If you’re thinking of getting a cell phone for your kids, but they’re not quite trustworthy enough for a regular cell plan, here’s a great idea. Buy them a prepaid phone. These are also great plans for your elderly parents who may not use the phone often but still want the protection of having one at the ready. You can purchase the phones dirt cheap. Best of all there’s no early termination or lengthy contract or bloated carrier fees. You pay only for the minutes you use! These plans have gotten a LOT better with most carriers giving you a full year to use the minutes provided you buy at least $100 in advance. I have my step-father on T-Mobile To Go and the total cost per year for his sparse usage is $100 – about $8 per month. Those with teens take special note of the Sidekick plan that gives unlimited text messaging, instant messaging, web browsing, email and picture mail for $1 per day.

Link: T-Mobile To Go Prepaid Cellular Plans
Link: AT&T GoPhone (Similar deals without the nights/weekends)

Related posts:

1. New T-Mobile Sidekick available online
2. T-Mobile Family Time Unlimited Plans Now Available – $149
3. Virgin Mobile to offer unlimited prepaid calling plan for $79 starting July 1
4. T-Mobile to unleash no contract postpaid phone plans August 6
5. Virgin Mobile unlimited launches tomorrow – $79.99/mo – no contract or activation