Choosing the Best Cell Phone Plans for Teens

Many parents are on the fence about whether or not their teens should have their own cell phones. On one hand, cell phones offer a level of security. The teens are always able to get in touch with their parents if needed and they can be reached in case of an emergency. On the other hand, a cell phone gives a teen 24/7 access to their friends, which can become a bit of a problem. In addition to becoming a distraction, a cell phone can also become rather expensive in the hands of a texting teen.

Some of the best cell phone plans for teens include prepaid plans, unlimited local plans and stand alone plans. All of these plans have pros and cons, but in some cases, they can be combined into one ideal package. Prepaid cell phone plans are great for teens because they are a way of giving the teen an "allowance" when it comes to their phones. This is not always the most economical phone plan, but it can be one of the easiest to control. If the teen goes over her allowance for the month, either the phone will be unusable, or she will have to use her own money to pay for the overages.

Unlimited local plans are often a bit more economical, but they do not cause the teen to have to budget her minutes. These plans allow teens to talk as much as they want to as long as all of the calls are local. Stand alone plans are good for parents who are trying to get teens to be responsible for their own finances. The plan is in the teen's name and she is responsible for staying within the limits of the plan. The teen can be asked to stick to an allowance in terms of the plan cost or pay for it with her own money.

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