Cell Phone Plan

nana59 · ‎05-12-2012

Need suggestions for inexpensive cell phone plan. We currently pay $100 monthly, which we thought was reasonable, but have found that we don't even use the phone on a monthly basis. I never use it, and my husband uses it when he attends an occasional out-of-state train show. My husband is computer saavy, but has never been a cell phone user-and I don't even know how to use it. We would like a cell phone for an emergency, but that's about it. Suggestions, please! Thanks....

gidgetgh · ‎03-09-2010

My father uses a Jitterbug cell phone (through greatcall.com). His plan is $14.99 per month. Once you add all the taxes and fees, his bill comes to $19 a month.

He's had it for 4 years. Works great. He called and ordered it. They sent it to him. He called them and they activated it. Very easy.

Why is it, when I have a 50/50 guess at something, I'm always 100% wrong?

Marp · ‎03-09-2010

Sounds like any of the Tracfone deals QVC or HSN offers with the triple minutes/texts/data would be perfect for you. The package minutes are good for a year so you don't have to worry about them expiring and they roll over. As long as you remember to add minutes at the end of the year (or like I do get a new phone with minutes included) you're good to go. You can also keep your current cell phone number.

ETA most of the packages cost between $100 to $130 and come with the phone, charger and minutes. Once you look at the cost on a monthly basis it can't be beat for a user like you and your husband.

What is good for the goose today will also be good for the gander tomorrow.

spent2much · ‎03-10-2010

My husband and I have had a TracFone plan for our two phones for several years. I rarely use mine; he uses it a little more. I think our original plan (which hasn't changed) was about 60 minutes per month for him and 100 minutes per month for me. AND it was a plan that DOUBLED the minutes every month. So, he got 120 min. and I got 200 min. The minutes roll over month after month, year after year. I now have over 4,000 minutes on my phone; he has about 2,000! LOL I have no idea if the plan is still available, but maybe something similar is. Our total monthly bill is about $17!!!

ETERNITY: your choice... smoking or non smoking!

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

Another vote for the Jitterbug. I pay about the same as the poster's father $19/mo. I can take pictures & even text!!!

My minutes roll over. I currently have over 6500 minutes. I only use it in case of an emergency out of the house. I can count the times on one hand that I have actually used the phone in the 7 yrs I've had the Jitterbug. I don't even know the phone # for it!. My house phone is a landline. Leave a message on my landline answering maching if you want me to call you back.

My current Jitterbug looks like this.....

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

DoneTryin · ‎03-09-2010

Yikes! I pay about that for an entire year. I've been using Tracfones for the last few years & usually get a new one from QVC or HSN when my time's almost up. I've been getting the 1 year, triple minute/text/data deals. The one I have now I got from QVC earlier this year, & it included an additional 3 months of service, plus additional 1200 minutes/text/data if I sent them my old phone by a certain deadlne. That phone cost about $130.

I still have a landline but am thinking about getting rid of it soon. Quite frankly, I just don't like chatting on the phone much any more, so the cell phone deal works just fine for me.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@nana59 wrote:
Need suggestions for inexpensive cell phone plan. We currently pay $100 monthly, which we thought was reasonable, but have found that we don't even use the phone on a monthly basis. I never use it, and my husband uses it when he attends an occasional out-of-state train show. My husband is computer saavy, but has never been a cell phone user-and I don't even know how to use it. We would like a cell phone for an emergency, but that's about it. Suggestions, please! Thanks....

What works best for me us "Prepaid Plan" with Tracfone. My current smart phone, bought new from hsn for $80, is a 12 month plan. Total for me monthly is about $6.60. Used Tracfone for going on 10 years now, and it is the perfect cell phone plan for me,

hckynut(john)

Zita · ‎05-24-2011

I've had a Tracfone for several years, switching up occasionally. I buy from the Tracfone website (very inexpensive) and then top off minutes as I need them.

I use my cell only for brief calls and texting to family (the grands especially). No monthly charges. I sometimes call my brother in Texas, but usually use my landline. Don't need the internet feature, although I have it (takes a lot of minutes), but I've used the photo feature. I am computer savvy, but don't need to be on a phone all the time. I use my PC or laptop for email, surfing the net, shopping, etc.

I'd vote for Tracfone!

queendiva · ‎03-12-2010

I also buy my cell phones from HSN. Great deals when they have a TS phone. I did not see one this year for holidays. I think I bought mine in December maybe two years ago. Mine is a fully featured smart phone and is my only phone- no need for a land line. I did not love my Trac phone. Did not save me much money.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

I have an AT&T GoPhone. It's a prepaid plan, and not a smart phone (though they have smart phones). I pay $25 per quarter and your balance rolls over as long as you renew / add money by the end of the quarter. Calls cost $0.10 per minute and $1.00 per day that the phone is used. I rarely use the phone, and my prepaid balance has built up to $500, but it's well worth the annual cost of only $100.