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Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:37 pm
by moly
I am trying to eliminate my expenses firstly by reducing the cost of payment of my phone bill. (Plus, I’m moving back to my parents place to save more money)
The phone bill I have to pay every month exceeds to 40,000 yen. This includes my mom and sister’s (2 of them) who owns an iPhone 8 and iPhone 12 pro. The minimum I have paid was 35,000 yen but it still cost too much for me.
The contract has just started this February, and this concerns me more knowing I have to wait 2 years before I can change the plans again.
The best solution to come in mind was to return my iPhone 12 and just use the number (sim) and buy a second hand iPhone. My sister will start working part-time within this year and we have compromised to make her own phone bill to teach her how to manage and value the money.
But my question is, would it be possible to return the iPhone and just use the number without finishing my 2-year contract? And what other solutions would you suggest?
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:41 pm
by RetireJapan
Is that bill for the smartphone plans (voice/data) or are you paying for the phones themselves (by buying them in installments)?
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:40 pm
by moly
It’s both smartphone plans and buying the phones but I want to make it cheaper. The smartphone plans also includes 50GB with unlimited calls and this is already a family type of plan. The staff suggested this plan so it’s cheaper. We just agreed bc we couldn’t speak Japanese well.
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 2:32 pm
by zeroshiki
Depends on your carrier but I just looked up docomo and they have a 8 day cooling off period which I doubt you're still within the period of. In that case the phone is now yours and there's (likely) no way to give it back to them.
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 11:42 pm
by captainspoke
moly wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 12:37 pm... This includes my mom and sister’s (2 of them) who owns an iPhone 8 and iPhone 12 pro. The minimum I have paid was 35,000 yen but it still cost too much for me.
... And what other solutions would you suggest?
––> Maybe Mom and Sis should be paying their respective shares of the bill...?
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:29 am
by TJKansai
I pay my son's Rakuten Unlimit, about ¥3500/month.
We are not heavy phone users, so our plans are dirt cheap. Mineo even dropped the price recently.
My plan is Mineo, 500MB, ¥800/month.
My wife has Mineo for ¥1,500, 5GB which she doesn't use so I transfer it over to myself
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:52 am
by jcherni
I myself have been struggling for a while to try to decrease my phone bill (8000 per month on Softbank, I bought the phone up front so I just pay the actual bill).
My friends say to move to some of those cheaper carriers, but those are only cheap if you almost don't use the internet as they offer like 1GB, 3GB only, and if you go over you pay a lot more.
Even now working from home full time (with wi-fi at home), only using my phone when outside going to the supermarket/gym, it already goes over 3GB in one month... (and it used to go much higher when I needed to go to the office, take trains, etc...)
My gym has wifi as well, so I only use the phone when outside.
And I don't even use the phone to play, just to browse Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and the occasional music on Youtube.
Of course I could try to use even less the phone outside, but that kinda defeats the purpose of having a smartphone in the first place...
So 仕方なく、I continue to pay a lot of money for the Softbank unlimited plan.
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 10:02 am
by RetireJapan
jcherni wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:52 am
I myself have been struggling for a while to try to decrease my phone bill (8000 per month on Softbank, I bought the phone up front so I just pay the actual bill).
My friends say to move to some of those cheaper carriers, but those are only cheap if you almost don't use the internet as they offer like 1GB, 3GB only, and if you go over you pay a lot more.
Even now working from home full time (with wi-fi at home), only using my phone when outside going to the supermarket/gym, it already goes over 3GB in one month... (and it used to go much higher when I needed to go to the office, take trains, etc...)
My gym has wifi as well, so I only use the phone when outside.
And I don't even use the phone to play, just to browse Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and the occasional music on Youtube.
Of course I could try to use even less the phone outside, but that kinda defeats the purpose of having a smartphone in the first place...
So 仕方なく、I continue to pay a lot of money for the Softbank unlimited plan.
I switched to Aeon Mobile a couple of years ago, one of the best moves I ever made. They reduced my fees this April too.
https://www.retirejapan.com/blog/mobile ... n-japan-2/
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:35 am
by zeroshiki
The new plans from the big 3 (plus Rakuten) all have big data caps. ahamo/docomo is 20GB for 3800 a month I think and Rakuten is much larger. It definitely makes sense to move away from the big carriers especially if you don't use any of their (unnecessary) in-person services.
Re: Japan expenses/ Phone bill
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:52 am
by Gareth
I switched away from Softbank about 4 years ago. Am so pleased I did it.
I bought a new iPhone outright from the Apple store and then joined Bic Camera's Iijmio plan which piggybacks off docomo. Currently get 7GB for 2500 yen a month, but looks like they have even cheaper plans now so should probably change again.
Worked out I would break even after about 14 months had I have gone with the Softbank paying off the phone over two years option, so it's been a saving ever since.
Still have the same phone after about 4 years, and changed the battery once for 3000 yen.
It felt like a hassle at the time to do it, but no regrets. Never had an issue with reception compared to Softbank. Good luck!