| Staying in constant contact today has become a high | | | | children that may tend to go over their text and |
| priority. Everyone from kids in grade school to | | | | minute allotment. |
| grandparents appear to have cell phones. Some are | | | | It is a great option for grandparents that only want a |
| because of necessity for business, and others are | | | | phone for emergency use, or for people from out of |
| because it is the "in thing" to have and they want to | | | | the country that would like cell phone availability in |
| be able to communicate with their friends whenever | | | | the country they are visiting. Today, these phone |
| and wherever they are. Because of the economy, | | | | plans offer a wide variety of phones and plan |
| for many, the pay as you go cell phone plans are the | | | | options, including text messaging. |
| best option, especially if the phone is not used often, | | | | Almost every cell phone company offers these plans. |
| your child's usage needs limitations, or there are | | | | Comparison shopping should be done as with any |
| budget constrictions | | | | other purchase when considering buying a cell phone. |
| With contract phone plans, there is a bill every | | | | The price per minute can vary drastically between |
| month, regardless if any minutes are used, and that | | | | the different servers. Some companies offer a |
| contact is typically at least two years. Yes, some | | | | defined amount of minutes and text messages for a |
| extra perks do come with contract phones, maybe a | | | | certain price that can be used per month and others |
| free phone and free weekend and evening minutes, | | | | offer per minute usage only. So do your shopping! |
| but unless the phone is used a great deal, you are | | | | A good way to decide if this plan fits your lifestyle is |
| probably spending more per minute than you would | | | | to track the minutes used each month. Then if you |
| with the pay as you go plan. | | | | find you want to switch plans, make certain it is the |
| With prepaid plans, a certain amount of minutes are | | | | end of the current contract agreed to, or there will |
| purchased that are in your budget, no contracts are | | | | be stiff penalties to pay. Typically, if you use your |
| signed, and no credit history is required. There will be | | | | cell phone for less than 90 minutes each month, the |
| no surprises at the end of the month for parents of | | | | pay as you go cell phone plans are the way to go. |