Prepaid cell phone?

[amber913]

I currently have a $19.99/mo. plan thru T-Mobile. My cell is for emergencies only, so when my contract runs out next month, i want to switch to a prepaid plan, preferably thru at&t b/c most people i know have at&t, so those calls wouldn't "count", from what i understand.

I'm afraid my bill will end up being about the same. When you add in taxes, my friends who can't seem to understand NOT to text me and do, people who call my cell phone instead of my home phone, etc....it could add up, even with my threatening facebook statuses about NOT USING MY CELL PHONE!!!

So do you have a prepaid phone? What plan/company? How much do you end up paying on a monthly basis?

[LDSmomma]

I have a Net 10 cell phone, which I think just switched to a new name. When I switched, I changed my number, too, so no one has my number anymore! I feel free!

Anyway, I pay $30 for 300 minutes and 60 days of service, so $15 per month. I have to buy a card at walmart or the gas station or online to add minutes.

We were a two-cell phone, no home phone house for a LONG time. But, DH's company gave him a phone, and we switched to a home phone land line, no features, $17 per month (plus taxes), and my cell phone which is $30/2 months, and I think the only tax is sales tax. I chose to buy a samsung phone since we have 10 samsung chargers and accessories around the house already.

To get people to stop calling your cell, stop answering it! I only answer if it's DH. I use it for outgoing calls. When people ask for my number, I tell them I don't know it, which is true. I then explain it's for me to use in an emergency, and I don't answer it or check voicemail. I only turn it on when I need to call someone, or I think DH might need to reach me.

Oh, and texts are 1/2 a minute each. I wonder if you can ask to have texting turned off. I think I did that when I had TMobile long ago.

[mouso]

I have a Tracfone. Have had it for years, since 2003.
You can usually buy a phone that has double minutes for life (meaning any time you buy is doubled) for about $20 and get a year airtime card for $99 and 400 minutes (really 800 when doubled).

Then you are set for the year - for $120. It's great. I really recommend it for those of us who never use cell phones.

[Smocked]

I have a gophone through att. I got it instead of paying so much for my iphone. I bought the cheapest phone best buy had for $30 and it came with a $15 card. I chose the plan the is $1 a day for when I use it and 10 cents a minute for non att calls. I've used it for 4 months now and I use it like every other day so it works out to be about $15 a month. For me it was worth the switch because it's way cheaper for what I really need.

[zebra15]

Would it be cheaper for you to get a cell instead of both cell and land line?

I have a Virgin cell and plan (got it at Target) and I have unlimited calling for $49.99/month. I dont have texting, so I guess if someone texts me I just never get it??. I have a cheap $25.00 phone and thats it. I know my bill will be the same every month and I think you can buy 'top up' cards instead of having it direct billed to your bank account or credit card monthly.

I know several mamas on here use this plan, maybe they will chime in, but I love it and I've been landline free with this plan for 3+ years now.

[cappuccinosmom]

I have a go phone, and use $15 cards. It's basically .25/call (in or out), so if it was used a lot, it would go fast. As it is I'm often paying just to have it available for emergencies since I don't get that many calls/mo.

[SophieAnn]

Originally Posted by amber913

I currently have a $19.99/mo. plan thru T-Mobile. My cell is for emergencies only, so when my contract runs out next month, i want to switch to a prepaid plan, preferably thru at&t b/c most people i know have at&t, so those calls wouldn't "count", from what i understand.

I'm afraid my bill will end up being about the same. When you add in taxes, my friends who can't seem to understand NOT to text me and do, people who call my cell phone instead of my home phone, etc....it could add up, even with my threatening facebook statuses about NOT USING MY CELL PHONE!!!

So do you have a prepaid phone? What plan/company? How much do you end up paying on a monthly basis?

I switched to pay-as-you-go recently, because my cellphone was really just for emergencies too. I found an option that has a 1-year expiry on the minutes (SpeakOut Wireless from the 7-Eleven convenience stores). That's right, 1-year! So, if I don't use my minutes up before then, I'd pay as little as $25 per year. Since I only use about 1-2 minutes per month, I might not even use them within a year. Can't help you with specifics for your situation since I'm in Canada... but maybe look for something similar? My phone is what is often referred to as a "disposable" cellphone - because you just buy the phone and buy the minutes - absolutely no personal information is given on activation.

As for how to get people to stop texting/calling you.... since you want a cellphone for emergencies only - when you get your new cellphone, just don't tell anyone what the number is!

[mamaofthree]

we have a tracfone and i get minutes about every 3 months or so, sometimes longer. i spend maybe $20.00. ours is just for emergencies. i would suggest if you truly want it for emergencies you get a new number and don't give it out. also, if i understand it, if you don't open text messages you don't get charged. so they can text all they want, you just don't open them. lol

h

[amber913]

Originally Posted by mouso

I have a Tracfone. Have had it for years, since 2003.
You can usually buy a phone that has double minutes for life (meaning any time you buy is doubled) for about $20 and get a year airtime card for $99 and 400 minutes (really 800 when doubled).

Then you are set for the year - for $120. It's great. I really recommend it for those of us who never use cell phones.

Which plan are you on? The cheapest i see is $9.99/mo, which would be $120/year NOT counting the purchase of the phone (or taxes).

I'm sorry, i don't know how to do multiple quotes, but to answer some questions: It wouldn't be cheaper to get rid of the landline and we're not comfortable doing that anyway. We're really not into the whole cell phone thing, hence my ignorance. Also, i don't usually answer my cell phone, but it's hard for people to remember that mine is for emergencies only, so i've found i've missed important calls/messages. Even after i have my new phone, if i have to call someone, they'll have my number, and i'm sure they'll abuse it! We'll just have to work out the kinks.

I'm still looking for something cheaper than $10/mo....wonder if there is anything around here. Off i go to google. Thank you for your responses.

[amber913]

Originally Posted by Smocked

I have a gophone through att. I got it instead of paying so much for my iphone. I bought the cheapest phone best buy had for $30 and it came with a $15 card. I chose the plan the is $1 a day for when I use it and 10 cents a minute for non att calls. I've used it for 4 months now and I use it like every other day so it works out to be about $15 a month. For me it was worth the switch because it's way cheaper for what I really need.

This is actually the plan i've been leaning towards. If you call other at&t customers, do these minutes count towards your minutes? Everyone i know has at&t, it seems, so if these calls are completely free....

I just found this: http://cellphones.about.com/od/prepa...paid_plans.htm

[mouso]

Originally Posted by amber913

Which plan are you on? The cheapest i see is $9.99/mo, which would be $120/year NOT counting the purchase of the phone (or taxes).

It's not a plan at all, although I know they have them, my way is a better deal!
Go to purchase airtime and you'll see the option to buy 365 days of airtime and 400 minutes (800 when doubled) for $99. That's all you need. Well, and a tracfone phone!
If you do do this, get a phone with double minutes for life included. And you don't lose your minutes at the end of the year, as long as you just add more airtime.

Hope that helps. I can explain better if you need me to, but am nakking right now.

[moonlitemama]

I do the yearly tracfone deal too, with the double lifetime minutes on the phone. I got a pretty nice phone (flip phone, camera, bluetooth, etc) last year and paid maybe $50, but there are a lot of cheaper phones, if you don't want any bells and whistles. I've had a tracfone for years and have been very pleased with the service area.
Also, I just started using this, but Google Voice can pick up your texts and voicemails, and as long as you delete them rather than view/listen on your cell you should be able to avoid the cost. http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

[Smocked]

Originally Posted by amber913

This is actually the plan i've been leaning towards. If you call other at&t customers, do these minutes count towards your minutes? Everyone i know has at&t, it seems, so if these calls are completely free....

No, what you do pay for though is the $1 for when you answer your phone or make a call the first time that day. So if you call your husband who has att 1 time or 25 times in one day it deducts $1 from your airtime card. If you have someone calling you and you don't answer the phone (att user or not) you won't get charged.