But the economy is doing its crunchy thing, and like many people, we're looking for ways to save money... and one of these is going to be getting me an iPhone and having an AT&T plan.

"But wait!" you cry. "You have to pay at least $80-100 bucks at minimum just for the phone, how is that going to save you money?!" Because, my dears, it's a flat one-time cost, and the additional cost of having me added to Skeeve's plan on AT&T will be approximately $15 less per month than what I'm paying for my solo plan right now. I'll have to sign on for a 2 year contract to get the good deal on the device, but that's okay - the cost of the device will be defrayed by the lowered monthly cost over time. At $15 less per month, the cost of the phone will have worked itself out in approximately 7 months, and then we'll be outright saving - not to mention that I'll be on AT&T, which is the service that Skeeve, my parents, and several other folks we know use, so my time calling them will be free.

All of these pluses are pretty key, for me, because this is at the very base of things a HUGE switch for me. My first cell phone, in high school, was AT&T, and I had it for about a year. When I got into college, I discovered they didn't cover the area I was in, so I dropped them and made the switch to T-mobile. That was in the fall of 2000, and I've been with them ever since.

That's right - I have been with the same phone company for NINE YEARS.

Now I'm leaving them for a shiny device and free minutes, despite the fact that their service to me has never been anything but stellar... and I won't lie. I feel guilty about it. I feel a little scuzzy, because I'm not being loyal.

Then I remember that this is a matter of the pocketbook, not of the heart. See you on the cell, folks!