How A Prepaid Cell Phone Plan Saves Me Money

The world has become a place where everyone from 1st graders to senior citizens have cell phones. With this new age in telecommunications, companies can provide expensive phone plans and consumers will still pay it. Basic individual monthly charges can start from $39.99 for a few hundred minutes per month. You want data services? That’s another $20 on top. With a $60 phone bill before taxes, fees, and other charges a month, it is quite a financial burden for anyone.

Why I Chose A Prepaid Phone Plan
Three years ago, I was an active seller on eBay and sneaker forums. As with every person selling stuff on the Internet, I wanted to provide prompt responses and excellent customer service. I found this difficult since I would go to class or go out and not know what was happening online. This was the primary reason for my need of a phone plan with email and web browsing capabilities. After about a week of research, I found the perfect solution to my needs – a Sidekick III with a prepaid plan by T-Mobile.

My Costs and Savings
For $1 per day, I have unlimited text messages, email, instant messaging, and web browsing. Phone calls are $0.15 per minute. From the statements of previous phone bills, I find that I never use over an hour of minutes. So in a typical month, I spend about $40 with no additional charges. Compared to the regular individual plans, I save $20 because I do not need those extra minutes. The unlimited texting and instant messaging has also reduced the need for calls since many of my friends also have phones with the same capabilities. So with this prepaid plan I get:

• A nice trendy phone with QWERTY keyboard and MP3 player (another bonus).

• Unlimited access to my emails, text messaging, instant messaging and web browsing (unlimited tweets!).

The Secret To Saving Money With Prepaid Phone Plans
The true secret to saving money on prepaid plans is located at CallingMart. This site sells prepaid phone refills at a small discount but sometimes they give specials and coupon codes that give an even larger discount. Another great perk is that I created an account and built up points through my purchases over the years and can use them on future purchase. Discounts plus a rewards program?! Stupendous!

For those considering prepaid plans, make sure to visit that site. My choices may be a great option for parents who have teenagers who are addicted to texting and the online world. This is a great way to encourage independency and financial maturity.

(I receive referral commissions through CallingMart but I am a truly satisfied customer and proud to share it.)

Photo credit: alforque

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