Not much in life is free, and it's likely you're paying for it in monthly increments. After you're finally done paying the mortgage/rent/bills, what's (little) is left is "disposable income" - the amount we throw at cell phones, TV, Hulu Plus, Netflix, etc. So just how much are you spending each month?
Consider our must-have expenses: the mortgage/rent, car payments (or your alternate transportation costs), utilities (electric, water, gas), insurance (home, property, car, health) - the list goes on and on. It's a surprise we've got much left at all after our paychecks are deposited! Anything leftover we've gotta have our fun, right?
Telephone: We may be able to justify a cell phone as an essential service, but a $100/month smartphone bill is a luxury many of us are all too willing to spend. Looking at AT&T service for an iPhone the cheapest voice plan is $39.99 per month for 450 minutes. A required data plan is $20 for 300MB. Tack on a $20 unlimited texting plan and you're suddenly right up there at $80/month. For those sticking with a landline (whether it's in addition to or in lieu of a cell phone), your traditional options are just as expensive, with Verizon charging $44.99 monthly. New(er) options such as MagicJack bring your service down to a cheap $40 annually.
Internet: Whatever type of internet connection is, chances are you're on the internet, with over 77% of America hooked up and online. A quick peek at Verizon's FIOS offerings shows the cheapest plan starts at $54.99 per month.
TV: Again using Verizon as an example, a starter plan sets you back $64.99 per month. You can bundle services together for cheaper packages, but it's still going to cost you. Do you miss your bunny ear antennas with custom aluminum foil extensions yet? You could also go online for TV, with options like Netflix. For $7.99 per month you get access to unlimited streaming movies and TV shows. Add another $7.99 for DVDs and $2 more per month for Blu-Ray discs. Starting to sound expensive? It's interesting that Netflix almost hides away their physical disc options, really funneling you towards their streaming service. Hulu Plus for $7.99 gives you access to a wide array of TV shows with limited commercial interruptions. You'd think anything with a monthly fee would be completely devoid of advertising...
Music: When did we stop just listening to whatever was fed to us on the radio for free? SiriusXM has started coming preinstalled in many cars right off the lot, touting a free year of service but then hitting you with $14.49 monthly charges. Services like Spotify brings online music streaming for $4.99 per month and up.
Ourselves, we spend about $200 per month: $80 for our iPhone via AT&T (split on a family plan) and $120 on internet and television via Verizon FIOS. So what are you spending your hard earned dough on? Let us know how much your monthly tech bill is!
MORE MONTHLY BILLS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Survey: How Much Is Your Monthly Rent or Mortgage?
• Stop Paying Monthly Rent For Your Expensive Cable Box
• The Streaming Services Showdown: Hulu Plus vs. Netflix
• How To Determine if Hulu Plus is Right for You
• Best Internet Music: MOG, Spotify or Pandora?
• Cut Your Cell Phone Bill From $400/Month to $30/Year
• How to Live without a Cell Phone or Tablet
(Image: Flickr member Casey Serin licensed for use under Creative Commons, FuzzBones/Shutterstock)
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
10 Low-Budget Pantry Items Everyone Should Have
Summer Recipe: Gluten-Free & Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
$140 for 2 iphones with unlimited data/texting (family plan thru AT&T), $55 for internet, $20 for tv (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Play-On) - Total $215.00. Used to be much more when we had cable television.
This post is really relevant to my interests, as I'm currently flat hunting.
Mobile phone per month? About $15, including unlimited browsing.
I have an iPhone, and my original cost was high because I bought it straight from the Apple Store. In Canada they come unlocked when sold directly by Apple, and as I don't talk on the phone much, I decided to stick with my prepaid provider. I cut the sim card down to mini-sim size, popped it in, and voila. Speakout wireless offers $10 a month unlimited browsing, so I use that, and rarely I'll use the phone to call people. I know I'm not the norm, as I don't text much either, but if you don't use those features but like the internet on the go, it's a great and cheap option.
I'll be ditching the tv when I move, as I only really watch the news as it is. But I do plan to get a good radio, and I will spend more for my internet, as I do listen to radio online. I think with the way things are you've got to pick your battles with what you get per month. Tv? Or better internet? Lots of phone time? Or can you use voip? At least there are some alternates out there now.
Internet through ATT is $40 for me (but an upgrade might make netflix a little better). I cut out the cable. Netflix $7.99
It is really the iPhone that gets me, but I haven't found a way to lower the cost.
Right now I'm using T-Mobile and have the unlimited (web, talk and text) contract free plan, which is $75 a month. I use Comcast for cable with all premium channels; internet with 30mbps down and 10mbps up; and phone, with long distance for $140 a month. I get tons of OnDemand choices and record movies through my DVR quite often so I always have something scary (or not) to watch when my beau comes over. Debating on Netflix for those things I just can't find and so I can stream onto my PS3.
$32 Verizon DSL
$15-ish dumbphone
$45-ish smartphone (for business)
Two people, and that's it!
I have internet and netflix but no cable or satellite about 40.00 for both, my big problem is cell phone, I pay for my and my two college student kids droid smartphones w/a 30.00 a month ea. data plan and unlimited text thru verizon but it runs me 230.00 per month. My contract runs out this spring and I'd like to make a change. I'd love to get an iphone but I'd rather not sign a contract. Any suggestions on how I can achieve would be greatly appreciated.