In answer to the question, I signed up at Walmart for Straight Talk. I never use my phone for the web so I got the 1000 minute/1000 text deal which is fine for me. In fact, it's more than I use, but I figured I'd get it to be on the safe side. An unforeseen emergency can chew up your minutes in no time.
OP:
For us the best plan was "T-Mobile Pre-Pay", $ 100 for 1000min. Good for a year. Do not lose unused minutes.
Interesting first post.I have a straight talk phone because i am trying to retire early lol probably like everyone else here. Straight talk is just better than the other guys because the phone company is cheaper... Im not about crazy spending these days. Im trying to have a long retirement!
I still like my STi Mobile plan -- 10 cents per day plus 10 cents per minute.
At my current rate of usage, and the fact that I've gotten refill cards at 3% off, I've been at roughtly $5-6/month.
I have a prepaid plan $30/mo for unlimited web, 1500 minutes of combined text and voice. (It is prepay, in the sense that I pay upfront monthly, but have no contract and no opportunity to get overage charges. If I use 1500 before month end, my phone would just stop working except for 911) If I want to go unlimited, it costs $50/mo. Better coverage and fewer dropped calls, and cheaper than my previous ATT monthly bill plan.Interesting first post.
I think one can find pre-paid plans that are less expensive than monthly pay plans. Although these plans look good if you feel you use enough minutes to justify a monthly payment.
-- Rita
I use the Net 10 750 min 30 day card. Advertised price is 25 but you can get them for about 18 thru fatwallet and taking one of their refurb phone deals. I just put the phone in a box and load my regular net 10 phone. Works like a charm.
Tomcat98
Where else can you get cell phone service for less than $5 a month.
I have a prepaid plan $30/mo for unlimited web, 1500 minutes of combined text and voice.
I hate being locked into contracts, and it would be worth it to me to even pay a little more just to avoid this.
Ha
Tomcat98,
I'm not familiar with Net 10, but as my Sprint contract is up in a few weeks, I'm in 'shop around mode'. I've had their 450 minutes/month plan and usually run pretty close to that (plus I've been using MANY more minutes on nights and weekends, when they are 'free').
How has your service been with Net 10 (coverage areas, dropped calls, static-y lines, etc)?
omni
For what its worth, I use the Common cents plan I got at walmart. It is run by Sprint. Its 7 cents a minute and rounds down not up on your minute usage. I've used it in Missouri, Nevada, Minnesota, and Virgin Islands and it worked fine everywhere I went. I just bought the cheap $9 phone and it works fine for me. Its little and I dont like big phones. I still keep my landline for local calls and make my friends call back on my landline with their cell phone!T-Mobile sounds pretty good to us since we don't use the phone much. ANyone know how their "free roaming" works? We plan to do some traveling and T-Mobile's coverage is not as good as Verizon's. Does the phone just pick up Verizon's signal in those places?
Also, anyone recommend a phone that works with their pre-paid plan? WE just want a decent phone (voice) and maybe a camera built in (nice to have if you have an accident).
THanks!
To be honest with you, I saw their coverage map and was concerned because Sprint tends to focus on metro areas and the roads linking them, but it has always worked for me and I am on the outer edge of it Stl metro area. I really did it knowing I had little invested in it, a $9 phone and $20 card, but I've had it a year. I usually get the $30 60 day card. I buy it at walmart though you can can buy it directly off your phone or computer. Your minutes are rolled over but you do have to keep buying unless you do the $150 thing. I tend to almost run out every 60 days so it works for me. If you are a texter though, it wouldnt be a good plan as every text in and out is 7 cents. Its cheaper to talk on it than text. Iwas surprised it worked in St John on USVI. There is no roaming charges. If I wasnt going to have a local phone, I wouldnt have this plan though.THanks Ha Ha and gotadimple for your comments on T-Mobile. We are planning to go to the PNW so it helps to know T-Mobile will work there because that is one of the places it looked a little sparse.
Mulligan, I never heard of Common Cents before. I was already to sign up with T-Mobile but it looks like CC might be a better deal. It's coverage though looks like its even less than TM. Do you know if you were out of their stated coverage range and it worked? Also, which plan did you get?
It sounds like you have to add minutes every 30 days unless you get the $150 plan or am I reading it wrong? THanks!
Thanks guys. I need to get serious about changing over. Does anyone have a certain type of Tracfone that they really like? I would like one that keeps a good charge. My DH will probably want one that looks good, has camera, caller id, etc. Neither of us text or do anything other than talk. Our first cell phones were Nokia and we liked them. We now have Motorola and our phones do not hold the charge for near as long as the Nokia. I would like to get a phone that has the double minutes for life.
I am quite happy with the LG220C
I've never even run low on the battery. This phone went through the laundry, and still worked.
Did it go through the dryer too? If not, how did you dry it?
omni