Author Topic: Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Teenager?  (Read 1455 times)

Mikila

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Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Teenager?
« on: August 07, 2018, 07:30:21 PM »
Hey, all
Google has not given me the answer, so I thought, the Mustachians will know!  My 13 yr old is at that age where he is gone for several hours, needs to be able to call home from the river, the library, etc.  He will also be escorting his younger sister to and from school, so if something were to go awry we want him to be able to call us.  More independence at this age.  Plus we have no house phone, so when we leave the kids home alone....we usually leave one of our cell phones, but we are both feeling it is time. 

The cheapest plans we have priced out are around $25 for totalwireless or 22.50 each for mom and son on ting.  Mom already pays $20 through republic wireless, but to add son means buying an expensive phone.  This kid does not need unlimited anything, he does not call much, will probably mostly text and we are not interested in buying him a data plan.  He can use wifi at home or McDonalds, etc.

Thoughts?  We are really resistant to paying $25 a month, there has to be something cheaper out there!

pbnj

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Re: Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Teenager?
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2018, 07:43:57 PM »
Go to the Share your Badassity topic and read Daley's guide on Tech/Communication.  Great info, very useful.  I used Airvoice for my teen son; no data.  Few calls and texts per month.  Great reception, no dropped calls.  I would load the account with $10 or $20 and it would last 2-3 months.  Once he was walking home from school I had to bump it up to the $20 load as we were texting a bit more.

catccc

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Re: Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Teenager?
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2018, 11:48:21 AM »
I would check out airvoice, freedompop, truphone, and US mobile for some good low use plans in combination with a used phone from ebay.

Airvoice would be $10 for 30 days, used as 0.02/text, 0.04/minute, 0.10/MMS (rollover with autopay).  Sims are cheap on ebay.

US Mobile would be $8 + tax for 300 texts and 100 minutes (30 day use, no rollovers)  $4 for sim to start.

TruPhone has more flexible prepaid loading options, 0.09/minute or text, but for very low use probably a better value than plans that make you pay up every 30 days.  Initial cost is $30, though, $15 for sim loaded with $15.

Freedompop is free, but I don't find it as reliable.  I often can't seem to use the phone if not in wifi. 

Good luck finding something suitable!  Don't forget about apps like whats app and fb messenger to extend usage without extra cost...

Mikila

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Re: Cheap Cell Phone Plan for Teenager?
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2018, 07:10:44 AM »
Thanks

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!