So I've had the same cheap POS Nokia phone for 3 years and getting fairly fed up (Verizon service). Text messages cost something like 25c/text sent OR received, and I get about 90 minutes talk-time for $15 only after 9pm and on weekends, but only half that any other time. Basically I'd just want something for $20-$30/month where texts don't cost a ton, and I guess between 1-2 hours talk-time a month since I try not to use my phone too often. Sorry if there was some universal phone thread I could have posted in, but really not interested in getting something fancy like a Blackberry/iPhone.

Go to 7/11 and choose a pay as you go phone or sign up with Cricket if they serve your area.

You have a cell and only use it 1-2hrs a month? Wow!

I'm on AIM a lot/play poker online/am a lonely guy, so I don't need a ton of talk time usually

Wow OP your situation sounds exactly like mine a few years ago. I found myself paying $40/mo for verizon and only using my phone maybe 1-2 hours tops.

I can't say that I know all the rates for every pay-as-you-go out there but I've been using Tracfone for the past 3+ years and I've had no complaints. I paid $125 for 800 minutes and 1 year of service (there are numerous other options available). I don't know how other PAYG plans work, but if I run out of minutes before the 1 year, I can just buy more minutes. If I run out of the year before my 800 minutes are up, I can just buy more time (and your minutes roll over).

Plus, the drug dealers on The Wire use Tracfone.... it's gotta be good!

$100 for 1000 minutes with T-mobile. The phones they sell are last gen, but if you want a current generation phone you can just buy the pay-go sim card and put it any phone you want.

+1 I've had no problems with tracfone. If you plan on using the phone long term, for about $50 - $75 depending on where you buy it, you can buy a double minutes plan for as long as you use the phone which reduces the cost to about 10 cents a minute. The only downside for you may be that unless you go with the 1 year plan Sooga wrote about, you have to re-up with them a minimum of 30 minutes every 3 months or your plan will expire and the minutes you have left won't be able to be used till you purchase more minutes.

Outgoing texts cost .3 minutes, incoming texts are free. The phone I use is just a regular cell not a camera phone or anything like that but if you need it they do have camera phones as well.

Actually last I checked the double-minutes card was only $25, which is a great deal.

Also, as for texts, I noticed that when I had my cheapo Nokia 1100 phone, outgoing was .3 and incoming was free like you said... but after I upgraded to the Motorola 376, outgoing AND incoming were both .3

Hmm, and for some reason I seem to remember being able to buy JUST minutes or JUST service time but now it doesn't look like you can.

boost mobile has unlimited text and unlimited nights and weekends for voice for $1 per day with 10 cents per minute for day time minutes

I keep a charged virgin mobile phone in my car in a waterproof case (in case I go over a bridge or something and need to make a call). Most places require that you 'top up' every 90 days or so. Virgin has promos every 6 months or so where you can top up with a larger amount ($60 was min for last deal) and have 12 months before top up is required.

You must drive over a lot of bridges?

http://www.fatwallet.com/top-deals/r...h-600-minutes/

I did this for the last two years before caving and buying an iPhone this week. Had no problems with the T-mobile service. Would recommend.

I use this too. I bought the phone online from them for like $20 and it came with a card for $25 worth of free minutes.

I did when I put the phone in my car... not so much anymore...

I'm just sorta nuts, i guess.

What's your preparation for Alien Abduction?

I just went thru the process of getting a prepaid phone. After some research I decided to go with tmobile. If you go thru bing and type in tmobile prepaid and follow the link you will get 35% off a phone. I went ahead and got a cheap nokia that was marked down to $19 from $60. If you order from their website right now you get 3 free $10 refills(one when you activate and another every 30 days for the next two months) if you do so within the next week I believe. Shipping was free and after tax cost me $21.54 prior to bing cashback. Just activated the phone today. You're minutes are good for 90 days I believe and if you go to callingmart.com you can get the $100 refill cards(1000 minutes good for a year) for $94 shipped. I'm lucky if I will go thru a 1000 minutes in a year so this was a good deal for me. Also the tmobile kiosk at the mall wanted to charge me over $100 just for the phone I got on the website for $19 fyi.

You can also do the pay by the day deal and just pay $1 for everyday you use your phone and get free nights and weekends but they still charge .10 a minute during peak times. I just went with the pay as you go.

roll of tinfoil in glovebox + glass of water in case they get close.