Annual Mobile Phone Expenditure

focus123 on 22/08/2025 - 10:16

Hi Folks,

What’s your strategy for getting the best value out of your money when it comes to mobile costs (device + plan)?

My approach has been to buy the previous year’s flagship outright at a heavily discounted price (usually around 50% off the original RRP, in the $700–800 range) and keep it for about 4 years.

This has worked well so far: I used a Huawei Mate 7 Pro for 4 years, then a Huawei Mate 10 Pro for 4 years, and now I’ve been using an S22 Ultra for the past 2 years. Retired phones usually get passed down to a parent or sibling overseas.

For my mobile plan, I’ve been on Boost Mobile’s $300 annual plan — mainly because it includes international calls, which my parents use to keep in touch with relatives.

Looking at my replacement pattern, my total telecommunication cost works out to roughly $500 per year ($200/year for the device, plus $300/year for the plan).

How much do you guys spend annually on your phone + plan?
And what’s your strategy for getting the best value?

Poll Options

  • 235
    Below $200
  • 158
    Between $200-$400
  • 58
    Between $400-$600
  • 15
    Between $600-$800
  • 43
    Over $800
Mobile Phone Plan

Comments

  • Bruceflix on 22/08/2025 - 10:24
    +18

    Stacking coupons and trade-in discounts means purchasing Samsung's flagship phones annually costs peanuts. Been doing that for a number of years now.

    • focus123 on 22/08/2025 - 10:56
      +1

      Do you sell the old phone? How do you keep the total cost down?

      • Bruceflix on 22/08/2025 - 10:58
        +3

        Yes, usually sell my phone through webuyback but occasionally have sold it privately. Prefer webuyback as its hassle free

      • Dr Phil on 23/08/2025 - 15:39
        +3

        Buying a used phone and then selling it within 2 or 3 years is a great way to minimise purchase cost.

        Nobody "needs" the latest and the greatest…seriously.

        Its just "show-off" value

        • focus123 on 23/08/2025 - 20:55
          +3

          Isn't it risky to buy a couple of year-old phone, mainly due to potential high battery usage. A phone used by a mobile gamer could easily go through two charge cycles per day.

          • FrozenFred on 25/08/2025 - 21:54
            +2

            @focus123: It's rare to get a mobile gamer phone. You can tell the condition or check battery condition too. I've only used old since like 10 years. Saved heaps that way and change phones every few years

    • Marty156 on 23/08/2025 - 08:20
      +4

      Why would anyone need an annual new phone anyway?
      Just wait till its built in highest 3G, 4G or 5G capability is cancelled by the telco. That's when you replace it. Untill then its still a usable phone with text Internet and a camera.

      • whyisave on 25/08/2025 - 08:48
        +2

        Well, in October 2024, the telcos cancelled (IMEI blocked) Chinese-made 4G phones, because they would fall back to 3G for the 000 emergency call.

        Even if the phone was brand new for that year, thousands of people got caught out by that IMEI block.

        The phones are still usable,…but just not in Australia.

    • SlickMick on 23/08/2025 - 10:08
      +1

      How many peanuts?

  • jv on 22/08/2025 - 10:30
    +19

    What’s your strategy for getting the best value out of your money when it comes to mobile costs

    Getting the plans for free !!!

    Woolies gives me 10% off a shop each month for having the plan and that offsets to cost…

    • coffeeinmyveins on 22/08/2025 - 10:35
      -4

      Woolies gives me 10% off a shop each month for having the plan and that offsets to cost…

      Yeah but the plan is already higher than buying a device + prepaid sim, and then you're shopping at colesworth which is already more expensive. so it's a false economy to think that you are coming out on top IMO.

      • jv on 22/08/2025 - 10:47
        +10

        Yeah but the plan is already higher than buying a device + prepaid sim

        $170 per year for the plan… I probably get around $350-$400 back from Woolies over the year…

        • jrvb42 on 23/08/2025 - 18:13
          -2

          Wow! You are spending $3500-4000 per year on 12 shops (1 per month) at Woolies? That's a hefty shop, and not even counting the other (weekly, etc) shops you probably do.
          I struggle to spend $50 each week over 4 weeks when Coles is offering 10000 points for that, so while I like your strategy for free phone plan, it might not be possible for everyone (e.g. those with a small budget).

          On OP's original request, I buy a $300 phone every 3-4 years, so say $100 per year for that, and then get a yearly plan with several hundred GB of data which currently costs under $200 (thanks to OzB deals). So I spend total about $25/month. The phone is then used for hotspot, eliminating the need for NBN, saving another $60 per month. Might not suit everyone, but the question just asked for our strategies :)

          • oranglama on 24/08/2025 - 21:51
            +3

            @jrvb42: That's just $250+ or $300 a month, easy, even with your $50 a week it's $200+ a month right?
            But really if you cook daily $50 is easy, unless you're single and don't cook often.

          • singlemalt72 on 26/08/2025 - 09:16
            +4

            @jrvb42: Pick the single person - I would easily spend 15 grand a year on groceries for my family

        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2025 - 18:27

          Woolies have a few items like this (I don’t think they stack)
          Home insurance
          Car insurance
          Pet insurance
          Etc
          Didn’t know about the phone plan.
          But each of the above gives you 10% off (different years and deals may differ)

          • Ironic fear on 26/08/2025 - 00:31

            @[Deactivated]: They stack if you make seperate accounts

            • [Deactivated] on 26/08/2025 - 11:03

              @Ironic fear: I'm curious ….how? -
              (I dont actually know how woolies discounts work - wife buys the groceries and we also dont have any of the other items with woolworths - I'm just aware there were some.)

              I'm curious ….how? -
              home insurance 10% off with email 1.
              car insurance 10% off with email 2.

              Then buy groceries online… assuming you need to pick an email (or create a 3rd) how can you stack email 1 and email 2.
              (or is it tied to rewards card)
              or are they discount codes?

              • sghetti on 26/08/2025 - 11:42

                @[Deactivated]: A separate Woolies Rewards account is required. I have 2 phone services, one for me and one for my son. I created 2 separate Everyday Mobile accounts to manage both services separately.

                I then created a Woolies Rewards account for my son, I linked the Everyday Mobile service to his Rewards account. With an email address that I have created for him a while ago.

                I've also been flicking in and out of Everyday Extra on the accounts for trials. So this month I got 4 x 10% off as the Extra discounts stack with mobile. I'll most likely purchase Extra on my account shortly as I see I'll save more than what it costs per month. That'll give me 3 x 10% discounts per month.

                My phone plan is $30 per month, my son's is $25. I usually have a shop around $180 a couple times a month, so I'm saving $18 or so with each of those shops.

      • happydude on 22/08/2025 - 10:57
        +9

        No it isn't.

        Not available to new customers but myself and wife pay $170 a year each with 10% off 1 shop a month each

        From that we would get $25 - $30 off a month so (25 * 2 * 12) = $600 in discounts against $340 in phone service cost.

        So our phone service costs are minus $130 each a year.

        Edit:

        then you're shopping at colesworth which is already more expensive

        More expensive than what? I've never bought anything at IGA and thought to myself, "Wow, that was cheap".

        • vorsprung on 22/08/2025 - 12:01
          +2

          I assume Aldi. I'm going to shop at Woolworths regardless of the phone plan, so the 10% monthly discount is definitely a win.

          • sghetti on 26/08/2025 - 11:56

            @vorsprung: Agreed, I almost exclusively shopped at Aldi before. Overall their prices ARE lower in almost all circumstances. I've done heavy comparisons across a lot of different fruit, veg and other household items. But Woolworths have stepped up with some of their own Woolies brand items that are either the same, or only slightly more expensive that Aldi. Once you factor in 10% off, I'm often getting products cheaper than at Aldi.

            Then add in Woolies Rewards schemes, 4% off Woolworths gift cards with Everyday Mobile. It's going to make my overall shops even cheaper.

            I also have a Woolies that I can see over the fence 4 houses down, a quick 5 min roundtrip to the shop, compared to driving a couple suburbs over to Aldi.

    • MS Paint on 22/08/2025 - 10:43
      +2

      Did you get the sacrificial goat from woolies this morning for today's lunch catch-up?

      • jv on 22/08/2025 - 10:49
        +20

        I ordered online and I accidentally clicked on 'allow substitutes' and they sent me a sheep… 😲

        • payless69 on 22/08/2025 - 10:58
          +1

          I voted for an Italian but they supplied an Albanian….

        • Bruceflix on 22/08/2025 - 10:59
          +6

          Ewe expect us to believe that?

          • jv on 22/08/2025 - 11:05
            +11

            @Bruceflix: No, I was just Kidding…

            • MS Paint on 22/08/2025 - 11:34
              +17

              @jv: Classic Woolworths

        • tenpercent on 23/08/2025 - 20:30
          +7

          You got a baagain.

    • UltimateAI on 27/08/2025 - 09:26
      +1

      This is the way, have 3 pre-paid
      With a family just need 3 x 120 shops to break even, unfortunately with today’s prices that’s too easy.

  • payless69 on 22/08/2025 - 10:57

    Hard to calculate:
    Given the last 10 IT items from HN had zero warranty
    I do adore the free Nokia from Gerry as a he had to do this because of 3G closure.

  • stratbargain on 22/08/2025 - 10:59
    +3

    Salary sacrifice a new phone each year and trade in the old one. usually nets out to $100 profit or $100 spend. Pretty much break even.

  • DingoBilly on 22/08/2025 - 11:15

    Overall I usually pay $250 a year for a prepaid sim.

    Phone is $500-$1000 every 2-3 years for top of the line range.

    So about $700 per year not including tax claims or bonuses (e. G., this year received galaxy buds 3 pro for free which are at least $200).

    • focus123 on 22/08/2025 - 11:19

      How do you get bonus products when buying phones outright?

      • abuch47 on 24/08/2025 - 06:58

        its often included with android flagships

  • Duckie2hh on 22/08/2025 - 11:17
    +1

    $170 per year on old woolies plan. Phones ~$800 (aiming to last 4 years)

    Son on average, $370/year

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/08/2025 - 12:12
      +5

      Son on average, $370/year

      Sounds like a bargain, but what's your phone costs p.a.?

      • Duckie2hh on 22/08/2025 - 19:44

        When you say phone, do you mean the plan or the device?

  • Caped Baldy on 22/08/2025 - 12:05
    +2

    Used to be a lot less for me by buying a year old flagship and keeping a couple years plus a yearly pre-paid plan. $800 phone plus 2x $150 over two years.

    But recently went for a Chinese Android flagship phone for the new camera and battery tech. Getting around 6hrs SOT quite comfortably. Hoping this lasts me a few years.

    • Stealtho on 22/08/2025 - 12:43
      -8

      enjoy your spyware

      • Caped Baldy on 22/08/2025 - 12:46
        +5

        All modern phones have their backdoors. At this rate, I've got less faith in the US than I do for China.

      • Leeroy Jenkins on 23/08/2025 - 10:22
        +2

        As long as you use a phone, you can't avoid it.

        • Ahoon on 23/08/2025 - 11:07

          The only way to really avoid it is to flip the system, anonymised community data sharing. Needs global participation on an open source P2P platform/app, where the data’s worthless to hoard and actually useful for everyone.

      • whyisave on 25/08/2025 - 08:49
        +3

        Intel chips have had backdoors for more than 20+ years.

  • vorsprung on 22/08/2025 - 12:07

    $170 a year on the old woolies plan.

    I'm not great in the phone department… probably $600 a year? I always plan to keep my phone for longer, and then a deal appears. I trade in the old models to Mobile Monster / Mobile Guru which helps offset the cost.

    • OnlyOneStar on 22/08/2025 - 14:44

      Just wondering if you can still get the 10% discount?

      • vorsprung on 22/08/2025 - 20:13
        +1

        Yeah, I'm still getting it.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 22/08/2025 - 12:19
    +3

    I don't buy flagship models, even superseded models, they are overkill for my use case. Phone replaced on about a 4 year cycle, so cost is <$100 p.a. for handset. Been on the Boost 365day plan, still <$1/day, but starting to look elsewhere as Boost boosts its costs. I couldn't be bothered with an annual port out/ port back to get the intro/new customer offer.

    • hazzad on 23/08/2025 - 07:54
      +1

      Much the same though I do port to best value plan each year. Very few providers offer retention offers so what's the point in hanging about. Pretty easy to migrate. Just takes a little leg work and timing each year.

  • sane on 22/08/2025 - 12:30
    +2

    Aim for $500 for the phone. No more is needed unless you want to play games on them - and the handhelds have that market really. That way I can replace when it gets broken or the battery loses capacity. In practical terms there have been few real advances over the last 5-7 years.

    Aim for 365 day expiry and $1 per GB (although they have being trying to rort prices over recent years). Expect voice/SMS/international to be included and unlimited.

  • Axelstrife on 22/08/2025 - 12:43
    +1

    Samsung S25 Ultra or whatever number it is that year has always been the best value for the phone especially if you have access to Samsung EDU/Goverment stores. S23 Ultra to S25 Ultra After trade in Total: $309.20

    Plan im always on wifi lots of data isnt needed so i use Boost 12 month prepaid wich is $300.

  • Davo1111 on 22/08/2025 - 13:45

    whatever the current Xiaomi Redmi note model (number) is - then subtract 2 numbers - so it's not the latest gen. usually around $400-500

    Only replace when it breaks, gets too slow etc. so every few years.

    Otherwise Aldi mobile $19 month plan.

    Plan $228 /year
    Mobile: $166/year

    • SpainKing on 23/08/2025 - 18:13

      They're getting rid of the $19 plan :'( Now the cheapest they offer is going to be $23 for 12GB/month instead of 10GB, a $48 annual increase

  • quietsarcasm on 22/08/2025 - 14:01

    Am I the only one using the 1 year Kogan plans when they're on sale for sub 150?

    • jrvb42 on 23/08/2025 - 18:19

      Nope. I use the 500GB one for phone and broadband hotspotting. Great deal.

  • hazzad on 23/08/2025 - 07:53
    +1

    Keep my plans to under $120/year though getting harder to achieve these days and only upgrade my phone every 2-4 years depending on how the phone is performing of if someone else in house needs an upgrade. Stick to Motorola phones which have been pretty reliable for the money at about $2-300 each. In the end it's just a phone and I don't see the point in spending 1 k on a phone that will probably get damaged during its life cycle. Cheaper, functional phone makes more sense to me.

  • hazzad on 23/08/2025 - 08:01
    +3

    It's curious so many people put stock in the woolies 10% off. In most cases their prices are 10% higher than Aldi other than a small selection of home brand staples where the 10% off either matches Aldi or drops just under. I guess if you buy lots of brand name stuff it's a saving but I avoid brand name like the plague and rarely go for catalogue offers. The main reason I shop at woolies is for the rewards. If they weren't there then the 10% off would be somewhat negated.

    I have their annual plan which was $35 but won't renew for the simple reason that over the year I've noticed I can get things for pretty much the same price at Aldi. Unless they throw me a discounted sub again it's not overly enticing anymore given they removed big w from the mix and the marketplace is shutting down later this year. Same goes for one pass.

    • ozfool on 23/08/2025 - 13:18
      +2

      Yes I personally stopped going to woolies, since Aldi is still a bit cheaper and closer to my house. But Aldi doesn't have everything and sometimes you need to go to colesworth.

      To make it worth it you should do one big shop per month and use the 10% off, and obviously only shop deals and stack it with the rewards card. Then shop at Aldi the rest of the time.

    • DoaAn on 24/08/2025 - 13:55
      +5

      Why do people assume that Aldi is an option for everyone? There's only 599. There's a lot of places, including all of TAS and NT, where there are no Aldis.

      For those of us who aren't close to an Aldi, your options tend to be Coles, Woolies and IGA. IGA's seem to be mostly more expensive than the other two. So, yes 10% off a shop at Woolies is helpful, especially when you consider that you can save more in that shop than you'd spend on that month's mobile plan.

    • Mamba Mentality on 25/08/2025 - 13:44
      +2

      Woolies gift cards are 4% off with Woolies mobile. 3.5% off with Macquarie Bank account. I think a few other companies offer discounted gift cards.

      So can get an additional discount on the once monthly 10% off feature by paying with discounted gift cards.

  • DepTrai68 on 23/08/2025 - 10:14

    Maybe different to your situation, we use Aldi for myself, spouse and her parents.

    $95/month for family plan of 4 (unused data gets banked; few TB after few yrs); her parents keep in touch with their family via fb messenger or numerous other flavour of the month messaging/videoing app.

    Every 3-5 yrs my spouse or I upgrade to the latest iPhone (our preferred handset) often ozbargain for the best price or buy the previous year model for a saving (depending time of year we’re purchasing).

    Our existing handsets get passed down to her parents, their phones get sold off to further ease the cost of our new phones. In the past we’re able to sell the in-laws old iPhones for $100-350.

  • SlickMick on 23/08/2025 - 10:20
    +1

    I was upgrading every few years, and my wife finally convinced me to switch to iPhone. I've had an iPhone 11 for years now - it still gets updates and I've never had an app that required a feature this phone doesn't have. So I reckon I've saved about 75% of hardware cost. Maybe $400 every 6-8 years?? And cheapest plan I can get, which is usually amaysim 12 month plan at maybe $200pa depending on discounts available.

    • focus123 on 23/08/2025 - 20:59
      -1

      wow, which iPhone model do you have?

      • SlickMick on 24/08/2025 - 11:07
        +2

        I've had an iPhone 11 for years now

  • kaleidoscope on 23/08/2025 - 11:44
    +1

    For my mobile plan, I’ve been on Boost Mobile’s $300 annual plan — mainly because it includes international calls, which my parents use to keep in touch with relatives.

    Check lebara as they include international mins now and cheaper than boost.

    ——

    I have used boost port strategy to keep it under $200/yr and phones i buy outright with discounted gcs. I dont upgrade each year.

    • focus123 on 23/08/2025 - 21:01

      I used to port out and back, but it became too much of a hassle to deal with the porting process, as I always had to call the Telco to get the porting done due to some issues Boost had in their automatic porting system.

      • kaleidoscope on 24/08/2025 - 09:44

        Try lebara every other time then? i.e. 1 year boost, 1 yr lebara etc.. assuming you have no serious issues with vodafone coverage. Lebara now offers intl minutes on their package which depending on where you need to call would no issue

      • stewy on 26/08/2025 - 07:53

        Seems you've got some bad luck, I've never had issues porting in and out of Boost.

        Last month I just ported into an Amaysim eSIM without any issues, kept for a few weeks then ported back into the Boost starter pack and converted back to a Boost eSIM. Only hiccup was Amaysim didn't process ports overnight so had to wait until the morning. Was worth it for the near $100 savings.

  • DoaAn on 23/08/2025 - 12:24

    $150/yr on old woolies plan. With that I get 10% off a shop each month. I'll stay on that plan until they kick me off or raise the price to the point that it's more expensive than another one. I've also got woolies insurance this year, so I'd get the 10% off anyway.

    My current phone is only 2yrs old, so hopefully won't buy another for at least 3 more years, which would put it's yearly cost at around $370.

  • mousie on 23/08/2025 - 12:56

    Circa $150 per year in kogan mobile

    Buy flagship devices from upcoming brands like Huawei Oppo over several years at the point where they are superseding last year's flagship.

    But got my current find x pro 8 at jb on a flash sale following a win on the pokies. And written it off following tax deduction rules. Work in tech.

  • gromit on 23/08/2025 - 14:22
    +1

    I spend exactly the amount I can expense through work, not a penny more. So approximately $1000 a year and $0 from my pocket

  • surfingedge on 23/08/2025 - 22:23

    Bought my current phone outright in 2018 and still going strong with no problems.

    Currently I have a Lebara 120GB/360 days which was $109 in Woolworths. 10% off with everyday extra and paid with 4% off gift card so $94 net for the year.

  • Alley Cat on 24/08/2025 - 12:26
    +1

    Main work number in Amaysim $60/year, activate a boost sim when I need the data and/or the international calls. I cycle my Apple phone every 3 years or so when the battery dies or major changes like usb c. Spare is a $200 android I had to replace due to theft about 3 years ago. For the last 3 years it was about $300 for two numbers and phones. I don’t usually have nbn so it also includes internet access.

  • Mugsy on 24/08/2025 - 18:59

    OK, I shouldn't have voted before reading opening post and finding out that the annual cost includes that of the phone too.

    I use the Kogan Small plan as I only use 40Gb per year but may need a bit of a buffer if I do a bit of domestic travel.

    Historically, I would use mid range phones bought on discount and would use them for 3yrs+. In 2016/17, I was spending $300 on a phone at most. In late 2019, it was $450.

    However, my last phone was a heavily discounted S23 Ultra for ~$1000… needed the camera and grunt as I was using more taxing apps and wanted a good camera in my phone so I could leave my cameras at home when holidaying. I hope to use it for 5yrs at least.

    So lets assume I spend $350/yr on average atm. A year ago, it would have been $300/yr when I could get the S plan for ~$100 still.

  • p1 ama on 25/08/2025 - 01:41

    What’s your strategy for getting the best value out of your money when it comes to mobile costs (device + plan)?

    Depends on what you value. I know someone who still uses an old Nokia brick phone.

    I personally get a new phone every 1-2 years. In the past few years, I've owned an S21 Ultra, S22 Ultra, S24 Ultra, which I probably will replace at some point in the next few months.

    For plan, I use the $99 JB HiFi Telstra plan, with the $1,200 (or so) gift card offer, it's usually pretty decent. I actually use a lot of the 300GB of data, as I'm on the road quite a fair bit for work and use tethering. No other plans with that sort of data allowance is anywhere near that price.

    Looking at my replacement pattern, my total telecommunication cost works out to roughly $500 per year ($200/year for the device, plus $300/year for the plan).

    I don't really think much about "min-max"ing my phones, as it's just not a lot of money in the scheme of things. Quoting your figure of $200 per year for a phone, it's nothing compared to electricity bills, NBN, car registration, insurance, council rates, food…etc. For the utility I get out of my phone, and how much I use it, I'm happy to spend the money.

    However, if I were to go back to the days where I was trying to get the most phone for my money consistently, the play would be to switch around as frequently as possible. I remember in the hey-day of smartphones, I went from a Google Nexus One -> HTC Hero -> HTC Desire HD -> Galaxy S2 -> HTC One M8 -> Nexus 4 -> Galaxy S6 Edge -> Galaxy S8+…etc. without hardly spending any money at all just buy scouring Gumtree, picking up a good deal, using it for around 9 months or so, then moving it on. Given that phones usually released on yearly cycles, the trick was just to time the market to not be holding an expensive phone when depreciation kicked in on release of a new model.

  • Bid Sniper on 25/08/2025 - 09:17

    Samsung A series phone onsale.

    I did that with S9 when battery needed to be replaced to A52. Cost me $0 to upgrade, A52 was a better phone in every metric.

    Dont see value flagship phones anymore.A series does everything. I dont play games on phones.

    Kogan yearly plan $120.

  • Yapapi on 25/08/2025 - 10:00

    My work reimburses me for my mobile phone service so I don't really care about what it costs so long as it is not exorbitant. That just leaves my wife's and need annual plan for her as she probably won't put up changing providers more frequently than that.

    For both of us, I usually purchase SIM Cards at Officeworks using gift cards purchased from Woolworths during one of their ER promotions. Gets me 5,000+ Qantas Points per annum on our mobile phone plans. Officeworks do price beat on SIM Cards too.

    For phones, wife requires iPhone unfortunately. Bite the bullet and purchase 1 about every 3 years (once again, best price I can find and then go to Officeworks for price beat).

  • Bignudge on 25/08/2025 - 10:25

    Back then when Boost was good, I used their 365 day plan for $180 on eBay. Then a $400-700 Samsung phone through the trade in bonuses and stacking codes that would last me 5 years or so. Came to about $290 a year.

    Now I'm with Moose Mobile for $12.80/month for the first 6 months (then churn)…. again with that $400-700 Samsung phone through the trade in bonuses and stacking codes that would last me 5 years or so. Comes to ~$260 a year for my phone including 40GB per month of data (with banking up to 200GB).

  • Powershopz on 25/08/2025 - 10:58

    I feel like I need my ozbargain licence revoked for a period given i'm in the > $800 club. I don't really care/pay much attention to it as I'm reimbursed via work as part of my contract but if that ever changed would need to be more savvy.

    $69/month contract
    ~$5-600 phone upgrade every 3 years (new handset with JBHIFI Voucher)

    • qaz182 on 25/08/2025 - 12:35
      +1

      Having work pay for it sounds pretty "ozbargainey" to me

  • sandman20104159 on 25/08/2025 - 12:16

    work pays for my phone but $40 a month on Belong, i outright buy the handset

  • wetsandwich on 25/08/2025 - 14:04
    +1

    I get a $300-500 'pretty good' phone every few years - currently it's a Samsung A52 I think. Usually something like Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola etc and usually towards the lower end of that price range as they are all very much the same.

    Then, knowing that I use about 10gb per month of data, I get either the dirtcheap-est monthly plan that has at least about 12gb data, which is currently Spintel $14 per month (might raise to $22 after 6 months?), or a good annual plan like Boost when it's on special for say $180 for a year.

    I think anyone spending more than $30 per month should have a serious look at why they need to spend that much - are you really using huge amounts of data, if so why?

  • Grayfox on 25/08/2025 - 16:33

    Iphone13 mini since new still going strong and been on Aldi 1 year Superpack for years. ($169). No complaints.

  • conza on 25/08/2025 - 18:54

    I've been BYO for a long time, I can't remember the last phone plan.

    For most people I say, they're probably worth diving into and doing the maths, if you multiply by 24, 36, 48 months, whatever the plan is, then subtract the cost of the phone new, then re-divide, you'll see the true cost of the plan.

    Also, there's no interest on "borrowing" the asset so, for the more expensive phones it likely makes a lot of sense…

    That said, the comparison should be directly to, that redivided number, versus the BYO plan, and if the BYO plan is less well, then you're paying the interest/inverse interest from whereever you take the cash from, to buy the phone now and to have a cheaper ongoing cash flow.

  • Omarko on 25/08/2025 - 19:25

    I use woolworths mobile, it uses telstra network.

    $250 a year and i get it all back due to 10% once a month shop discount. Free mobile plan year long.

    • Mugsy on 25/08/2025 - 20:07
      +1

      It's good for those that spend that much at Woolies. Household of 2 adults and a pug here and we just can't make the single giant shop once a month work for us. If they had a permanent 10% off but capped at $50/mth that would work for us.

      • Omarko on 26/08/2025 - 19:54

        You dont make a $250 shop a week at least? We easily double that. Food is crazy expensive these days.

        • montorola on 26/08/2025 - 20:52

          Mate, you'd save more shopping at Aldi

        • ely on 26/08/2025 - 21:26

          it's going to depend on household size, but with one 10% discount per month (not per week) it depends how much of your monthly shopping you can stack into a single transaction - and if you do cram it all in to maximise your 10% then you're missing out on other specials for the rest of the month that possibly more than offset that saving

  • AuQld on 25/08/2025 - 22:29

    Motorola dual SIM, just pay 40$ to keep my number and get a yearly data SIM when it's on special usually around 150$, this year got cash back too.

    Used to do plans..

    All photos get compressed to shit and uploaded to Google drive or Facebook etc and nobody ever notices. Only thing that matters at the end of the day is battery life..

  • mducpham on 25/08/2025 - 23:32

    I got Samsung flip 6 256GB when it came out last year for $834 plus $260 fee for not sending the tradein phone back so $1100 spent but i sold my old phone s21 ultra128GB for $400 on marketplace and bud 3 pro for $300. So about $400 for a phone that i use for around 3 years which works out to be $134/year + about $150/year for the sim plan = $284 per year for phone and sim. I guess i can sell the phone for $300 to $400 in 3 year time so the running cost is much lower. Oh I also claim deductions on 90% of the phone for work and business.

  • Morphio25 on 26/08/2025 - 10:13

    I like the OnePlus phones. Like you I go with the previous year's flagship. I'm currently on a OnePlus 10 Pro which I got in April 2023 for $948. I am also on Boost $300 yearly plan which I'm now in my third year. So $1848 over three years puts me at $618 per year, so in your $600-800 bracket. That puts me at just under $24 per fortnight or about $1.70 per day for mobile phone + plan - which seems reasonable. My phone was beginning to play up with some random freezing/lagging/rebooting so I have factory reset it less than a week ago which seems to have breathed new life into the device. I'd prefer to keep it for as long as possible, and I am somewhat locked into their ecosystem having got comfortable with their fast 100W wired/50W wireless charging (I have a couple charging bricks, cables and a wireless charger).

    What is buying off AliExpress like? I can see I can pick up the OnePlus 12 from them for a couple hundred bucks cheaper than anywhere else. Feels dodgy to me but interested in hearing about other people's experience.

  • muzzamo on 26/08/2025 - 10:21
    +2

    1) Buy apple phones - gets best resale. If you are a passionate android owner then this may not be an option. I don't know where Android is at, but apple makes it very easy to upgrade phone every year and seamlessly transfer data across.
    2) Salary package phone so capital cost is pre-tax
    3) Buy flagship iphone every year.
    4) Give 1 year old iphone to wife, with new case/screen protector.
    5) Sell 2 year old wife's phone via trade-in sites, shop around for best deal.

    The above nets me a new phone every year for effectively zero - due to combination of salary package and high re-sale on iphones. As a bonus both of our phones are under warranty, but i'm finding that iphones these days have a very, very low warranty/failure rate and they are very durable, especially since we use wireless chargers in the car and at night, really minimising the day to day strain on the usb-c port.

    I also get a boost 365 day plan, tax deduct that at a suitable rate allowing for personal usage too.

    • ely on 26/08/2025 - 21:21

      idk why someone downvoted you but this is (almost; I skip the wife part these days) exactly what I do for about the same result, bonus points if you can stack with some apple gift card discounts or other cashback into the deal

      • muzzamo on 27/08/2025 - 09:27
        +1

        Unfortunately my work salary sacrifice policy explicitly requires you to provide proof of payment, and explicitly excludes payments made by gift cards.

        The policy is inexplicable but I haven't been able to break through it.

        • ely on 27/08/2025 - 11:36

          Bizarre policy - I also need to provide receipts, but payment method is not a problem, and shouldn't be from a tax perspective for them.

  • MondaySleeper on 26/08/2025 - 12:19

    Still going strong with sami a52s. Also on woolworths yearly plan which actuality gives the money back through 10% off

  • gezza90 on 26/08/2025 - 16:10
    +1

    Got my Google Pixel 5 for $700 off eBay in Dec 2020. Someone was selling an "unwanted gift". RRP was $999 released Oct 2020.

    I renew with the Kogan $139/yr sim which gives me 200GB. I don't even use half of it by the end of the year.

    My Pixel 5 is still going strong and I think I will be using it for another year until I replace. That would be 6yrs of usage.
    Mobile cost = $116.67/yr
    Sim card = $139/yr
    Total cost Avg. = $255.67/yr

    Mind you, the capital cost of my mobile is high. A year later I got my wife's Pixel 5 for $380 on Marketplace. It was a refurbished replacement brand new in box. Wife's total mobile + Sim cost would be: $215/yr

    I also have a second mobile iPhone 15 with unlimited Telstra data. Supplied by work free of charge. Only use it for work calls, Teams and hotspot in choppy areas.

    • focus123 on 27/08/2025 - 07:58

      How's the battery of those older refurbished phones? Do they usually get a new battery as part of refurbishment?

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