So Far and Yet So Near

Nothing is sweeter than hearing your loved ones' voices on the other end of the line. And I know it is even much sweeter if the loved ones are miles and miles away, like across the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean. With today's advanced technology,they sound like they are just across the street. And once you start exchanging stories you don't think anymore of the minutes that tick away faster than the flow of words between you and the one on the other end of the line. You forget that those ticking minutes mean cents that become quarters that easily add up into dollars and sometimes hundreds of dollars. You only realize it when you start reading the bill.
One of my husband's co-worker uses the india phone card to call her folks in India. My husband was wondering why she and her husband don't apply for a phone line since they call almost twice or thrice a week. He didn't have the nerve to ask until,one day, hubby learned that one of our sons and his wife also use a prepaid phone card. He asked them why and they told him that it was cheaper in the long run because they don't pay for hidden fees like tax, overcharge fees, pre-set fees, etc. Another thing is that they can keep track of their phone expenses because they pay for it up front. They can also control the length of time that they stay on the phone so they can devote more time to their children. The card can also be used to call anywhere in the world.
One thing, though. Just like anything you buy into, check and compare rates. Study the different options offered. Be an educated consumer.
We started examining our phone bills and using a phone card is already in our agenda.