Frugal Family: Cell Phones That Won't Break the Bank

If you still want to be connected on-the-go with a cell phone without breaking the bank buying the latest Blackberry, there are some great cell phones that are an inexpensive alternative to costly plans.

Wal-Mart sells the Tracfone 105P4 for $9.98. This is a prepaid phone. The system is simple. You pay as you go, purchasing minutes as you need them. Family Dollar also sells this and the Tracfone LG420 for between $10 and $15. The refill packs come in minutes and are usually $15 or $30 to buy anywhere from 150 to 300 minutes.

Verizon has a prepaid phone Model LG5600 that has a camera, supports Bluetooth technologies, has voice commands and GPS capability. This model is also sold at Wal-Mart for $14.88. The minute pack is also your choice, depending on how much you need to use it. If you are worried about coverage, it is usually good to excellent.

Virgin Mobile’s pay as you go phone is $39 to $49 and is sold at Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens. This phone also has a MP3 Player, Internet (Web) capability and offers good coverage  both locally and nationally depending on your location.

Wal-Mart also sells a prepaid Blackberry for $169. I would ask about this deal to find out if there are hidden charges, such as a daily rate for each message or text.

Things to be aware of when you buy a prepaid phone: There is usually a charge (surcharge) per phone call. Verizon offers an alternative deal where a daily rate is charged to the phone depending on whether you use the minutes on a particular day. These charges can vary from $1.00 to $3.50 a day on some models. You may want to research that before purchasing the phone or take it into consideration if you already have one and are reconsidering your plan.

 Metro PCS has a flat monthly rate of $40 for unlimited minutes. There are no hidden charges. The only thing is that you have to purchase the phone from Metro PCS and pay for the first month’s service up front. Phones range in price from $35 to $300.