[quote=Diego Mamani]I have FiOS from Verizon. It runs about $170 for Internet, TV (no premiums), and phone (local only). It’s hard to dhop for these things b/c prices quoted don’t include the many taxes and fees that are added to the price. E.g., my “local” phone service was supposed to be $17, but then there is a $7 government charge, other fees, taxes, etc., so I pay about $30 for phone alone.

In my prior house I had DirecTV ($55), Time Warner Cable ($45), and Verizon phone ($35), TOTAL: $135. With FiOS I get better/faster Internet service, and better TV picture with on-demand features, but I’m not sure the extra $35 a month ($135 before vs. $170 now) is justified.[/quote]

You know, you’re the second person that said that basic phone from verizon is $30. My parents also said the same thing. I double checked my bill. I’m paying $15/month on residential phone service from ATT, including all the taxes and fees. Mind you though, I canceled my long distance service, and do not have unlimited local calls (I have an set allocation each month), namely because I use a cell phone if I need to make long distance calls, and just having the long distance service they charge a few bucks here and there, even if you don’t use it.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback folks. Sorry to sound like such a cheap bastard. I know I have a habit of penny pinching.

Heck, I don’t even buy retail ink cartridges for my printer. I refill them myself. It’s great for printing pictures, because my costs are close to 2cents for an 8×10 with bulk ink and a one time cost of a ink cartridge to CIS conversion kit.