| It's true that prepaid plans are a good way for | | | | Always look at when your purchased minutes |
| people to save money immediately on their cell | | | | expire. Do they carry over into the next month |
| phone bills. But this statement comes with one | | | | or do they just disappear? Also find out if there is |
| caveat. Prepaid plans only make sense if they | | | | a minimum talk time you have to purchase each |
| make sense for you personally. That is, your | | | | month. |
| chosen plan needs to fit well with your cell phone | | | | If you are a heavy cell phone user, then prepaid |
| use habits. | | | | phones may not make sense for you. Prepaid |
| If you are not "prepaid material" you may run into | | | | phones have traditionally been primarily for lighter |
| some problems. Here are a few things to look out | | | | talkers who are frugal with their money and use |
| for before you decide on your new cell phone | | | | few extra wireless features. This is changing, |
| plan (these points relate to all cell phone plans - | | | | however, with the recent releases of unlimited |
| not just prepaid). | | | | prepaid plans that provide subscribers with |
| It may be difficult to decipher true per minute | | | | unlimited voice, text, and data usage. |
| costs for minutes used over and beyond your | | | | These plans, which come from companies like |
| given plan. If you aren't careful, you can get hit | | | | Tracfone, MetroPCS, Boost Mobile, and Cricket, |
| with expensive overage charges that range | | | | work well for some heavy phone users. You still |
| anywhere from a quarter to a dollar. That adds | | | | will want to compare plans against contract plans |
| up really quickly. Text messages - even at a dime | | | | with "bundles" of features that may be attractive |
| a piece - can add up and make your bill look like it | | | | to you. You always want to consider coverage |
| has an extra zero or two. Pay attention to where | | | | areas, phone handset availability, available features |
| you are getting charged and any information | | | | and costs, and even what phone plans your |
| about overage charges. | | | | friends and family have. |
| Some prepaid plans come with a daily access | | | | If you have free mobile to mobile through a |
| charge, which is just an added charge for every | | | | certain wireless company, it may be worthwhile |
| day that you use your cell phone to make or | | | | to stay with that company. It's hard to tell |
| receive a call. This tariff can add up by the end of | | | | sometimes, but the more effort and research |
| the month. This fee can be as high as a couple of | | | | you put into your new plan search, the more |
| dollars. People are busy and often miss crucial | | | | money you will end up saving. There are always |
| details relating to the cost of your cell phone use. | | | | pros and cons, but one thing that's certain is |
| Look at coverage areas before subscribing to a | | | | prepaid companies are lowering prices and offering |
| given plan. You want to make sure that you will | | | | more service in order to win more customers. |
| have solid coverage in your main areas of use. | | | | |