For three months I was assigned to my company’s China office—great shopping, fantastic culture, but incredibly lonely. Nobody even speaks English, so the only conversation I ever had were with the people at work. I missed my family, I missed my friends, I missed being able to watch a television show without needing subtitles.

There were three things that kept me going: I didn’t have a choice (this was a job, after all), the incredibly cheap designer knockoffs that you could buy on the streets, and VoIP. At the end of the day, I’d talk to my wife and kids. They’d tell me about homework, problems at the office, their visit to Grandma and how the dog had ripped apart the garden. Small things, little things, the kind families talk about over dinner. It made the separation easier.

My wife and I were also able to discuss important family decisions. We were in the middle of home renovations, and between problems with the contractor and watching the budget there was a lot to talk about that simply couldn’t wait for emails. Along with digital pictures of the progress of the house, VoIP helped me stay on top of the project even if I was an ocean away.

With the money VOIP saved us on long distance calls (not to mention the priceless comfort it provided in those three months) it really paid for itself.