So, back in the day (early 2012) I let myself get talked into/I talked myself into joining an AT&T family plan with my SO, originally with a dumbphone that "only" cost me $50/month. In May of this year, when I became eligible, I just plain ol' talked myself into getting an iPhone 4S, and the resulting $90/month for that plan. (plus $100 for the device.)
This is a $90/month gaping wound in my finances, and I was wondering what I could do to stop the bleeding.
So, here's the math (assuming I keep using a smart phone, which I will):
Sucking it up: $90*18 months = $1620
Early termination: $320 (early termination fee) - $60 (6 months * $10/month of service) + $250 (for a new device) + $45*18 months (for Straight Talk/other MVNO) = $1320
Worst case, it looks like I could save $300 over the next year and a half. If I cut down on the device cost by $100, and the phone plan to $30/month I could end up saving $650.
Is there anything else I'm missing? What are the other downfalls of early termination of a cell phone contract?