The Best Cell Phone Plans for Teens
Cell phones have become as common as backpacks for many teenagers. Yet, you may be mystified as to which plan is actually the best deal for your teen. If you are hesitant to purchase a cell phone for your teen, realize that it is probably the best device around for keeping tabs on your teenager. The question, then, becomes not whether to consider a cell phone plan for your son or daughter, but which plan to select.
To begin with, it is absolutely vital that you do some comparison shopping. Cell phone companies are offering deals all the time—but you won't know it, unless you either call around or do quite a bit of Internet surfing. Recognize the fact that such research can pay handsome dividends in the end.
When shopping around, be sure to ask a few key questions:
- What will be the basic monthly fee?
- How large will the allotment of anytime minutes be?
- How large will the allotment of free night and weekend minutes be?
- What will be the cost of sending text messages?
- How long will the contract run?
- What kind of penalty will your teen pay if the contract is broken?
Next, you'll want to determine how much—if any—of the bill your teen will be paying, and how much you'll be paying. If your teen pays the whole bill, it could teach him or her a valuable lesson in financial responsibility. However, if your teen is going to be paying the entire amount, you may have little say in how your son or daughter uses the cell phone. A compromise solution might be for you as a parent to pay the basic monthly charge and just have your teen cover any overage charges. That way, your teen is far more likely to keep track of minutes and to try to avoid going over the monthly allotment. You may also require that your teen pay for any text messages sent.
You may find, in the end, that a family plan represents the best possible deal for you and your teen. Be sure to check with your friends and relatives to find out which plans they are using. The more information you have at hand, the better decision you'll make—and the happier both you and your teen will be.