Sherman wrote:

I'm curious about the TOTAL cost of a prepaid cell phone for someone
on a very limited budget.

It seems to me that you can pick up the phone at Walmart for less
than $100 and buy a prepaid card for about 10 to 20 cents a minute.

And then if you don't use it but a few times a month, it would be an
excellent deal.

What am I missing?

Usually, the time "expires" if you don't use it within a certain time
frame.

I use Tracfone, and am very happy with it. But I purchase 150 minute
cards, which don't expire for 1-year. If you keep purchasing cards,
the minutes roll-over, so you don't lose them. But for me, I don't use
anywhere near as many minutes as I have to sign up for to keep the
service in place.

It's still much less expensive than the normal monthly rates from
Singular/Verizon, etc. It's great if you don't use the phone much.

Another disadvantage, at least with Tracfone, is that if you lose the
phone or it is stolen, you lose all your minutes and time. They will
not transfer those minutes or time to a new phone.


What brand or service works well here in Houston/La Porte?

I'm in western NY, so can't help you there. But all the prepaid plans
use some other sevice provider's network to arry the signal. In my
area, Tracfone uses Verizon, which is good because they have the best
coverage in this area. When I vacationed in the Southwest, my phone
used Singular, which was also the best coverage in that area.

So ask the provider what network they use in your area. Then ask
friends and coworkers what service they use, and how their coverage
is.

Terry