Prepaid cell phones?

**cheles2kids** · 07-30-2008, 10:08 PM

Our cell phone contract will be coming up in November and looking ahead, I am considering a prepaid phone to keep our cell phone bill under control.
$90.00 a month is just more than I want to spend on cell phone service and while we've been happy with our provider and this does include 3 phone lines, I would *really* like to see about lowering that monthly amount.

So, that is where the prepaid idea came into play.
I would love to hear from anyone who's had, or now has a prepaid phone.
If you love it, which phone, were did you purchase it, the cost, etc.

If you've tried a prepaid phone and hated it, please give details.

Thanks so much for any help, suggestions, or advice that you'd like to share!

**Libby** · 07-30-2008, 10:25 PM

I love my pre-paid phone. My bills used to be $75/month on average. With the prepaid the most I have put into the phone in one month was $50 but how many times have I NOT spent $75/month? To me that was worth it. Plus my $20 card will last me 45 days and a $30 card will last 75 days before expiring. I usually get one $30 card.

I was lucky enough to have made the switch to prepaid when they offered free incoming/outgoing texting which they now charge $10/month for unltd. And now in Canada they are going to start charging $0.15/cents for incoming/outgoing texts. Ouch eh?!

I almost considered switching to a monthly plan but b/c I am an 'existing customer' I do not qualify unless I want to get locked into a 3 yr contract. Um...no thanks! But if they try to ding me with the $0.15/text b/c my plan is outdated or does not include the unltd texting anymore I'm going to go postal on their behinds and demand I get switched over to their monthly plan deal and be deemed a new customer b/c thats how they would be treating me.

Since your plan ends in November...surf a few prepaid plan providers and record their rates. Monitor your next bill and compare the price to what it wouldve been if you were on pre-paid. That would be a great guideline to help you figure out if you should just downgrade your plan or make the switch.

Also, now that Im on prepaid, I barely use the phone. I call to let someone know I'm late, lost or need help or just to check up on someone real quick and to see if we need groceries. I do not have a vm so it can't cost me to check unncessary messages left or recordings or fax machines calling my phone.

**justpeachy92** · 07-30-2008, 11:01 PM

My dd and I both use prepaid phones. I get a $20 card every other month, she gets 2 $30 cards a month. She goes through alot of minutes text-messaging her friends. When she is done with her current minutes we are getting her a cricket phone. They have a $45 month plan with unlimited minutes on calls and texts. They also don't do contracts. So for her it will be much cheaper. Are you thinking of switching all 3 phones on your contract to prepaid. Depending on how the people with those phones use their phones, prepaid could cost you as much if not more than your current plan. 3 thirty minute cards will cost you $90 a month. I don't use my phone very often. I have it for emergency use, if I break down while out and so the kids schools can get hold of me when I am away from the house.

**Texasgirl** · 07-30-2008, 11:19 PM

When my Verizon contract came up I canceled it and went with Net10.

I love this prepaid company. If you renew before your minutes are up the minutes you have left roll over into the new minutes.
I have over 1700 minutes on my phone right now.
I never had that with Verizon.

Also I can actually get a signal with my net 10 phone I live in a rural area. With my Verizon phone we hardly ever got a signal.

I don't text message so I don't know how it works with that.

**favesis37** · 07-31-2008, 06:00 AM

all my kids use them and love them, i am thinking of going to one

**suebeehoney** · 07-31-2008, 06:45 AM

I use TracFone, and have for years. I get decent coverage where I live, and it's great for trips.

Granted, I don't use a cell phone much at all - only for emergencies. But it sure is nice to have on long trips. I use the monthly maintenance plan they have that costs me $10 a month to add 50 minutes to the phone and keep it in service.

**Michelle** · 07-31-2008, 06:57 AM

I think more people than ever are going prepaid and ditching their cell phone contracts. My contract was up last month, and I asked about prepaid, as have other people in these threads:

Cell Phone Savings

From guru to "dweeb" *lol*

Would Like Recommendations

HTH

**mom2bobsarah** · 07-31-2008, 07:58 AM

I have a Gophone and it has definately saved us money. But, I, like many others do not use my phone much, never have. We have to add minutes every 90 days and your leftover minutes roll-over. I do not text message either so not sure how that would work.

**GM97** · 07-31-2008, 08:10 AM

My husband and I also use tracfone. If you get a new card before your minutes expires all the remaining minutes roll over. Plus they always have promotion. The tip is if I call my DH and he did not answer after 3 rings I hang up and minutes will not be deducted in my phone but he will get a miss call with my number. Prepaid is good if you don't use your phone a lot or if you are not a chatter. If you are texting or receives a text 3 minutes will be deducted. If you have a teenager who loves texting just give him/her a $20 and it will be good for 3 months.

**anna021** · 07-31-2008, 08:31 AM

I've said it here before, and I'll say it again, for 109.00 I get 0ne years service and 400 minutes. And if you go to the site you'll probably get a cute little flip phone for 20 bucks. I've never had a problem with tracfone. And I've been with them well over 5 years. They've only gotten better, service wise. That being said, I use my phone only when I NEED to make a call or get a call. These phones are not for someone who intends on talking for hours, those who do need a plan with a monthly bill. My daughters pay a hundred dollars or more per month, outrageous!

**anna021** · 07-31-2008, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by GM97

My husband and I also use tracfone. If you get a new card before your minutes expires all the remaining minutes roll over. Plus they always have promotion. The tip is if I call my DH and he did not answer after 3 rings I hang up and minutes will not be deducted in my phone but he will get a miss call with my number. Prepaid is good if you don't use your phone a lot or if you are not a chatter. If you are texting or receives a text 3 minutes will be deducted. If you have a teenager who loves texting just give him/her a $20 and it will be good for 3 months.

LOL, LOL, Dh and I do the same thing, he then uses the office phone and calls the home phone.

**cheles2kids** · 07-31-2008, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by justpeachy92

Are you thinking of switching all 3 phones on your contract to prepaid. Depending on how the people with those phones use their phones, prepaid could cost you as much if not more than your current plan. 3 thirty minute cards will cost you $90 a month. I don't use my phone very often. I have it for emergency use, if I break down while out and so the kids schools can get hold of me when I am away from the house.

Right now, my husband has a phone, I have a phone & the two kids share the 3rd phone.
But, my husband will be getting a new phone when his employer switches over to their new carrier in the next couple of months, and I can't ever get a hold of him on his phone for the most part because of where he works, so most of the time, he calls me from work.
For the kids, the only time they ever use their phone is when I'm out shopping or something and they need to call and remind me to pick something up, or ask me a question. They can do both of these from the home phone.

On our current plan now, we all share 400 anytime minutes, but if we call from one phone to the other, it's free.
Then of course we have free night & weekends, not rollover minutes or anything like that.

Thank-you so much for the information about how much the cards cost and giving me something else to consider, I really appreciate the help!

**cheles2kids** · 07-31-2008, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Texasgirl

When my Verizon contract came up I canceled it and went with Net10.

I love this prepaid company. If you renew before your minutes are up the minutes you have left roll over into the new minutes.
I have over 1700 minutes on my phone right now.
I never had that with Verizon.

Also I can actually get a signal with my net 10 phone I live in a rural area. With my Verizon phone we hardly ever got a signal.

I don't text message so I don't know how it works with that.

We actually have a Verizon account now and we also live out in a rural area, so 8 out of 10 times I try to call my husband he doesn't even get a ring.
I know exactly what you mean about not getting a signal. It really does have more to do with where we live now, than anything. Because before when we were in Jacksonville, we had great reception, even when my husband would call me from the ship.

I love that you mentioned about the rollover minutes on your Net10 phone, that would be something that we don't have right now.
I'm also glad to know about the reception, this was something that I was concerned about as well.

Would you mind sharing with me where you purchased your phone, how much it cost and how long you've had it?

Thanks so much for your help!

**cheles2kids** · 07-31-2008, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Michelle

I think more people than ever are going prepaid and ditching their cell phone contracts. My contract was up last month, and I asked about prepaid, as have other people in these threads:

Cell Phone Savings

From guru to "dweeb" *lol*

Would Like Recommendations

HTH

Michelle, your right. I think people are getting tired of feeling like their being 'fleeced' each month when that cell phone bill comes due.
If I could drop down my expense even by $40.00 a month, it would be worth it to me.

With all the great info. on this thread, I might even splurge and get each kid their own phone for Christmas. They don't either one text, or call anyone, except me, but for the price, you just can't beat the prepaid.

Thank-you so much for sharing these links with me, hopefully they'll help someone else as well!
I'm usually so good about "searching" for information, but I wasn't even thinking about it this time, durh!

Thanks again for your input and all your help!

**cheles2kids** · 07-31-2008, 09:22 AM

For those of you who are long-time prepaid customers, does anyone know if there are any deals during the holiday season?

I think after looking at the links that Michelle posted and what others here have said, It'll be between either a Tracphone or a Net10phone.
But I will be researching it some more between now and then.

Thanks again to everyone who posted with their information, it's really helped!