Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Tea and Conversation
 4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Subject Topic: Best pre-paid cell phone plan? Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 1:14pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
Hi,

Does anyone use pre-paid cell phones? What have you found to be the best plan? thx...
Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 
LLMom
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 19 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 995
Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 2:42pm | IP Logged Quote LLMom
We use NET 10. When we bought it, it was $30 for the phone and some minutes. Maybe 300. Then you have to purchase a phone card every other month and they are $30 for 300 minutes. They are very simplistic, but they serve our basic needs.

__________________
Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
Back to Top View LLMom's Profile Search for other posts by LLMom
 
Angi
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: March 23 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 521
Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 2:47pm | IP Logged Quote Angi
I have used TracFone for about 2 years. I bought the double minutes for life card. You need to buy a card with minutes every 3 months. But those months are cumulative, so mine says that I do not have to buy any until May 2012. Obviously I will run out of minutes before then .

I also serve for promo codes before adding airtime. So, I get 1000 minutes for $80 with 30 days of use. Buying 450 mins + 450 min for double min card + 100 bonus mins.

Oh, and my pink phone cost $15.
Back to Top View Angi's Profile Search for other posts by Angi
 
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 4:06pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
TracFone seems to be what I keep hearing from SO many people.

thanks!
Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 4:13pm | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
We do like our Go Phone. We hardly use our phone at all and don't need many minutes. We put around 100 or 150 (can't recall atm) each year and I want to say it averages out to about $10 a month that we spend on cell phones. We also got a nice phone with the deal for a good price. If you go with the larger number of minutes, you have a whole year to use your minutes and if you renew it at the end of the year, you get to keep them.

__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony

[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
Back to Top View CrunchyMom's Profile Search for other posts by CrunchyMom
 
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Posted: Jan 02 2009 at 4:59pm | IP Logged Quote mom2mpr
I too love my Go Phone(ATT). It averages about $17/mo and I buy the $25 cards that are good for 3 months.I recharge every 3 months and the minutes accumulate. I don't use it much but don't stress if I want to call my neighbor to see if she needs milk or such. I have the plan that costs $1 per day(that you use it-if you don't use it you don't get charged the dollar) and 10 cents a minute. I can call other ATT cell phones for just my dollar a day--no per minute charges. My dh has an ATT phone for work, so that works nicely I also have texting and voicemail. I have no idea how to text but have found the voicemail very helpful.
Ann
Back to Top View mom2mpr's Profile Search for other posts by mom2mpr
 
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 02 2009 at 5:50pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
do you get charged the dollar a day if you just text, do you know?
Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
Posted: Jan 03 2009 at 8:34am | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
cactus mouse wrote:
do you get charged the dollar a day if you just text, do you know?


Yes.

I think I have the other plan where we pay $.25 a minute but don't pay the dollar for the day we use it. Most of our calls are super short ("I'm on my way" "Is this the kind of --- I am supposed to get at the grocery store?").

__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony

[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
Back to Top View CrunchyMom's Profile Search for other posts by CrunchyMom
 
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Posted: Jan 03 2009 at 11:52am | IP Logged Quote mom2mpr
CrunchyMom wrote:
cactus mouse wrote:
do you get charged the dollar a day if you just text, do you know?


Yes.

I think I have the other plan where we pay $.25 a minute but don't pay the dollar for the day we use it. Most of our calls are super short ("I'm on my way" "Is this the kind of --- I am supposed to get at the grocery store?").

Yes. This is my phone. I had the 25 cent a minute choice too. I think the phone charges the dollar a day for texting too. It is a dollar if you used the phone. It costs me the dollar to check my messages. I usually, unless I am on a trip or expecting a message, check messages at home for free from the home line.
Anne

__________________
Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
Back to Top View mom2mpr's Profile Search for other posts by mom2mpr
 
lilybear
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: June 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
Posted: Jan 03 2009 at 1:02pm | IP Logged Quote lilybear
We use TracFone. The phone ran about $20.00, and a one-year 400 minute card is less than $100.00. Last year, I spent about $143.00 on a double minute one-year card. With it, I got 800 minutes, and for the life of the phone, I will get double minutes on every card I buy. So now I will get 800 minutes a year, at an average of about $8.00 a month.
Back to Top View lilybear's Profile Search for other posts by lilybear
 
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 03 2009 at 1:31pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
mom2mpr wrote:
CrunchyMom wrote:
cactus mouse wrote:
do you get charged the dollar a day if you just text, do you know?


Yes.

I think I have the other plan where we pay $.25 a minute but don't pay the dollar for the day we use it. Most of our calls are super short ("I'm on my way" "Is this the kind of --- I am supposed to get at the grocery store?").

Yes. This is my phone. I had the 25 cent a minute choice too. I think the phone charges the dollar a day for texting too. It is a dollar if you used the phone. It costs me the dollar to check my messages. I usually, unless I am on a trip or expecting a message, check messages at home for free from the home line.
Anne


Now I am a bit confused.

Does it use your minutes when you text, also?
Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 03 2009 at 1:34pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
AT&T seems to be the company that works best where my daughter in Atchison goes to school. Verizon gets NO coverage at all on campus. Can you believe it? None. So, even trying to get in touch with friends for a ride, or to call us when she was on campus but not in her room was frustrating.

I just realized I have no idea if a Tracfone would work there.

I am thinking a GoPhone and adding texting may be the way to go, but I am not sure how that all works....
Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Forum Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
Posted: Jan 05 2009 at 9:27am | IP Logged Quote CrunchyMom
Sorry, Laura. I don't text or even have my voice mail set up, so I'm not sure howthat is priced. I do knowthat if you go with the dollar a day plus $.10 a minute that texting counts as using your phone and charges the dollar. Beyond that, I don't know the specifics.

__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony

[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
Back to Top View CrunchyMom's Profile Search for other posts by CrunchyMom
 
CatholicMommy
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 07 2007
Location: Indiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1254
Posted: Jan 05 2009 at 10:29pm | IP Logged Quote CatholicMommy
Texting does not count towards minutes - just usage. My personal plan is 10 cents per text message. I don't have prepaid now but I used to and it was the same. Some plans have text messaging included (or a certain number of texts free), but never included in the number of minutes.
Back to Top View CatholicMommy's Profile Search for other posts by CatholicMommy Visit CatholicMommy's Homepage
 
mom2mpr
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: May 16 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1550
Posted: Jan 06 2009 at 7:25am | IP Logged Quote mom2mpr
CatholicMommy wrote:
Texting does not count towards minutes - just usage. My personal plan is 10 cents per text message. I don't have prepaid now but I used to and it was the same. Some plans have text messaging included (or a certain number of texts free), but never included in the number of minutes.

The paperwork I got with my GoPhone say's text messages are 5 cents each. It might have changed since I got it years ago and I don't text. Though I may start since I can write a whole bunch for a mere 5 cents.
I think of the dollar per day of use as a rental fee. If I use the phone, in any way, text, call, voicemail, etc. it costs a dollar for that day. If I don't use it for a month--no charges. In addition, it will be 5 cents per text message, or ten cents a minute for calling or receiving calls, checking vm. I hope that helps clarify how it works. The phone works by money, not points or minutes. I usually charge it with $25 every 3 months. If you recharge by your expiration date you carry over the $$ left from the last cards--you don't lose it.
Anne
Back to Top View mom2mpr's Profile Search for other posts by mom2mpr
 
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
Posted: Jan 06 2009 at 12:10pm | IP Logged Quote folklaur
sigh.

Well, I am sure she will be using it a lot - all her friends do too. And dh & I use our phones daily, too...

And we all text....

There are too many options.

Back to Top View folklaur's Profile Search for other posts by folklaur
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com