My first year living in Spain, I accidentally gave myself a €90 life lesson. When I first moved, I signed up with Orange. Why? Not because I compared plans, not because I studied coverage maps, and not because I’m a responsible adult. But because it’s my favorite color. Orange is my favorite color, and it cost me €90.
I wish I were kidding. Sometimes I genuinely laugh at the way I make decisions. Very main character of me, very impulsive, but not always financially wise. Anyway, a few weeks into my new Spanish life, I get my phone bill, and it’s sitting there looking bold, confident, and €90 for a single month. I stared at it as it had personally betrayed me. Here’s what happened.
I was making a lot of international calls. Calling banks back home. Calling shipping companies because my packages decided to tour Europe without me. Calling customer service lines that kept me on. And yes, I was on Wi-Fi, but I was using my regular iPhone calling feature, not WhatsApp, not Google Voice, just classic, standard, international dialing.
In Spain, and honestly, most of Europe, people do not really use their standard phone calling feature the way we do in the States. WhatsApp runs the show; everyone uses it. Businesses use it, and landlords use it. If you are calling internationally through your regular iPhone line, those charges can stack up quietly and aggressively.
After that first international bill fiasco, I also noticed small extra fees lingering on my bill month after month. I signed up for a €15 monthly plan, yet my bill was roughly €25 each month. Nothing dramatic, just enough to slowly irritate me. That was my cue.
I eventually switched to Vodafone, and it made way more sense for what I actually needed. Better plan, fewer surprises, and less emotional damage. So if you’re moving to Spain, please learn from me: do your research, do not pick a carrier based on vibes and color palettes, ask what’s included, and ask about international calls.
And take this as your gentle reminder. If you can use WhatsApp, use WhatsApp. If you have Google Voice, use Google Voice. Save the regular iPhone calling for when you absolutely need it. Your future self and your bank account will thank you.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
