Last week, I wrote about eight ways you can save money on your cell phone bill. One thing that was not mentioned was the fact that it is also possible to get a prepaid cell phone plan. These plans can be a great way save money on cell phone use. In fact, the Citizens Utility Board figures that it is possible to save up to $300 or more on cell phone bills - just by switching to a pre-paid plan.
One company that provides a very good pre-paid plan is PlatinumTel. I was quite impressed with what is available: pre-paid $50 a month gets you unlimited talk nationwide, and 100 megabytes of data. You can add unlimited data for $10 per month. I actually use Tracfone as my pre-paid provider, enjoying double minutes for life and no web surfing ability. My husband and I don't need much else. We've got VoIP at home for cheap, so the idea of bulking up a cell phone plan isn't that attractive to us. But if my cell phone needs change, I might consider switching to PlatinumTel, which also offers pay as you go options and other pre-paid plans.
There are other carriers offering a wide array of pre-paid plans as well. Depending on your needs, you might find something that works well for you at Boost Mobile, Metro PCS, Verizon, U.S. Cellular, AT&T, Virgin Mobile, Cricket and T Mobile. The best is that you don't have to commit to a contract and many pre-paid plans don't require a credit check, helping you keep your credit score intact. Check into your options, and see what there is. Consider how much calling you do, whether you will want your children on your pre-paid cell phone plan, and whether you need to use the Internet. Then choose a pre-paid plan that can save you over expensive contracts.
-- Miranda
Image source: TonyTheTiger via Wikimedia Commons