I used to be the kind of person who kept topping up
Like most people, I used to pay my phone bill every month too. My balance never seemed to last. I was spending a decent amount on mobile service, but the data allowance still felt too small, and running out was a regular thing.
Part of the problem is that even though data is cheaper now, it also gets used up incredibly fast. The other part is the carriers themselves. In my view, they really take advantage of people who don’t pay close attention and who aren’t familiar with how these plans and promotions work.
Why I hardly pay anything now
I haven’t paid out of pocket for my mobile bill in almost a year. My monthly bill keeps showing 0.00. That doesn’t mean I’m not using the service—it means the credits I’ve collected are enough to cover what I spend. And no, I’m not limiting myself either. I use data freely and I haven’t had any shortage problems.
The turning point came after joining a group where people talk about carrier deals and mobile-related offers every day. To outsiders it might look overly obsessive, but the people there are sharp. If you already have to use mobile service anyway, why not figure out how to use it as efficiently as possible?
At first I didn’t really know what I was doing. I mostly watched others discuss offers and slowly learned how to check promotions, compare plans, and spot what was actually worth signing up for. While handling something for myself one afternoon, I even came up with a new approach that felt especially cost-effective and beginner-friendly.
The reason I don’t end up paying my bill is simple: like other companies, China Mobile regularly runs monthly promotions and releases bill vouchers. If you collect them consistently, it adds up to around 50 yuan a month. That’s why my bill keeps landing at 0.00—not because I have no charges, but because the credits I’ve picked up are greater than what I spent.
My current plan
40 yuan = 100GB general data + 20GB app-specific data + one month of a popular video membership + 300 call minutes
I’m pretty sure a lot of people reading this are paying more than I do every month, while getting less in return.
I’m not going to spell out the exact method here, because people reading this could be from all over and local offers can vary. What I do want to say is this: before signing up for any mobile service, ask around first and check whether there are active promotions or better packages available. Otherwise it’s really easy to end up with a bad deal.
Screenshots from this afternoon’s setup
Why I say China Mobile especially catches careless users
Look at the image below.
Which option would you choose?
