At that lovely point where I'm due an upgrade and a quick look around the market suggests that doing anything but buying the handset yourself and then getting a giffgaff SIM is a huge self-dicking move. Haven't seen a single pay monthly deal on a relatively recent smartphone and modest price plan that doesn't work out as costing at least £200 more over a contract than just doing it yourself.

I'm no genius- it's taken me the best part of a decade to notice this. It's that why pay monthly contracts exist? Because people are stupid? Or is my specific, personal stupidity blinding me to an obvious perk?