ROAMING Charges!?

Ok, I am really ripped about this! I just sat down, payed all of the bills (electricity was high this month but it always is in the summer.) got them out and am feeling really good.

Then comes the Cingular cell phone bill, (can you hear the theme music from Psycho playing?) and I open it up to discover a $291.00 bill?! Most of it roaming charges! I was talking to hubby on the cell phone at the time...(talking about irony)and he heard me gasp and gasp some more! "What?!" he's practically screaming, "What's the matter?!" I could hardly get the words out but I managed to. He is calling them now to see what he can do about our bill. I have an idea, but it's not a very "Christian" one.

We have got to get a better plan than this. Like Verizon or something. We need 2 phones, nationwide, no roaming or low roaming charges, oh whatever. We need something better than what we have. The bill is due July 19, WHILE we are out of town. I am hoping, praying, wanting a different cell phone service. In these matters, I always let hubby handle things. I just get so frustrated I can't think rationally and don't make wise decisions. LOL I let him handle the stress. He usually pays all of the bills too. We have been busy and he asked me to pay the bills. I did happily and felt good knowing everything was taken care of etc. Rats, how can one stupid cell phone bill kill my whole day like this?

I'll tell you why. 14 years ago we made a decision to keep me at home, raising a family. I could have easily made more money than my husband with a career. That was my choice not to go back to work. With 4 kids and me at home, it's a challenge in this day and age. Most people have lots of credit card debt, two incomes and lots of stuff. We do not. I have to budget and watch every penny. We are debt free (except for the vehicles and house) and do without a lot of stuff. We have been doing really well lately, especially with our trip to New Mexico coming up. This almost $300.00 bill is going to really hurt us. We also have braces on the oldest kid. His braces and dental work is going to end up costing almost $4,000.00 when it's all said and done. I have to pay monthly on that too. ACK!

Ok, got done talking to them. They gave us a discount, ooooo, and we switched over to the Nationwide plan, with new phone upgrades. I guess it will have to do. My hubby told them we couldn't pay the bill all at once, (we could, but he thinks its "immoral how they conduct business just because they can" and says "they can wait for their money")so they are working out a "payment plan with us. What a crock of hooey! It's laughable. Oh well, I see new cell phones in our future.

Ok I griped enough about that for one day. Life goes on...later ~ katcha