Cheap Phone Option?

[la79al]

We are looking for a cheap phone for when we leave the kids home alone or let them go off on their own. We need very few minutes as it's really for emergencies only. DH and I have Verizon but neither of us have old phones we could use. Suggestions?

 

[Carol_]

Burner phones from Walmart.

 

[wishing4PA]

Could you set them up to Skype or something in an emergency? Or does Alexa or the Google speaker have a way to set something like that up?
Or I know it's heresy, but adding a landline might not run much -- except all of those are more for when they are home alone than when they go off on their own.

 

[ORD2KOA]

Ting or Mint Mobile.

DH has Ting (he rarely uses his phone). They charge a flat $6 a month, plus usage. If it's not used, you only pay $6. You only pay for what you use. Starts at $3 for 100 minutes, $3 for 100 texts, $3 for 100 mb of data.

I have Mint Mobile, $15 a month - unlimited talk and text and 3GB of data.

For a handset, I picked up a spare iphone 6S for about $100 on ebay. Works perfectly.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Tracfone. Phones, okay maybe flipfones,, start around $10. Calls are, I think, ten cents per minute or partial minute. Prepaid card or virtual prepaid card. If you make no calls, no charge.

You can set up autorefill. Then you don't have to worry about loading more minutes.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

Tracfone has a plan with a basic phone where it's about $20 for 90 days of service and maybe 100 minutes.

 

[RoseGold]

Tracfone. You can use the cards on old iPhones you have lying around.

Or QVC/HSN has Tracfone deals for like $100 with a year of minimal service that comes with a decent-ish phone.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

My 10 year old uses our old phone with text now installed... its free just need to use the number now and then or it will recycle after 30 days. works through your wifi.
Our 13 year old got a 50 walmart straight talk smart phone for christmas its a tracphone cheapest min plan is $10 a month

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I have a co workers who has Mint for his 2 kids and his mom. He has had it for a few years and loves it. Cant better the low price.

 

[DisMommyTX]

We have bought many high quality phones on ebay in the $100-$200 range. We usually get models about 2 years old with a 30 day guarantee. Only 1 issue, and it was promptly refunded.

 

[lsutigers03]

I buy most of my phones from swappa.com. They’ll have a lot of inexpensive options.