Living in the U.S., paying for a cell phone plan often feels like just another unavoidable expense.

I was in the same boat. For the past 10 years, I consistently paid over $70 a month to Verizon, and when I roamed in Korea, it could even reach $100.

Recently, I switched to Mint Mobile and ported my number.

Choosing a 5GB plan on a one-year prepaid basis cost me $180, and even with taxes and recovery fees, it was about $200.

This breaks down to roughly $16 to $17 a month.

By saving over $40 a month, I realized I could save nearly $500 in a year (the cost of a round-trip domestic flight in the U.S.), and I regretted not switching sooner.

Even after traveling for business to Chicago, New York, and L.A., the call quality and data speed were more than sufficient for using YouTube and Google Maps.

However, before making a switch, I want to share some important points to check, such as whether 'my phone will work' and 'what to be cautious about when canceling with the current carrier.'

Can I easily switch my phone? (Cases where activation is not possible)

Mint Mobile allows for easy number porting with a SIM or e-SIM, but not all phones are compatible.

If your phone falls under the following checklist, activation may not be possible, or you may need to cancel your current service first.

Carrier-locked phones: If you still have an outstanding balance on your device from your previous carrier, like Verizon, or if your contract hasn't ended, your phone will be locked. In this state, even if you insert a Mint Mobile SIM, it won't be recognized. You must request an 'unlock' from your current carrier.

💡 Fact Check (for Verizon): Devices purchased from Verizon will automatically unlock after 60 days of activation, provided that the installment payments are fully paid off to use a SIM from another carrier.

Incompatible older devices: Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile's network (4G LTE / 5G). Very old foreign phones or specific carrier-exclusive older models may not be compatible due to frequency issues. You can check your phone's compatibility by entering its unique number (IMEI) in the 'Compatibility Checker' section on the Mint Mobile website.

Essential caution when escaping Verizon: "If you don't pay the final month's bill, it goes to collections!"

U.S. carriers do not let canceling customers go easily. Especially when porting a number from Verizon to Mint Mobile, many people make mistakes and regret it when managing the final bill.

No prorated charges! Even if you switch just one day into the billing cycle, you will be charged for the entire month.

If your billing cycle starts on the 1st of the month and you switch to Mint Mobile on the 2nd, you will have to pay the full month's bill even if you only used it for one day.

Many people think, "It's done now" once the number porting is complete and delete the Verizon app or stop paying attention. However, the moment the number is ported, the Verizon account changes to 'canceled,' and the registered auto-pay often gets automatically canceled. This can lead to the final month's bill going unnoticed and becoming overdue.

Late payments lead to ruthless collections.

The U.S. operates on a strict credit system. Even if the final month's bill is just a few dozen dollars, if it goes unpaid for a certain period (usually 60 to 90 days), Verizon will hand it over to a collection agency without hesitation. Once it goes to collections, your U.S. credit score will plummet. And once your credit score drops, it can take years to recover, leading to significant disadvantages when applying for car loans, housing, or credit cards. I found this information online, and people on Reddit were in an uproar about it.

🔔 Key Tip: After fully porting your number to Mint Mobile, call Verizon customer service or log into the temporary account page about 1 to 2 weeks later to confirm that your final balance is $0 and ensure you complete the payment manually for safety.

If you live in a big city, smart spending is key.

These days, the cost of living in the U.S. is rising sharply, from rent to car insurance to groceries. In this situation, there's no reason to pass up the opportunity to reduce your phone bill by over 70% while hardly noticing a difference in call quality.

"What if I run out of data?" Break free from the gaslighting of major carriers and check your actual data usage this month.

If you mainly use Wi-Fi at home and work, 5GB is more than enough. However, when switching, it's essential to check any remaining installment payments with your current carrier and ensure the final month's bill is settled to protect your credit score.

Thinking that I could save enough for a round-trip flight to Korea in just three years makes me so happy that I wanted to share this information.