Mint That Shit – A Reaction Not A Review

Nope. 

I’m not talking about the Intuit financial software tracking program Mint.  Although, I’m going to assume that’s probably what 99% of the clicks on this title will be thinking.  And I apologize in advance, that wasn’t my intention at all.  I hate fucking clickbait. 

But when “Mint That Shit” popped into my head as a title for this article; “Mint Mobile That Shit,” just didn’t sound as fun.  So, if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m talking about Mint Mobile – the phone company. 

And I know what you’re thinking, “Hold the fuck up Q-FI!” – you’re screaming through your computer screen as you peer around for that almighty and misleading affiliate link.  But rest assured my friends, it doesn’t exist.  I promise you.  Shamelessly promoting Mint Mobile is not the point of this article at all.  What people do with their cell phone plans is.  And I know, this is random as fuck for me, but I still love the title: Mint that shit!  Hahahaha. 

So, what started this rabbit hole of cell phone questioning?  Like most things in life, it began with a conversation… 

The other day I was talking to my sister and she mentioned, “God my cell phone bill is expensive!”  And I agreed, because she has T-Mobile, which I also used to have two years ago.  Previously I had told her that she could switch to a plan like Mint that isn’t unlimited and save a lot of money, but she still thinks she needs her current plan. 

My hunch is she probably doesn’t think she needs it, but she is mistrustful.  How can a company knock a cell phone bill down by $50 overnight (in her case she’d probably drop from $70 to $20 a month). 

And for a while I thought the same – twiddling my thumbs and paying for my two lines of unlimited data every month like clockwork. 

However, eventually curiosity killed the cat.  What did I have to lose, I began to question? (which I think is especially relevant nowadays with the Pandemic, and I think we’ll see more people making the switch from the big carriers to these smaller inexpensive plans, since we are spending more time at home and on Wi-Fi.  Why waste all the money on a service that you will be using less and less?) 

Now, if you are a crazy data whore, streaming your life away like the stereotypical American automaton, then sure, pay for the unlimited.  But I’m the type that only had it because I thought, well, at some point I might need this unlimited data for something I couldn’t even think of at the time – so I kept overpaying like an idiot.  Yep, the fear factor had me.  What would happen if I ran out of data?  My life would end of course!  Yep, stupid old me.  Filling the coffers of the big boys like the good lil’ consumer I should be. 

Or, if a certain carrier is the only option to provide good service in a remote location.  I get that too.  You can slide on by with Q-FI’s priceless guarantee of approval and a golden wink that’ll send leaping  leprechauns clicking their heels with glee. 

So how did I switch?  Let me first preface my history with Mint. 

Two years ago, I wanted to cut down on my $120 monthly bill for my wife and I and had received this random promo email from Mint Mobile.  I had never heard of it – and when that happens, usually I press the delete button faster than a gunslinger on the draw. (At this time Mint Mobile didn’t really exist in the mainstream FI world.)  I tried to search and find some reviews on it from the usual FI maven review harlots, but everyone and their mother was touting Republic Wireless on their blogs with more affiliate links than I could shake a stick at. 

And pettily, it kind of pissed me off.  You ever have some secret thing that is great and no one knows about it, but then it becomes mainstream and you’re like fuck everyone else?  I knew about it when that shit wasn’t cool!  Hahahaha.  Yeah, what a shallow and bitter person I can be… hahahaha.  I’m joking, good deals for everyone on their cell phone is a win for everyone (wink). 

Alright, back to my story… 

Without any luck finding reviews, I decided to take the plunge headfirst on my own.  Worst case I thought, I could switch back to T-Mobile if the service sucked.  But Mint was hyping that they used the same network as T-Mobile, so I felt good.  Plus, there was a little badass sarcastic fox that Ryan Reynolds was now endorsing, how can I go wrong with that?  A sarcastic asshole critter as their mascot, seemed like the perfect fit for me.  Yet, like anything we have grown comfortable and accustomed to, it’s hard to take that leap of faith and change.  What happens if the grass isn’t greener on the other side? 

So, I did it.  I switched to Mint in 2018 and honestly, I haven’t noticed any difference except my monthly bill dropping from $120 to $40.  Well, there has been one other difference I’ve noticed in two years – all the Republic Wireless yuppies now have Mint Mobile affiliate links and it’s spread everywhere like the plague.  Is this bad?  I don’t know, but I’m worried I’m going to lose a good deal here as the masses ruin a great thing… hahahaha.  What a selfish prick I am.  Wa… wa… wa. 

The only negative I can report, was some spotty reception in the mountains.  I like to spend as many weekends as I can in Big Bear, CA and this was causing a little bit of stress.  However, after last weekend Mint Mobile has a Wi-Fi calling option that I enabled, and then shit worked like a charm.  It’s pretty cool what we can do with technology nowadays. 

So, if you’re looking to cut down on your bills this Pandemic, take a look at that data guzzling cellphone plan you have and see if it’s really worth it.  Look at the other options out there and make some FI prick happy by clicking on their affiliate link, or don’t.  It’s up to you.  Because for a while there, I thought I was buying quality and had to have that amazing promised reception.  Yet, in reality, as often is the case, the joke was on me. 

And you never know, sometimes the grass is greener on the other side… 

-Q-FI 

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P.S.  You ever cut down on an expensive bill and have a huge win?  Tell me about it…  And if you happen to be one of those unique ninja assassins that doesn’t have a cell phone plan at all, I really want to hear from you!