Entertainment

  • If you want to go to the movies, wait for the half price or cheap nights
  • Eat before you go to the movies rather than pay expensive prices at the cinema
  • Try some holiday options that are cheap, like camping or staying in backpacker hostels
  • Find out where the cheap nights out are. Pubs often allocate particular nights of the week where they charge much less for drinks and meals
  • Catch up with friends at home
  • Read magazines at the library for free
  • Instead of buying books that cost money, borrow them from a library or try and get to second hand bookstores

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Mobile phones

Mobile phones are a great convenience, however it’s easy to rack up large bills. Here are some tips for buying a mobile phone and to help avoid common problems.

Tips for buying a mobile phone

  • Shop around. Don’t buy the first phone you see.
  • Work out the best plan for you and think seriously about whether the purchase fits within your budget before committing yourself.
  • Consider buying a pre-paid service. Paying upfront means you will avoid a huge bill at the end of the month.
  • Be wary of deals offering ‘free’ or ‘cheap’ mobile phones, as the actual cost of the handset is probably included in the monthly price of the contract.
  • If you think you will only use your phone for emergencies, think about buying a second-hand phone and connecting to a carrier with no monthly fees.
  • Make sure you sign a contract for a mobile service which covers your local area and areas where you may be travelling on a regular basis.
  • Ask friends, don’t rely solely on coverage maps provided by carriers.
  • Be certain when buying a mobile phone that you are fully aware of all costs associated with the phone and whether it fits in with your budget restrictions.
  • SMS is a cheaper option than ringing.
  • Emailing, internet access, 3D games, music, video downloads and photo messaging are all expensive options on your mobile.
HINT

For tips on coping with mobile phone bills and other mobile phone information, check out:

Spendwell

Money Stuff

Dollars And Sense

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Questions and Feedback

Lower Eyre Health Services
Tel 08 8688 2629 or email ask@gettingout.info