Can you recommend a cheap cell phone?

[NewAtThis]

I may be the last person in the northern hemisphere without a cell phone. I truly don't see the need and can't justify the monthly expense.
That said, I would like an emergency only no-frills phone I could keep in my car for breakdowns, etc. Especially now that I'm travelling with a baby in tow.
I had a tire blowout yesterday, and it was really hard to find help on the side of the road!
I know there are pay-as-you-go phones, but those minutes expire in 2 months, long before I could use them.
Any other ideas for emergency only phones?
TIA!

[khkelsey]

Virgin Mobile has a cheap pay-as-you-go plan. If you sign up for auto-pay, the minimum is only $15 every 90 days.

[EFmom]

I've got a prepaid tracfone that wasn't a bad deal. Like you, I only want the stupid thing for emergencies, not for discussing what's for dinner with my husband all day.

If you keep an eye on the web site, they have specials some times that are pretty decent. I got the phone, a year of air time and 500 minutes for $79. That will do me fine for the year. I've had it for two months now, and I think I've used 6 minutes.

[kookykitty]

i second the virgin mobile pay-as-you go. i even found my phone for free during one of their promotions, so all i have to pay is the minutes. $5 a month ($15 every 90 days, when you register a credit card to add minutes with) is the lowest i have seen anywhere.

good luck!
christy

[mightymoo]

I had a tracfone for a long time, it was the way to go, I liked it because I could buy the 1 year service / 150 minutes and that cost I forget but it was like $12/mo altogether. I did tend to use just a little over the 150 a year, so I'd charge it up when I saw a good deal, it was by far the cheapest option without having minutes expire on me, since I use like 10 one month then maybe 50 the next.

Of course you can't beat the service I have now, I pay nothing on my brother's alumni plan from working for a cell phone company. And recently he bought himself a new phone and gave me his old one - so now I have a free RAZR. So I guess it does help to know spendthrifts cuz you can take their leavings

[avendesora]

We just signed up with T-Mobile pay as you go. You can get 1000 minutes for $100 (10c/min) and they don't expire for a year. That breaks down to $8.33/month, assuming you don't use more than an average of 83 minutes per month. It was the best plan we came across.

We got a phone for each DH and myself. He does use the phone for work calls on occasion, so we wanted to be aware of the per minute cost as well as our average per month cost. There are times beyond emergencies when the phone will "pay for itself" - for example: I've been at a store and saw a 'sale', called DH to check the price online, only to find out it was cheaper online. While I could maybe have bought it and returned it, I would have spent more than 10c on gas! Or when I forget my shopping list - the 20c it costs to have DH read off the list to me is probably cheaper than gas, and who knows how much more I would waste if I tried to shop without a list! I think you get my point. Also having a phone while shopping at thrift stores.

Aven

[MSings]

My husband got a cell phone without telling me but so far it is relatively painless and it makes him feel better for me to take it on the freeway. Cingular Go Phone-the phone was free with a rebate. Calls are 25 cents a minute per call and no daily fee or 10 cents a minute plus one dollar base fee only on days you use the phone. Pay in advance-$25 which expires in 3 months so works out to $8 per month.

[NewAtThis]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I checked the coverage maps for tracfone and virgin, and it doesn't look like my area is covered, darn it! I'll keep checking around for a plan that will work where I live.

[CeciMami]

I am so subbing to this and cutting my phone bill...I just changed it yesterday and cut $50 and was all proud that our bill is only $100/mo and then I read this thread! : I will definately do my research and get it even lower!

[happyfrog]

that's too bad virgin mobile won't work for you. ((hugs))

i have it and do the pay $20 (buy the refill at walmart and it's $20 AFTER tax!) and I only refill it when I absolutely have to - there's a 'grace' period when your phone is not functioning and you're supposed to top up, but I wait til I either really 'need' the phone to work or the grace period is about up - and that way, I only spend $40/year instead of the $60-80/year if you refilled like you're supposed to.

hth!

oh, btw, i'm sure ya'll know that even if your cell phone is not 'really' working, you CAN dial 911 as long as there's charge in it.

just thought I'd put that out there. so if one were to only want a truly emergency phone, just get someone's old cast off, keep it charged in the car and it'll work in case of emergency - but that's ALL you can dial on it.

BettyAnn

[emma_goldman]

nak.

boostmobile is prepaid nextel coverage. you can use almost any used nextel phone...

google their website...