Prepaid cellular phone plans allow you to buy only the minutes you need without locking into long-term contracts. Prepaid phones also do not require credit checks since you pay costs upfront. Also, you cannot be charged expensive overages; when your minutes run out, the calls cease. For all those reasons, prepaid plans offer a good way to help you stay within a budget.
Instructions
1. Determine how long the plan's minutes are valid. Prepaid minutes generally expire between a month and three months after you buy them. This aspect is most important for people who will rarely use the phone, such as for emergencies.
2. Compare the cost per minute of talk time for various plans. If you expect to use the phone frequently, this is a key consideration.
3. Determine how good each provider's coverage is in the area where you will use the phone. If a provider has no coverage in an area you frequent, then having the lowest rates won't matter.
4. Compare the cost of texting or sending pictures with the phone. If you text often, this could be more important than the cost per minute of calling time.
5. Check the cost of international calling for various providers. If you call abroad, be aware how the provider treats foreign calls and avoid excessive charges.
Tags: Compare cost, cost minute, coverage area, provider coverage, provider coverage area