Hey, did you know that people who don’t use their cellphone very often can save money by switching to a pre-paid cellphone plan? They’re not just for people who can’t get regular cellphones anymore! In fact, many smart, frugal people avoid contact hassles and save money by getting a pre-paid phone.

Consumer Reports has posted a quick start guide for those of you who don’t use cellphones much — and are considering switching to a pre-paid plan.

One example:

With T-mobile you can buy 1,000 minutes that are good for one year for $100 plus tax. (If you refill your account before the expiration date, you can carry over those minutes.) That works out to less than $10 a month for 80 minutes, ample for anyone who carries a phone mostly for emergencies or occasional calls when they’re traveling or running late.

The plans aren’t for everyone — CR warns that people who are addicted to text messaging might want to stick with their standard monthly plan — but if you only use your cellphone occasionally, check out the article.

Do any of you use pre-paid phones as a way to save money? Do you like them? Share your tips in the comments.

Learn how to buy a prepaid phone [CR]
Cut cellphone costs with pre-paid plan [CR]
(Photo: iDream_in_Infared )

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