[kj_quilts]

I am thinking about getting a smartphone. I am looking for the most inexpensive way to do this.

Here is some info about my use:
currently I use a tracfone as my cell phone. I use about 45 - 60 minutes per month and send 75 - 100 text messages per month. I paid about $25 for the phone and about $100 per year for airtime.

I would like to get a smartphone so that I can do coupon searches when I find a product on clearance, to track food in weight watchers, and probably to do facebook updates. So I need about 75 minutes of talk time per month, 100 text messages per month and the web time.

My son has used Cricket where he paid about 100 for his phone and $50 per month. He switched to Boost (because his cricket had bad coverage where he went to college) he paid about $50 for the phone and $50 per month for service. Either of these would cost $600 per year which is SIX TIMES what I am paying now.

I live in MD if that makes a difference. I am not picky about having any particular phone. I will not be part of any family plan. I will be the only one using the plan.

I really appreciate your thoughts on the best way to have web access on my phone at the lowest cost.

Thanks,

KJ

[xxnellie146xx]

Phones do get expensive. The cheapest place I know, is metro PCS. It is $40 a month for unlimited text, calling, and web. They have a current promotion of (4) lines for $100. There are also (2) lines for $70 a month. I think that this might be the cheapest route. I know you said you did not want to be part of a family plan, but it will be cheaper for you and for your son (assuming he agrees to switch).

I looked quickly at tmobile, sprint, and at&t and they are all much more expensive.

[kj_quilts]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out for me, but we can't share a plan. I will end up paying for the whole thing, then it won't be any savings. He is away at school part of the year, and I'm sure that he would "forget" to pay me.


Thanks,

KJ

[SLance68]

It might actually be more beneficial to purchase a ipod touch instead of a smart phone and keep your prepaid phone you have. Check Apple.com for refurbished units they come with a good warranty and are in like new condition. If you insist on a smartphone be prepared to pay smartphone prices for service. With Boost it is $ 55.00 per month for a smartphone plan not $ 50.00 they recently changed that. Although it does still have the offer of dropping $ 5.00 every 6 months of paid on time service. Check the plans on line and look at the coverage areas before you choose any phone.

[xxnellie146xx]

Either that or a tablet...you can connect in wifi areas and there are no monthly fees

[kj_quilts]

I have an ipod touch. I can't use that to check for coupons when I find a clearance deal. If I am at riteaid and I see something we use on clearance, I want to be able to access a coupon database and find out which insert a coupon might be in.

Thank you all so much for your input! I'll keep looking into it.

KJ

[SLance68]

Originally Posted by kj_quilts

I have an ipod touch. I can't use that to check for coupons when I find a clearance deal. If I am at riteaid and I see something we use on clearance, I want to be able to access a coupon database and find out which insert a coupon might be in.

Thank you all so much for your input! I'll keep looking into it.

KJ

The ipod touch would use the same app as any smart phone would use. You probably just need to download the app.

[kj_quilts]

But the ipod touch can't connect to the internet while I am in riteaid, because they do not offer wifi.

Unless I am missing something wonderful, the ipod touch can only go online where there is wifi available.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have tried to use it in restaurants, and it says that it is unable to connect to the internet. If anyone knows a way around this please let me know. If the ipod touch would be able to connect without the free wifi available, that would solve all of my problems (at least in the cell phone area!!)

KJ

[SLance68]

Didn't think about the wifi issue on the ipod touch. I just never use my smartphone for stuff like searching for coupons. I do most all of that stuff from my laptop or desktop computers. I do use my phone for facebook and AFC occasionally but not very often as I prefer a larger screen.