can copy into your Google Drive Account and edit with your information, and Microsoft Excel (xlsx) version, which will work on LibreOffice, OpenOffice or Mac OS Pages.
Once you have your top choices in the spreadsheet, consider the following:

• Among your options, which are the lowest overall cost, yet are an achievable (25% or less of take-home pay) payment amount?
• Do the options that allow me to lock in now cost only marginally more than loans that would lock later, assuming similar interest rates?  If so, prefer loans that let you lock now, to take away uncertainty later!

Do you need help figuring it all out?

If you need someone to consult with as you go through the process of finding the best construction loan, contact us or leave a comment below with your questions!

Congratulations! You Just Picked the Best Construction Loan

As you probably realize by now, you’ve saved yourself thousands of dollars and untold amounts of hassle by educating yourself and picking the best construction loan.  Now, enjoy the building process!

Here are a couple resources that we recommend for people building new homes:

“What Your Contractor Can’t Tell You” by Amy Johnston – Excellent book detailing the construction process, including how to avoid many pitfalls during the home design and construction process.

“How To Build Your Dream Home Without Getting Nailed!” by The Chubby Builder – Everything you need to know to make building the home of your dreams the pleasant and profitable adventure it should be.

Armchair Builder – Many resources geared towards people building their own home, but also very useful when working with a contractor.

The post Find the Best Construction Loan for Building Your Home and Save Thousands of Dollars appeared first on Wise Finish.

I recently discovered a way to save even more money when shopping on eBay.  No eBay coupons are required, and you can get anywhere from 4%+ cash back on products you purchase on eBay.

How does this work?  What you do is “stack” rebates to get substantial cash back from every eBay purchase you make.

Here’s where the rebates come from:

1. Mr. Rebates – 1% cash back on almost every eBay purchase, plus a $7.50 bonus when you sign up.  A+ company, the rebates are real and the cash back is outstanding.
2. eBay Bucks – 2% cash back, automatically on eBay.  The rebates are real, and can be applied to future eBay purchases.
3. Credit Card rewards – 1%+ rewards for charging your eBay purchase through PayPal on a cash back credit card (there are many of them out there)

Here’s how you do it:

1. Make sure you are signed up for an account on Mr. Rebates.com
2. Go to Mr. Rebates and login.  Do a search for eBay.  You will see the eBay cash back link in the results.  Click on that and it will take you back to eBay.
3. In the window that Mr. Rebates opened (very important) find your item by searching or going to “my eBay” and bringing up the item.
4. Click the “Buy it Now” button and checkout with PayPal (use your rewards card in PayPal if you have one).
5. You will see your cash back in Mr. Rebates about 2 days after your purchase.

This is the formula I have followed and have earned a great deal of cash back for purchases on eBay.  Please note that Mr. Rebates works on many additional sites and you should check them for cash back before making a purchase from any online merchant!

This can be a bit complicated, so leave a comment if you aren’t following this or if it does not work out for you.

(photo: liewcf)

The post Saving big on eBay without eBay Coupons: How to consistently get 4%+ cash back while shopping appeared first on Wise Finish.

1. They don’t pick a reliable appliance
2. They don’t take advantage of coupons and cash back offers
3. They don’t shop around
4. They don’t buy at the right time
5. They don’t take advantage of energy savings and energy rebates
6. They don’t take advantage of free extended warranties

I will tell you how to avoid each of these pitfalls, step by step and save loads of money, next time you buy an appliance, whether it be a refrigerator, dishwasher, range, oven, freezer, washing machine, dryer or toaster!

 1. Choose a reliable appliance

People tend to buy appliances based on features alone.  However, to get the best value, you should buy something that works well and will last for a long time.

Buying an unreliable or faulty appliance that needs to be replaced will end up costing you a lot more, even if you save a few dollars right now. Here’s how to choose the best value appliance for you:

Look to an independent ratings source like Consumer Reports or Consumer Search.  You can subscribe to Consumer Reports on-line or check your local library for the magazine. Consumer Search is a free website, but has less detailed information than Consumer Reports.  Start by looking at the “best buys” or “best bets” which have already been identified as the best cross between features, reliability and value.  If one or more of those suits you, note down the model numbers and proceed to the next step.  If not, look though the detailed ratings to find a unit within your budget that has good to excellent reliability and performance.  Yale Appliance also publishes a series on appliance reliability that is interesting.

Appliance Reviews can be deceiving!  Most reviews for appliances happen when a consumer purchases the appliance.  If an appliance has horrible reviews, it’s certainly a reason to avoid it.  However, if it has positive reviews – do not be deceived – in most cases they just mean “I liked this and here’s what I think of it during the first month of its life”.

Let’s break it down.

New dishwasher: $500

Lasts 10 years: $50/year

Lasts 5 years: $100/year

Taking a few minutes to not choose one of the “worst of the worst” can really save you money, by not needing to purchase appliances as often.  Skip this step and you could increase your appliance spend by 100% or more!

2. Take advantage of coupons and cash-back offers

I have saved hundreds of dollars on appliances recently by using coupons and cash-back offers.  On just about any appliance you buy, you should be able to save an extra 1-5% easily by purchasing through a cash back site.  Coupons could save you 10-20% or more.  You should always use both if you can.  Most of these types of offers require making the appliance on-line, but you can still buy from a local, reputable retailer for pick-up or delivery.

Coupons

You can regularly find coupons on ebay for big-box appliance stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Best Buy and others.  You might have to pay a few dollars to get one of these coupons, but they can save you dozens, if not hundreds of dollars.  Look for coupons that you can use online so that you can combine the coupon + cash back (we’ll talk about that next).   Many stores will accept the coupons of their competitors in-store, if you find that an in-store purchase will provide you with the best savings.

Retail Me Not is also a good source for on-line appliance store coupons, however the coupons are few and far between.  It never hurts to look, though generally you are going to be better off purchasing a coupon on eBay than waiting for a public coupon to be available.

Cash Back

This is one of the easiest ways to save a significant amount of money.

If you’ve never signed up for Mr. Rebates, go sign up right now and get a $5 bonus!.  Mr. Rebates will give you cash back on just about any online shopping you do!  Most of the time you can get a gift card and/or cash back just by signing up.  In addition to that, these cash back sites will be a huge help to you as you seek to save on your appliance and as you make other purchases in the future on any on-line shopping site.  It always pays to check these sites for cash back before making any type of on-line purchase!

Here are some sample cash back amounts that you can save on top of the money you are already saving by using a coupon, buying during a sale, etc

• Abt: 3% off at Mr. Rebates.  That’s an extra $30 off a $1000 appliance!
• Lowe’s: 2% off at Mr. Rebates.  That’s an extra $20 off a $1000 appliance!
• Home Depot: 2% off at Mr. Rebates.  That’s an extra $20 off a $1000 appliance!
• Sears: 1% off at Mr. Rebates.  That’s an extra $10 off a $1000 appliance!
• Best Buy: 0.5% off at Mr. Rebates.  That’s an extra $5 off a $1000 appliance!

Follow these steps to make sure you get your cash back:

• Bookmark the page for the appliance(s) that you wish to buy.
• Write down any coupon codes that you may have found or purchased.
• Clear your cookies in your browser or open a totally different web browser than you have been using (for example, if you are in Chrome, open Internet Explorer.  If you are in Internet Explorer, open Chrome).
• Go to Mr. Rebates and search for the store you wish to purchase from.  Click on the store to activate the cash back.
• Find your appliance(s) and add them to your cart.
• Proceed to the checkout and enter your coupon codes.
• Finish the checkout.  In a few days, the cash back will be posted to your Mr. Rebates account.

If you have questions with any of these steps, please leave me a question below in the comment section.

3. Shop Around

Take the appliance model information and use a search tool to help you find a good price on your appliance.  The best tool to use is Google shopping.  Type your model number into Google Shopping to see the price comparison from several different stores. Especially look for stores that will take the Cash Back offers and/or Coupon offers that you discovered.

If you are a member of a warehouse club like Sam’s Club or Costo, check their website to see if they have any deals on the models you are looking for.

If you have more time than you have money: Call around to local appliance stores to find out if they have one of the models you are looking for in their scratch & dent / clearance / floor model inventory, and get a price to compare with everything else you have found.

Please remember not to get distracted by other models – stick with those models that have been tested and have proven reliable.  Do not get suckered into buying another (perhaps similar) scratch & dent or floor model that isn’t a known quality or reliable performer.

Here’s a simple table to help you track some options for the total appliance cost:

((Base Price + Delivery fee – Coupon Savings ) x (-Cash Back %) + 1) = Total Cost
For example, (( $500 + $50 – $55) x (-3% + 1)) = 480.15 Total Cost

When you shop around, ask about price matching

Many stores will price match other stores.  Price matching can be useful for several reasons:

• The store that has the appliance on sale is out of that appliance, but you still want it
• The store that has the lowest price has a poor reputation
• The store that has the lowest price has a delivery charge or doesn’t deliver to your area
• The store that you want to buy from has an incentive/discount when you purchase a certain dollar amount of appliances

4. Choose the right time to buy

If it is possible to time your appliance purchase then you should consider waiting until a prime purchasing opportunity arises.  I realize that you may have a crisis and may not be able to wait.  If so, that’s fine, because if you follow the rest of the steps you’ll still save a lot of money!

If you can wait here are some of the best times to get appliance deals:

The weekends of:

• Presidents Day,
• Columbus Day,
• St. Patrick’s Day,
• Memorial Day,
• Labor Day,
• Independence Day and
• Thanksgiving.

Check other holiday weekends for sales as well – the ones listed are the most common. Also, September & October tend to be better months – as new models are introduced, old models begin to be marked down.

5. Choose an Energy Saving Appliance and Energy Rebates

Energy Saving Appliance

When comparing highly rated appliances, consider the energy use of the various choices.  If a particular model can provide energy savings to offset or reduce its cost below the other choices, you may want to strongly consider it.

You may (or may not) pay slightly more up front for an energy efficient appliance, but the payback could be significant.  To see how much you can save, try one of these calculators:

• Washing Machine
• Clothes Dryer
• Refrigerator

In addition to these calculators, you can look to the “EnergyGuide” that is included with every appliance.

Only pay attention to Energy Savings when you can get a payback in 4 years or less.  Any payback that is longer than 4 years is not significant enough to be a deciding factor – unless you can further reduce your purchase price by taking advantage of energy rebates.

Energy Rebates & Tax Savings

Stacking on top of all of the other items in this series, you can apply an additional layer of savings by taking advantage of energy rebates & tax savings.

Not everyone will have these available to them.  Generally, these rebates require buying an Energy Star or CEE tier certified appliance.

Here are places you can look to see if rebates & tax savings are available to you:

• The US federal government – Use the Energy Star savings locator
• Your electricity provider – Call or visit their website to look for rebates
• Your gas provider – Call or visit their website to look for rebates
• Your state government – Check the savings & rebate list on energy.gov & visit your state’s website

Rebates & tax savings can vary from a few dollars all the way up to hundreds of dollars.  This is easy money, so remember to include this important step.

As a reminder, most appliances are fairly energy efficient these days, so if the energy savings in 4 years + rebates + tax savings don’t lower the cost of an energy certified appliance below the cost of one of the other quality tested appliances that you are considering, disregard these incentives and save yourself money by choosing another energy efficient (but not certified) appliance.

6.They don’t take advantage of free extended warranties

Did you know you can get a free extended warranty on just about anything you buy, and you probably already have the key to do it in your pocket?

Most credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) offer a warranty extension of 1 year on appliances.  Considering most appliances will need a repair within 1 year of when the warranty expires, this free extended warranty is one you won’t want to miss out on.

To be sure your card has extended warranty coverage, call the customer service number on the back of your card.

Costco offers a standard 2-year warranty on most appliances they sell.  Even if you’re not a Costco member, consider becoming one if they have appliances that you’ve deemed are reliable and worthwhile to purchase.  Not only will Costco deliver the appliances to you for free, but they also extend the manufacturer’s warranty on most appliances from 1 year to 2 years.  Add your Credit Card extended warranty to this and you could have a free 3-year warranty on your appliance!

In Closing

We covered several ways that you can save significant amount of money on your appliance purchase:

1. They don’t pick a reliable appliance
2. They don’t take advantage of coupons and cash back offers
3. They don’t shop around
4. They don’t buy at the right time
5. They don’t take advantage of energy savings and energy rebates
6. They don’t take advantage of free extended warranties

Though these are all important, don’t forget to take advantage of the cash back offers as those are the most commonly forgotten – but they can save you dozens or even hundreds of dollars off of even sale prices.

If you have any questions or feedback, please leave it in the comments below.   Happy appliance shopping!

The post You Pay Too Much For Your Appliances: How to Stop, the Ultimate Guide appeared first on Wise Finish.

If you aren’t sure if your iPhone or iPad will work with Straight Talk SIM, please be sure to read our previous article that explains how to determine if your device will or won’t work with Straight Talk SIM and our article about the iPhone on Straight Talk SIM.

Also, once you figure out what you need to order, be sure to join hundreds of others who have used our technique to save 10% off your Straight Talk purchase + get  $7.50 cash back.

Keep reading for the breakdown and info on how to replace the SIM Card in your Apple device… 

Regular SIM Cards

The following Apple iPhones / iPads take regular SIM Cards:

• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 3
• iPhone (Original)

Micro SIM Cards

The following Apple iPhones / iPads take micro SIM Cards:

• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4
• iPad 4
• iPad 3
• iPad 2
• iPad

Nano (Fourth Form Factor / 4FF) SIM Cards

The following Apple iPhones / iPads take nano SIM Cards:

• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 5c
• iPhone 5
• iPad Mini and later
• iPad Air and later
• iPad Pro

If yoiu cannot purchase a Nano SIM Card, simply purchase the Micro SIM from Straight Talk and trim the edges so that it fits in the nano SIM slot on your phone.

How to Replace your Apple Device SIM Card

There’s a great article on the Apple support site that details how you would go about replacing the SIM Card on your Apple iPhone or iPad.

Ready to Order?

Ready to order?  Head over to Straight Talk SIM and place your SIM or Micro-SIM order now!

(Photo credit: sillygwailo)

The post Get the right SIM for your Apple iPhone / iPad appeared first on Wise Finish.

Check our quick chart below to find out if you can port your phone.  Flip over your phone and look at the model number, and then match it with the chart below.  If you’re a “Yes” go to Straight Talk SIM and purchase your SIM card today and get ready to cut ties with your current carrier.  If you plan to port your number, don’t cancel your contract until you request the number port so that it will go through successfully.

Why would you want to switch to Straight Talk anyway?  If you don’t know about this, be sure to read our full post on why Straight Talk is a great choice for most people.  In a nutshell: Nationwide network, Unlimited Service, Low Price, No Contract, No Taxes.

What if I have a “No” and can’t port to Straight Talk?   Easy!  Just sell your iPhone on eBay or Amazon.com – iPhones have great resale.  Then purchase a GSM iPhone on Amazon.com or eBay and you’re ready to go with Straight Talk!

Icon	Model	Year	Model Number*	Works on Straight Talk?
	Newer iPhones			Yes!
	iPhone 7 (GSM/CDMA)	2016	A1660, A1778, A1779	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 7 Plus (GSM/CDMA)	2016	A1633, A1688, A1700	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 6s Plus (GSM/CDMA)	2015	A1634, A1687, A1699	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 6 Plus (GSM/CDMA)	2014	A1522, A1524, A1593	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 6 (GSM/CDMA)	2014	A1549, A1586, A1589	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone SE (GSM/CDMA)	2016	A1723, A1662, A1724	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 5s (GSM/CDMA)	2013	A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528, A1530, A1533	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 5c (GSM/CDMA)	2013	A1456, A1507, A1516, A1529, A1532	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 5	2012	A1429	Yes, if an AT&T or T-Mobile iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 5 (CDMA)	2012	A1442	No
	iPhone 4S	2011	A1387	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 4S (GSM)	2011	A1431	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 4 (CDMA)	2011	A1349	No
	iPhone 4 (GSM)	2010	A1332	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 3GS (China)	2009	A1325	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 3GS	2009	A1303	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 3G (China)	2009	A1324	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone 3G	2008	A1241	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
	iPhone	2007	A1203	Yes, if an AT&T iPhone. Yes, if unlocked.
* You can find the model number on the iPhone’s back case.

If you’re still unsure you have, check out the article “Identifying iPhone Models” on the Apple Website.

Please be sure to check out our page on selecting the appropriate SIM card for your Apple iPhone device to ensure you select the proper Straight Talk SIM Card for your Apple device.

Hopefully this post was helpful in clarifying if your iPhone will work with Straight Talk.  Enjoy your lower phone bills.

The post Take your iPhone to Straight Talk and get Unlimited Everything for $45 / month appeared first on Wise Finish.