Phones for the kids

My twin boys have become quite active and are needing to get rides home, permission to stay out later, etc. Last year they ended up borrowing a friends phone every time they had to get a hold of a parental unit. We decided we needed to step up and get them their own phones but as everyone who knows me knows, I like to squeeze a penny where possible. So what kind of deal can I find?

Well, I may have an iPhone, but my kids have to be happy with something less. Much less. For business reasons I cannot just add extra phones to our current account. Stand-alone accounts are expensive and even the pre-paid plans by U.S. Cellular and the others have pretty high activation fees. Boys being boys, I know also that a phone will get lost. That can get expensive.

I found a great deal on FatWallet.com for some Net10 prepaid phones. They normally sell a nice little LG phone for $30 that comes with 300 minutes and 60 Days service. This obviously is where they get the ’10′ in Net10 comes from — since it is 10 cents a minute. The deal they advertise is a refurbished unit that includes a 300 minute card — so instead of 300 minutes and 60 days of service you get 600 minutes and 120 days of service. But, in the words of a late-night infomercial, that’s not all. They guys on FatWallet provide 2 coupon codes that end up knocking $8 off the price and Net10 is giving away free shipping till September 30, 2009.

So, for $22 out of pocket I have a phone I can give the boys that will last 4 months and give them 600 minutes. I can order a 2nd phone and for $22 have another 300 minute card ($30 if purchased anywhere else) and have a spare phone. What to do with extra phones? Hmm. Looks like I may have a great use for GoogleVoice!

Now my only decision is if I will give them each a phone or make them share.