help me find a cheap mobile plan for my anti-cell phone DH!

[Knittin' in the Shade]

He had a phone ages ago, and never used it, so I canceled it (and it took him about a month to even realize the phone was gone)

However, fast forward 7 years, and we've got 4 active boys, and I'm in school, so we're often shuttling kids while out and about and it's become very apparent that he needs to get a phone so we can communicate effectively and a kid doesn't get left somewhere b/c each of us thinks the other is picking him up! I've got a contract with verizon (have a droid, LOVE it - I'd be lost without it) but he doesn't need (or want) the bells and whistles of a smartphone. He needs a basic, low minutes plan that will also allow him to text a few people (really all of 4 people: me, his mom, his dad and his sister) I can't imagine he'll use more than 50 texts a month (coming in and going out)

So, am I better off adding a line to my verizon plan? we get 25% off that b/c of dh's company's discount. Or should we go with a prepaid phone? (Can you text with them?)

[Oceanone]

We used to have a prepaid virgin mobile. It was super cheap and convenient. It uses the same net work as the local Verizon or similar. Yes, you can text.

[sunnysandiegan]

I don't know specifically about Verizon, but AT&T and Verizon are usually competitive. AT&T offers $9.99/month for additional phones for family. We share the minutes of phone calls and texts, but have our own data plans. You can check online or give them a quick call. Then, you can make an informed decision.

[Dandelionkid]

I am just like your DH. Just picked up a Verizon account. Free phone, only cost is 35$ hook-up fee. 15$/month gets 50 anytime mins and 50 texts. No contract.

[EFmom]

Virgin Mobile has a $25/month prepaid plan with unlimited texting and data, and 300 minutes/month. There's no contract. You have to buy one of their phones, with the cheapest being $69. I'm thinking about this for dd13.

We've been using Tracfones, which is probably about the cheapest way to do it if you use the phone very little. I probably use a total of 60 minutes/year tops, and the whole thing runs me about $100/year to keep the phone operational. You can text--they charge a third of a minute to send or receive a text. They have very cheap, basic phones, sometimes about $10. Be sure to get one that is double minutes for life. Their customer service is beyond awful, but the whole thing is cheap, basic service with no contracts.

[kanga1622]

DH and I both have prepaid phones with Tracfone. We each have a phone with double minutes and they were cheap - his was $19 and mine was $35. We each get the one year card when they have a promotion so we end up with about 1000 minutes each per year. Our total cost is $200 a year for service and we really like that.

Their customer service can be tough as I always get someone in another country and I suck at understanding accented English over the phone. Their online customer service is nice and I have had great luck with their automated phone prompts to set up my phone or add minutes.

[EFmom]

If you get a Tracfone, always add airtime online, either buying it from their website or adding a card you've bought at a store. If you do that, there are always codes available that get you bonus minutes for free.

[redvlagrl]

I would definitely do prepaid

[texmati]

Originally Posted by EFmom

Virgin Mobile has a $25/month prepaid plan with unlimited texting and data, and 300 minutes/month. There's no contract. You have to buy one of their phones, with the cheapest being $69. I'm thinking about this for dd13.

We've been using Tracfones, which is probably about the cheapest way to do it if you use the phone very little. I probably use a total of 60 minutes/year tops, and the whole thing runs me about $100/year to keep the phone operational. You can text--they charge a third of a minute to send or receive a text. They have very cheap, basic phones, sometimes about $10. Be sure to get one that is double minutes for life. Their customer service is beyond awful, but the whole thing is cheap, basic service with no contracts.

if you go this route, you can sometimes find phones for cheap on craigslist or the like.

[happysmileylady]

Originally Posted by Dandelionkid

I am just like your DH. Just picked up a Verizon account. Free phone, only cost is 35$ hook-up fee. 15$/month gets 50 anytime mins and 50 texts. No contract.

Oh, can you give me more info on this! We have a family plan for 3 of us with like 550 minutes and I swear we never use more than 100 minutes, between the three of us, and one of us is a 14 year old girl!

[CookiePie]

I don't see that deal the $15 deal on Verizon's website...?

[jessaroo]

Do you have cricket in your area?

$35 unlimited text and calling and no contract.

[sarah1122]

Love my tracfone. I bought the $50 card to double your minutes for the life of your phone. I refill my minutes about 4 times a year...so that comes out to about $10 a month...pretty reasonable.

[madis81]

We have Verizon and like it. The additional family line costs 25.00/month. That's with unlimited calls to each other, and unlimited texts. If you have an old Verizon phone he can use that and you can avoid the cost of a new phone. I'm not sure what the activitation fee is.

[Ravin]

Tracphone. Make sure you buy a phone that comes with lifetime double minutes.

[Dandelionkid]

The Verizon deal I got was from Visions Electronics if that helps!

[sunanthem]

For anyone who is low income, or any kind of assistance, there is
Safelink or Assurance wireless.

You get a FREE phone and free minutes each month, can call long distance and text, both are available in limited states, but I know safelink is available in P.A. where the OP is.

HTH's someone!

[sunflower.mama]

[QUOTE=EFmom;15987829]Virgin Mobile has a $25/month prepaid plan with unlimited texting and data, and 300 minutes/month. There's no contract. You have to buy one of their phones, with the cheapest being $69. I'm thinking about this for dd13.

QUOTE]

We just did this at best buy - smart phones are on sale for $50 now, and they work for facebook, gmail, etc. Customer service is good, got right to PEOPLE which is better than verizon IMO. We brought along our old verizon phone #s too. How can you beat the deal for $25 a month no contract!

ETA: If you already have a verizon contract, you probably can't beat adding a line. For us it was cheaper to do VM at $50 per month than 2 lines at verizon. But if you're already under contract, isn't it just $9.99 for another line? If you're close to the expiration of your contract though, I'd look into virgin mobil for both of you. Perhaps you could use your droid on it? That way you'd save $$$. We had the company discount w/verizon too and it was still $75 with taxes etc for 2 phones w/out texting.