Prepaid Cell Phone Plans - 3 Practical Reasons To Switch

Cell phones have become so much a part of our lives that we simply cannot go without it anymore. It's so much more than a phone. It's about communication and about staying in touch with people on the move. With the latest gadgets and technologies its also become little entertainment centers and we can do anything from surfing the web to checking emails and even watching TV on our cellular phones. While there is so much you could do on your phone, the real question is what you actually do on it and what you really need it for.

So much of the sales strategies of cell phone companies are based on the latest and greatest gadgets. For the most part people seldom use all these "features" that you end up paying for - without even knowing about it.

When it comes to paying for your cell phone you basically have two options. You can either get a contract or you can go pre-paid. Both have heir advantages and disadvantages but I believe that pre-pay is a great option for several reasons. Here are just 3 good reasons to drop your contract.

1. Contracts

One of the biggest problems with contracts is the fact that they can really lock you in. Most of them are a minimum of 12 months and some even go for as long as 24 months If you want to get out of it before this period is over then they hit you with penalty charges which is usually quite severe. With a prepaid cell phone there are no long term contracts. You pay for everything up front and there are no hidden charges to worry about.

2. Control Your Spending

Contract phones can easily lead to surprising phone bills - you know, the kind that makes your heart skip a beat. Although you get a set amount of minutes, going over that usually reverts you to a very high rate and it just keeps adding to your bill - without you even knowing until you see the bill.

3. The Phone

One of the great advantages of a contract is that you get a phone "for free" which means you do not have to pay for it out of pocket. In reality however, you are paying for it. The cost is just spread over your contract term. The truth is that you never really own it and its usually locked to a specific network. On a prepay you can use any phone and you own it outright from day one.

See my tips for finding the best prepaid phone and read more about the cheapest prepaid cell phone deals...