Searching for a cheaper cell phone plan (prices, best, value)

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by StAcKhOuSe

Im on a sprint family plan(2 lines), and i pay about $100 a month.

im looking to cut that expense down lower. i dont talk on the phone much and neither does my mom and her bf(i pay for the plan).

i send/receive a fair amount of text messages(1100 per month avg).

i was wondering what individual plans would be the cheapest and the best value? such as straight talk, boost, etc....im even considering the prepaid plans. it would be great if i can find a pre-paid plan that somehow offers free nights and weekends.

what are your experiences with them? what would you recommend? reception/service wise?

If you are served by the Sprint network, consider Virgin Mobile. I am a Verizon refugee, and enjoy the freedom of not having a contract to adhere to. I paid $69 for the phone, and I pay $25 a month for unlimited text messages, data (albeit slow), and 300 minutes of talk time, which is about what I use in a typical month. For $40 you can get 1200 voice minutes.

[ryjb]

My wife and I are on a family plan with her brother and his wife. Each couple pays right down the middle and has saved us a lot of money.

[jtur88]

Tracfone now has a new feature on the prepaid. You can subscribed to an 'insurance' plan, where you are automatically billed 5.99 per month if you reach the end date of your plan without renewing. If you buy new minutes and days, you pay only the price of the addition, but if you just let it go, you get new months for 5.99. That's $72 a year, with no added minutes, but if you use up your minutes, you can get 19.99 for three months with new minutes, which is still only $80 a year with minutes included, and no 5.99 monthlies because you've extended your end date. I like that. I think that's pretty reasonable cost for having a cell phone when needed.

[Dub D]

Depending where you live, Metro PCS / Alltel is the cheap option.

MetroPCS | Coverage (http://www.metropcs.com/coverage/ - broken link)

I have Sprint right now and I'll be switching to Metro next month. I have a real old phone and don't talk much. I just text alot and pay 45 a month and thats with a discount from my work. They have a $40 month plan where you can get unlimited everything.

[slackjaw]

Wife and I use prepaid too, each have $100 for 1000 minutes that don't expire for a year.

That works out to a little over $8/month each after initial $20 investment in cheapo phone.

[Koale]

I agree w/the prepaid option. Totally inexpensive and services are very reliable. We have texting blocked on our phones. Costs way to much and such a waste of time. Ya wanna talk to me...call me.
K

[lottamoxie]

+1 for Tracfone. However, incoming texts are NOT free. They cost .3 minute per msg, same as outgoing texts. I spend $80 per yr w/Tracfone (instead of $50+/month with anyone else). I don't use my cell phone that much. A block of 800 - 1,000 minutes lasts me a year.

At home I use a VOIP system (Viatalk).

I use Google Voice for texting as well as having one global phone number that rings all my phones. My Google number is the only one I give out.

And, I have an iPod Touch, which I can use to send txt messages and also use for VOIP calls for free when I have WiFi connectivity, out an about. So Tracfone + Ipod Touch covers my mobile needs.

[Sunnydee]

Originally Posted by slackjaw

Wife and I use prepaid too, each have $100 for 1000 minutes that don't expire for a year.

That works out to a little over $8/month each after initial $20 investment in cheapo phone.

We use the Tracfone $100 for a 1000 minutes plan as well. It's very economical.

[Wilson513]

I think we have two phones on Verizon unlimited for $119.

[DAIRYDAD]

T mobil 1,000 min $100. A year! Pre paid you just have to buy a new number once $35