Prepaid Cell phone

[Daolas]

My little brother (25yo) is moving in with me for a while. He will need a cell phone to help get him on his feet and get a job.

Because I know him, I'm really hesitant to put him on my cell phone plan with Verizon. I've been looking at prepaid phones and plans, but they're not making any sense to me.

I know he'll be doing lots of texting. Anyone know which plans offer decent rates and an unlimited text option?

Thanks guys

Dao

 

[emap]

Take this with a grain of salt I hate cell phones, but wouldn't it be best to simply go to a cell phone shop and talk to them about this?

 

[kromen]

I'm a month away from ending my contract. I've been looking at Boost mobile. They have a unlimited talk, text, web plan for fifty a month, prepaid. You are right to not put anyone on your plan, family or not.

I'm not sure of your location and if T-Mobile or Boost is even inb your area, but head over to Best Buy and take a look around because they stock a lot of prepaid phones from multiple companies.

 

[Ladybugsjoy]

It depends on where you are as to what companies are there. I have a tracfone where I put prepaid cards on it. Get a cheaper phone that comes with a double minutes bonus and it's great. You buy a 200 minute card and it actually puts 400 on the phone. Texts cost .30 minutes so it's not bad. You can send a LOT of texts with 400 minutes!

Another option is the Cricket phone that is $30 something or other for unlimited talk and text but you have to make sure you are in your area to not have roaming aka not live your home city. But they have a no contract deal which is good but that means the initial phone might cost a bit more. Tmobile JUST came out with an unlimited plan without contracts but I think it's $50 a month.

 

[fireymatt]

http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html

a friend of mine has this and loves it.... but its not for everyone..... google phone!

 

[NippleMuncher]

I've got an AT&T Go phone. I believe it was something like $100 for the phone and then you buy prepaid minutes as you need them. The one thing I DON'T like about it is that the minutes are only good for 30 to 90 days, depending on how many you purchase. Phone rates vary depending on the plan you choose, which you can change to suit your needs, for instance there is a flat rate of .25 per minute any day, any time. There is another that costs you $1 per day to turn on the phone and .10 per minute. And another still that's $4 per day and unlimited calls. Another nice thing is that you can call any other AT&T user for free. I'm pretty sure there are texting plans as well, but I don't text, so I don't know what they are.

 

[Treasured]

I have a prepay phone and it's very similiar to the Boost plan. I have unlimited calling, texting and mobile web. The other plans that you add units (minutes) usually take 1/2 a unit to send a text and a 1/2 a unit to receive. When calling regardless if anyone answers the second you hit send, you've used a unit. It was great for my daughter when she was 10 to have in her pocket to call when she needed a ride home from dance class, but the minute she turned 13, she was going through 200 minutes a week with texting and calling.

 

[SweetErika]

My little brother (25yo) is moving in with me for a while. He will need a cell phone to help get him on his feet and get a job.

Because I know him, I'm really hesitant to put him on my cell phone plan with Verizon. I've been looking at prepaid phones and plans, but they're not making any sense to me.

I know he'll be doing lots of texting. Anyone know which plans offer decent rates and an unlimited text option?

Thanks guys

Dao

Unless you have the extra money lying around, if you're footing the bill, is there really a reason to provide him with an option to text? I mean, he's 25 and supposed to be getting his life together while he's living with you, so why would he need to text so much (or at all, really)? I'd give him the absolute minimum he needs to find work and communicate the basics, then let him upgrade his own plan if/when he can afford to do so. Believe it or not, plenty of teens and twentysomethings do just fine with little or no cell phone use, and texting is an absolute luxury, rather than a need.

As for plans, also check out Virgin Mobile. I've been very happy with the service, though I rarely use my cell phone. I put $20 on every 90 days, and the remaining balance carries over, so for about $7/month, I have a great option for emergencies. There are other plans though, and the phones are pretty inexpensive. I believe VM has a $50 "unlimited" plan as well if you're determined to fuel your brother's texting addiction.

 

[SassySheDevil]

I have a prepay phone and it's very similiar to the Boost plan. I have unlimited calling, texting and mobile web. The other plans that you add units (minutes) usually take 1/2 a unit to send a text and a 1/2 a unit to receive. When calling regardless if anyone answers the second you hit send, you've used a unit. It was great for my daughter when she was 10 to have in her pocket to call when she needed a ride home from dance class, but the minute she turned 13, she was going through 200 minutes a week with texting and calling.

This is my same problem. I got a prepaid cell phone for my son since our carrier doesn't get reception at the school. I got it so he can call after sports practices or games and such and he's chewing through the minutes and texts. Grrrr. I have Net 10. It offers alot of minutes but texts also take away like 2 minutes per text. I like the amount of minutes it offers for the price but it sucks not being able to just add him to our plan. $10. is alot better then the $30 or so he's getting now.

 

[subwannabe]

I agree with Sweet Erika. Do you know what you are getting into here? A 25 year old male with no job, probably no money, and you already know he wants to talk on cellphones and text a lot and needs to live with his older sister (and have her buy a cellphone and plan for him)! Maybe he should get off his ass, quit cellphoning and texting and put his time into finding a job. You are setting yourself up for a longtime leech who you will eventually have to kick out (good luck!) and sue him on Judge Judy.

 

[Eilan]

I agree with Sweet Erika. Do you know what you are getting into here? A 25 year old male with no job, probably no money, and you already know he wants to talk on cellphones and text a lot and needs to live with his older sister (and have her buy a cellphone and plan for him)! Maybe he should get off his ass, quit cellphoning and texting and put his time into finding a job. You are setting yourself up for a longtime leech who you will eventually have to kick out (good luck!) and sue him on Judge Judy.

I agree with you and Erika.

Perhaps the OP's brother should be involved in researching and choosing his own prepaid cell phones. In the spirit of getting back on his feet and all. . .

I'm all for teaching people to fish.