Layout:
Home > Prepaid plan 2010 cost updates

Prepaid plan 2010 cost updates

July 27th, 2010 at 07:30 pm

NT's Net10 phone broke, so we were able to get him a new one, plus 300 minutes and a phone card with 200 more minutes for $21.56! (That's cheaper than the usual $32.82 for 300 minutes with no phone or extra phone card. So why won't we take advantage by just getting him a new phone every time and saving $11+ plus getting nearly twice as many minutes? Terrible tech support. He went phoneless for a week while they got their s#%* together.) Since the second year began in late March, here's what we've paid:

CJ 1000 minutes late-March T-Mobile fillup: $107.78
NT 300 minutes late-March Net10 fillup: $32.82
NT 300 minutes late-May Net10 fillup: $32.82
NT 500 minutes + new phone late June: $21.56
Total cost for the year: $194.98

It happened in late June, but I forgot to record it in the post-vacation madness. Now it's late July already! This is the end of the fourth month of our cellphone "fiscal year," so our average monthly cost for this year is $48.75. I expect that average to go up again soon when AS needs new minutes, but still, awesome that three people have had cellphone service for less than $50 per month so far!

RECAP: I switched to prepaid in late March 2009. We have 2 phones on T-Mobile prepaid and 1 on Net10 prepaid. AS and I refill in 1000-minute increments and only need to refill when we run out or when it's been a year since our last fillup to stay active. NT needs to buy 300 more minutes every 60 days to keep his phone activated.

Our cellphone bill, for three phones on a family plan, used to range from $80-$95, depending on texts, calls to 411, etc. Usually it was close to $85. My goal for this year is to get my average cost to $50 per month, but any average number below $85 will be a savings.

3 Responses to “Prepaid plan 2010 cost updates”

  1. north georgia gal Says:
    1280256483

    WOW!! I say get a new phone each time! It saves money plus you don't have to worry about an old phone breaking! You could probably donate the old phones as well and deduct them on your taxes.

  2. greg Says:
    1280395629

    Spot on article...I will save $600.00 this year by going with Tracfone and their double minutes for life plan which gives me twice as many minutes as I pay for when I buy airtime has been the reason as I'm a really heavy cell phone user! I also got a smart-phone from Tracfone...the stunning Samsung Finesse and it has a large touch screen, high-speed EVDO data connectivity and every bell and whistle I ever wanted!

  3. Angela Says:
    1280515526

    I love Net10. Being an avid cell phone user, I am so happy that I can save so much money rather than when I had a contract. Their nationwide coverage is great and so is their selection on phones.

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]