The cost to switch to a family cell phone plan
 

Previously, my wife and I were each paying $84.99 plus taxes and fees.

Last month I put her line in my name on a family plan, along with new phones that were discounted with a two-year contract.

The first bill arrived today for $300.53.

We signed up for the same minutes, messaging and data as before. My line remained $84.99, while hers dropped to $74.99.

Also included were 20 taxes and fees. $36 per phone upgrade fee. Transfer of service fee. Poison control surcharge. 911 service fee. Wireless 911 surcharge, and so on. "We recover costs spent complying with government assessments and regulations by assessing a $3.48 per-phone surcharge, which is not a tax."

Over the life of the 24-month contract we will save a total of $240 minus the upfront costs, which appear to slash that figure in half.