Giving TracFone as a Gift

Affordable and Easy, TracFones Make for Great Gifts

Do you know someone who doesn't own a cell phone? Maybe a son or daughter, niece or nephew, grandfather or grandmother, or other friends. If you are looking for a gift idea, a TracFone might be it! 

Nothing says 'I want to talk with you more often' than giving someone a cell phone. And prepaid phones make it easy to manage costs and avoid the hassle of contract phones.

How Easy is it to Give a Cell Phone?

It is actually quite easy. There are two general decisions to make when buying a TracFone. The first is which phone to buy, and the second is what airtime cards or plans to get.

We will cover both below, starting with cell phone buying options.

Buying a TracFone

TracFones are available in many locations and are easy to find. Retail stores such as Walmart and Target sell  a few varieties of the phones and you can also buy directly from TracFone.com. Amazon is another internet location where you can often find TracFones on sale for less.

What can be challenging is choosing which phone to get. So we will provide a few options below to help give you some ideas. If you want to view more phone options, just visit TracFone.com and browse their phone selection.

LG 500G

LG 500g - One of the least expensive but most dependable phones from TracFone, this cell phone has a full QWERTY keyboard which makes texting easy and simple. This is a great phone for people of all ages, especially younger people. The small keys may make it hard for older people to use, but it is easy to get accustomed to and there is no bothering with learning to use T-9 or something else.

Financially, this phone makes a lot of sense typically priced at $20, and sometimes even less from Amazon. 

LG 840G

LG 840g - This is one of TracFones top of the line options. It is a touchscreen with a sleek appearance and great functionality. It includes 2GB of memory, and is 3G/Wifi enabled. It also comes with Triple Minutes for life, making this a great choice for those who might use their phone more often. 

This phone is typically priced well under $100, and can be purchased through Amazon with minutes included for a good deal. This is another option that almost anyone can enjoy and use.

For more phones and reviews by us, visit our Cell Phone Reviews page!

Buying Minutes for your TracFone

Getting minutes for a TracFone is quite simple to do. There are two prepaid options: pay as you go minute cards or monthly installment plan.

Pay as you go means you buy minute cards and load them onto the phone, giving you anywhere between 60-800 minutes and 90-365 days of service, depending on which card you buy.

Monthly Installment plan means that you pay each month for 30 days of service, and a certain number of minutes to use that month.

The monthly installment plan offers simplicity, and is very financially enticing. Plans can be as low as $10 a month for 50 minutes.

1 Year and 400 Minutes

The pay as you go option simply means you buy airtime cards whenever you need them. Talking on the phone more this month than you usually do? Just buy an extra card and load the minutes on your phone.

Pay as you go is convenient because you can get a 1 year/400 minutes of service card for less than $100 and  not need to worry about the phone for the whole year! If at any time the phone starts to run low on minutes, you can just get more from many stores and even online.

What about Activation and other Quesitons?

Activating a new TracFone follows simple steps and can be completed in less than an hour! For those who might want to use an existing phone number, that can also usually be done at no extra cost.

For other questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Interested in more information? Visit our Overview of TracFone page for more info.

LG 840G Review - Tracfone

A Newer Phone From TracFone with 3G and WiFi

This review from de9w2dsl covers the LG 840G.

The LG 840G is a touchscreen phone from Tracfone that offers a smartphone feel and look but with a no-contract prepaid cell phone.

It is basically a much improved LG 800G with only a slightly higher price tag.

Many people agree that the LG840G is Tracfone's best offering yet (excluding the recent smartphones), with a handful of great features that give this phone a similar feel to other smartphones on the market. But be aware this phone does not compare with top of the line phones from other major contract companies.

Tracfone has recently released four actual Android powered Smartphones. Follow the links to read our review of each one:
LG Optimus Dynamic
Samsung Galaxy Centura
Huawei Glory
ZTE Valet

LG 840G Features and Specs

This phone has most of the standard Tracfone features, but also includes several useful features worth spending a little extra for.

White LG 840G

• Triple Minutes for Life
• Mobile Web
• Media Player
• 2.0 MP Camera/Video
• Hands Free Speaker
• Voice Recorder
• Wall Charger
• 3-4 day normal use battery life
• 3G and WiFi Connectivity
• 2GB MicroSD Card
• About the size of an iPod Touch or iPhone

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 840G from Tracfone

Let's begin with the Likes:

There are quite a few features for the LG 840G that make it a very worthwhile upgrade from other phones. 

Triple Minutes for Life means that if you add a 60 minute card, you would get 180 total minutes! (and don't forget to use a promo code!) 

The battery life is advertised to last 4hrs of constant talk time, or 13 days on standby. Users have determined that with normal use, the battery lasts an impressive 3-4 days.

Large view of LG 840G

Another big plus for this phone is the included 2GB MicroSD card. On previous phones such as the LG 500G or 530G, one would have to buy a MicroSD card separably in order to use the Media player or store more than a small amount of data on the phone. But the LG 840G delivers with it's included MicroSD card. 

Finally, one of the best features for the 840G is the 3G/WiFi. When connected to WiFi networks, such as in your home, at work, or other locations with free WiFi, browsing does not deduct from your prepaid minutes. This makes it possible to actually use the Mobile Web without draining your prepaid minutes in a hurry. 

Additionally, the previous standard minute rate for web browsing of .5 units per minute has been changed to a ratio of actual data used, instead of time spent online. This also makes web browsing more economical than in the past.

New - Check out our post on How to Install Google Maps on the LG840G

Dislikes for the LG 840G

This phone does a good job of correcting a lot of the Dislikes we had about previous Tracfones. The included SD card, WiFi connectivity and Triple Minutes for Life leaves only a small handful of possible dislikes, which we will quickly mention here.

The phone runs a java based proprietary operating system which allows the installation of .jar apps, and is not a smartphone. This means that android apps etc. won't work on this phone. But, with a little effort, apps such as Google Maps can be installed on the phone.

Another interesting dislike is the QWERTY keypad that appears when texting or entering a web address. The problem occurs when one navigates to a website that has open text areas for entering information (such as registering for a website). No keypad appears and so it is impossible to enter any information. Using a different browser such as Opera Mini, is one way to get around this problem. Hopefully this issue will be addressed in the near future.

Finally, it is important to mention again that this phone is a good phone, with some great features and a good price, but it doesn't run on a standard OS, like Android for example.

If you are interested in a great phone with a QWERTY keypad, consider the LG 530G.

Overall Opinion and Review of the LG 840G

The LG 840G is stylish, modern and faster than previous Tracfone mobile phones with the feel of an iPod touch or iPhone. It provides plenty of useful features such as the microSD card, WiFi, and Triple Minutes for Life.

This phone is a great upgrade from other Tracfones, but those who are thinking of switching from a contract smartphone to the LG 840G may be a little disappointed with some of the limitations.

You should really check out Tracfone's Android Smartphones if you are looking for features and the ability to use apps.

Tuff Silicon Cover for LG 840G

The cellphone retails for $59.99 most places, with occasional sales at various locations. However, it can sometimes be found for much less from Amazon (last check it was $40 w/ free shipping!)

With any touchscreen phone, covers and cases are very valuable in protecting the phone from scratches or other damage. Here is a link to LG 840G Covers on Amazon with lots of options to suit anyone's needs and preferences.

Looking for more info on other phones? Check out our other Tracfone Reviews

Leave a comment with your thoughts or questions, and be sure to browse all the comments below, as there are plenty of great tips and answers there!

To iPad Mini...or Not!

Let's talk iPad Mini...

The iPad has gone from a “why do I need” this device, to a “I can’t live without it” device in an incredibly short period of time.  Now with the release of the iPad mini, your choice has been made all the more complex.  With this blog posting, I hope to make your decision on which iPad mini to purchase, just a little bit easier and more enjoyable.  It is truly an amazing device!

The mini does not skimp on features

The mini is considerably more compact than it cousins, iPad 2 and the New iPad, coming in at just above 7 inches. It weighs in at a svelte .68 pounds for the wi-fi only version, and 0.69 pounds for the wi-fi + LTE. The screen resolution on the mini has left me scratching my head.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am very happy with the iPad 2‘s screen resolution of 1024 x 768,  however, given that Apple has had a retina display available on the iPhone since last year, (it’s graphics come in at 1136 x 640) and the New iPad since earlier this year, (the New iPad graphics come in at 2048 x 1536!)  it is  disappointing that the mini’s display only matches that of the iPad 2, coming in at half that of the New iPad, in my opinion, an strange step backwards. 

Because Apple choose the lesser display, they also went with a lessor processor.  Like the iPad 2, it comes with Apple’s dual-core A5 processor.  The iPad mini also comes in two flavors,  wi-fi or wi-fi + LTE (4G’s, successor, stands for  Long Term Evolution, which is the fastest connectivity currently offered by the major carriers). If you choose to go with the wi-fi + LTE, as with the iPhone and new iPad, you have your choice of carriers, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint (new to the iPad). As they did with the iPhone 5, Apple has chosen to cover the back of the iPad mini in black slate or silver. Like it’s iPad cousin, the New iPad, Apple put a FaceTime HD camera on the front, and 5 megapixel camera on the back that records HD Video. Finally, the iPad mini would not be complete without my dear friend, Siri.  Apple has stuck to their guns and made the mini available in the same three storage capacities as the iPhone and the previous iPads, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The iPad mini is compact, it’s extremely light, has nice resolution, a nice camera, and excellent battery life, and can be yours, starting at only  $329 (16GB wi-fi only version). 

So which one should you purchase?  Continue on and I try to break it down to help you make your decision a little easier.

How do you plan on using your mini?

So, I’ve provided you with the specs, now YOU need to ask yourself,  how would you plan on using your iPad mini? Do you create, read, play, watch, all of the above?  The thing to think about is which one you do the most, or plan to do the most. Try this for size,  give a percentage to each category, for example, 50% of the time I find myself reading on my iPad, 25% of the time I catch up on the latest TV episodes of Son’s of Anarchy, 5% of the time I’m playing  games, and the other 20% of the time I’m actually creating something (document, presentation, movie etc).  Understanding the power of the iPad, is crucial in deciding whether the iPad mini is the right choice for you.

Now, take the features of the mini, and how you plan on using it, and see if it makes sense for you.  In the previous paragraph, the majority of my fictitious usage went toward reading (50%). With that in mind, I again looked  at what the mini has to offer. It’s compact, light, fits comfortably into my hand.  I can easily hold it as if it were a book, it fits my briefcase, and if I owned one, it would fit very nicely into my purse.   Finally, match the other features with how you plan on using your new mini.   You may surprise yourself  and find that mini has more to offer than you originally thought.  

There it is folks!

Apple has spoken!  They have made it crystal clear (in their minds at least!) that there is an iPad for everyone. Are you an the iPad mini, iPad 2, or New iPad with Retina display? Apple would like nothing more than to see at least one iPad in the hands of everyone. Coming in at $329, there is a lot love about the iPad mini.   It’s a smaller, lighter version, of the incredibly  popular full size iPad.   I hope this helps make your decision easier, if not, feel free to contact me via email at geoff@themacmentor, if you still need some help making your decision.  Have fun!

TracFone Review - LG 530G

A Newer Phone with Great Features

LG 530g from Tracfone

The LG 530G from TracFone is similar to the LG 500G but with a few upgrades and the biggest bonus, Triple Minutes for Life.

This phone has a good feel with a full QWERTY keypad and large screen it offers great functionality whether you want to call, text or surf the web.

LG 530G Features

The LG 530G is fully equipped with all the typical cell phone features one would expect and with good battery life and Triple Minutes, it is a very appealing prepaid phone.

• Triple Minutes for Life
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• Mobile Web Surfing
• 1,000 entry Phone Book
• 1.3 MP Camera/Video Recorder
• SMS and MMS Picture Messaging
• MP3 Player (Cables and Micro SD cards not included)
• Hands-Free Speaker
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
• Voicemail, Call Waiting, and Caller ID
• Voice/Sound Recorder
• Alarm Clock
• Battery talk time up to 3.8 hours
• Standby time up to 6.3 days
• Includes Battery, Charger, Activation Card, Services Guide and User Manual

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 530G

Let's begin by looking at Tracfone Reviewer's LIKES about this phone:

Some of the best features for this phone are the QWERTY Keyboard, MP3 player, Triple Minutes for Life, and overall sleek appearance.

The full QWERTY keyboard (which means it has a button for every letter in the alphabet, like a computer keyboard) is easy to get used to and makes texting much faster. No more hitting the numbers multiple times to get a text message written, every letter has its own button and makes texting simple for anyone.

The MP3 player is a convenient feature that allows you to download songs via TracFone (for a price) or add your own songs to the phone. The songs can be played through the headphones attached to the standard headphone jack, or through the speakers which are decent.

If you plan to use the MP3 player, be sure to buy a Micro SD card (up to 32GB) and a USB cable for the phone, as these are not included. (MicroSD cards are usually around $10 or less for a 4GB card, which is more than enough space for most people)

The included Triple Minutes for Life makes this phone an incredible deal. For every minute you add, you get 2 minutes free. So if you add a 60 minute prepaid card, you get 180 total minutes! This is the best deal TracFone has, and if you also use a Promo Code when adding your phone card, you will get even more free minutes!

Finally, the overall design of the phone is sleek and stylish - perfect for those looking for a phone they can enjoy everything about. It looks good and is easy to get accustomed to.

Time for a few DISLIKES about the LG 530G:

First of all, the phone does come with Mobile Web, but it is not all that great, and costs a lot to use. Few people use the Mobile Web feature, and it is not really necessary anyway. But if you are someone who likes to check email or Facebook from your phone, this might not be the phone for you.

Another dislike is that the phone does not come with an Micro SD card or USB cables. While not including these items does help keep the price down, it would be nice for the phone to come with them since it adds a lot to the overall functionality of the phone.

Overall this phone is a fantastic phone for those who like texting often and but still want to have a no contract prepaid phone. The Triple Minutes for Life is a huge bonus that makes this phone extremely reasonable to use.

Also, check out more Tracfone Reviews or read about How to Make your Prepaid Minutes Last Longer

Great Buying Option for the LG 530G:

This phone typically retails for $49.99 from most stores and on the Tracfone website. But it can be found on Amazon for closer to $30-35, a $15 to $20 savings!

View Amazon'z price for the LG 530G Prepaid Phone With Triple Minutes (Tracfone)

How to Test More than One TracFone Promo Code

How to Try More Than One TracFone Promo Code When Adding a New Card

Have you ever wanted to use a promo code, but you weren't sure if it would work? Or have you actually used one, but it was expired so you didn't get any bonus minutes?

Avoid missing out on these bonus minutes by using this simple method for adding a new phone card to your TracFone Prepaid Phone.

Enter Your Promo Code at TracFone.com and Test up to 3 Different Promo Codes!

Adding Airtime at TracFone.com

Here is how to try several different promo codes:

1. Go to Tracfone.com 
2. Click 'Add Airtime', then click 'Add Card Online' from the drop down menu.
3. This will bring up a menu where you can add the phone card pin, your phone number, and a promo code. 

If your first code doesn't work, a message will pop up and say that it is expired, etc. You are then able to try a different promo code.

You can try up to three promo codes. On the third try, whatever pin/promo code combination you have used will be processed. If that promo code is expired, then you won't get any bonus minutes. So always make sure the third promo code you enter is working.

You can end the transaction before entering the third promo code, allowing you to restart the process and not miss out on getting some bonus minutes!

Using this method allows you to try one or two codes that might be expired without missing a chance to get bonus minutes.

Be sure to check out our list of TracFone Promo Codes to find a few to try next time you add minutes to your phone!

You might also be interested in some of our other recent posts about Tracfone:
Tracfone GSM vs CDMA Phones - What's the difference and why its important for you to know.
The Best Tracfone Cell Phones - A list of the top 3 cell phones from Tracfone.
Tracfone BYOP - All the information on the new 'Bring Your Phone to Tracfone' program including requirements and a compatible phone list.
Summer Sales and Great Deals - Read our pick of 5 top deals on Tracfone cell phones.

Thanks for visiting, leave a comment with any questions or thoughts.

Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Plan

What is the Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone?

While many people buy a cell phone based on the features, coverage, ability to surf the web and other things, some people just want a cheap cell phone for backup, emergencies or because they want to save money.

Save A Big stack of coins with Prepaid

If you buy a cell phone from one of the major service providers such as Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile or any of the others, you will typically pay a few hundred dollars just for the phone, pay around $70 per month for service, and sign a contract that lasts 2 years.

You could be paying around $1000 a year just to use a cell phone.

While this does usually include unlimited talking, texting and web browsing, not everyone needs that.

Lets look at the extreme opposite end of the cell phone spectrum. What about a cell phone plan that costs less than $10 a month?

Cheapest Prepaid Plan - Less Than $10 a Month

Imagine paying $10 a month, or $120 a year for your cell phone. You could be saving $880 a year, or $1760 with a standard 2 year contract phone.

What would you do with $1760? We can think of lots of things! Like a new computer or TV.

So what is this prepaid plan? Well, it is very simple, and many of the major prepaid cell phone companies have plans that cost less than $10 per month. Some of the prepaid companies are Net 10, Straight Talk, Cricket, and Tracfone.

But Here at de9w2dsl, we are going to look at the options from Tracfone.

How to Pay Less Than $10 a Month for a Prepaid Plan:

If you are looking for a way to save money, but still have a cell phone, here is how to do it.

LG500g from Amazon

Tracfone offers several phones for $9.99. The 376g (click to read our review) is a simple but durable flip phone. It is an older model, so it might not be available everywhere. The Samsung S125G is another phone option from Tracfone that is a little newer.

Another option is the LG500g (click for our review!) with full QWERTY keypad, and many other impressive features. It is currently on sale from Amazon for $9.99! It usually sells for $29.99 from Tracfone.


After you choose which cell phone, (and make sure it comes with Double Minutes) buy a 60 minute phone card for $20 from Tracfone.

Thus, you get a cell phone, 3 months of service, and 120 minutes (with double minutes) plus bonus minutes from a promo code, all for $30, which works out to $10 a month for the first three months, and about $6.65 for every month after that.

If 40 minutes a month is not enough, you can always purchase another minutes card, or even get the 120 minute card which costs $30 and comes with 3 months of service. With double minutes for life, that's 240 minutes for 3 months, or about 80 minutes a month, (20 per week) for $10 per month.

Tracfone offers some even better options with their Tracfone Family Value Plan. You can get 50 minutes a month and 30 days of service for $10 for the first person, and 40 minutes/30 days of service for only $6 a month for each additional person! To learn more, read our full Tracfone Family Value Plan review.

The Bottom Line - How Much Can You Save?

While some people do need to use their cell phones a lot for work or to keep in touch with needy friends or family, not everyone needs an unlimited plan from a major cell phone provider. 

The $10 a month plan described here works great for those who only make a few calls or texts a week.

For those who use their phone a little more often, there are plenty of prepaid options.

For example, a 200 minute phone card from Tracfone is $40. With a double minutes, that is instantly turned into 400 minutes for 3 months, or about $13 per month, for 133 minutes per month!

Perhaps it is time to start saving money, by looking at your prepaid cell phone options. Just think about what you could do with the money saved?

Interested in more money saving tips? Check out our article on How to Make your Minutes Last Longer!

Tracfone Review - LG 800G Touchscreen

The LG 800G Touchscreen phone from Tracfone with Triple Minutes for life

LG 800G from TracFone

This is a phone for anyone who likes the freedom of prepaid cell phones, but wants a touchscreen phone with a little more features.

The LG 800G is one of TracFone's more expensive phones at $50, but it delivers on features, performance, and overall value.

Check the end of this post to see where you can get this phone for closer to $15!

LG 800G - Features

The LG 800G comes with plenty of features as most phones usually do. Here are some of the most important features:

• Triple Minutes for Life
• Touchscreen
• Mobile Web Browsing
• 2 Mega Pixel Camera and Video recorder
• Speaker Phone
• 1000 entry phone book
• Voice Recorder
• Space for Additional Memory (Micro SD card, but does not come with purchase)
• Alarm Clock
• Wall Charger
• 3.06 ounces total weight 
• Good battery life - 8 days on standby
• Calculator with advanced functions

The triple minutes for life is a huge bonus to this phone making texting, calling, and surfing the web much more cost effective compared to other Tracfone options.

Likes and Dislikes for the LG 800G

This phone comes with several features that we really like - Triple Minutes for Life, 2 MP Camera and Mobile web.

Triple Minutes for Life means that for every minute of airtime you add, it will be turned into 3. So if you add a 60 minute prepaid card you will get 120 total minutes! And of course you will use a Promo Code to get a few extra bonus minutes!

The 2 Mega Pixel camera and video recorder is adequate for taking pictures or video if you don't have any other devices handy, and you can store these on the MicroSD card (which unfortunately is not included). Mobile web is also a nice feature for this phone, but it will cost you airtime.

What we were not such a huge fan about was the somewhat unresponsive touchscreen. While you can get used to it and some may even like it, for those who have used newer devices with modern touchscreens, it may be a little disappointing.

While the LG 800G does bring some great features, it is nowhere near a smartphone, so be aware of what you are actually getting for your money.

If you are looking for a phone with a few more features, like WiFi and a better touchscreen, you should deffinatly check out the newer, LG 840G and our full review.

Customer Reviews of the LG 800G:

Most people give the LG 800G a favorable review of 4 out of 5 stars.

Customers liked the size of the touchscreen, the ability to have a no contract smartphone, and the overall value of the phone with triple minutes.

Some customers thought that the LG 800G lacked the full functionality that other smartphones have, and the customer service was also not up to par.

The touchscreen is not always as responsive as users would like. However, the included Triple Minutes for Life is a great bonus for this phone.

Overall, the LG 800G from Tracfone is a very good value for the money. For those who have experience using Tracfone prepaid cell phones, it is a nice upgrade from many of their other phones. For those who have not used a Tracfone before, or don't have experience with prepaid cell phones, this might be a little challenging to get accustomed to.

You might find some of our other recent articles useful in shopping for a cell phone including:
Top LG cell phones from Tracfone
Top Samsung cell phones from Tracfone
The Best Tracfone Cell Phones

Update - Cheapest Place To Buy:

LG 800G on Amazon

Tracfone Reviewer suggests buying the LG 800G from Amazon, where the phone is currently on sale at a discounted price (last check it was on sale for $15!): Click the image to the right to go to see the phone on Amazon.

Want more Reviews? Visit our Cell Phone Reviews page!

Read our Overview of Tracfone for more information about prepaid cell phones

Gift Ideas for Teenagers - Prepaid Cell Phone

Christmas and Birthday Gift Idea - Tracfone Prepaid Cell Phone

While many teenagers might already have a cell phone, those that don't (and even 11 and 12 year old's) really want one.

Cell Phones - From Microsoft

Cell phones give a sense of freedom for teenagers. It also makes them feel more grown up because they are responsible for the phone.

Many parents face a problem; contract cell phones are expensive, and if the teenager somehow breaks or looses their phone, the parents are often stuck spending hundreds of dollars to get a replacement.

While unlimited call, texting, and data is fun, no teenager actually needs an unlimited plan. And while an iPhone or other smartphone is fun to use, few teenagers even need that.

Which is where prepaid cell phones become an inexpensive, and beneficial option.

Prepaid Cell Phone's have Several Great Benefits:

Giving a prepaid cell phone as a gift for a teenagers first phone has several valuable life lessons which many parents might not think of.

It teaches kids to manage prepaid minutes, be more responsible, and it is inexpensive.

A Prepaid Cell Phone Teaches Management Skills

With Tracfone, you buy minutes for the phone using minutes cards. The phone then has a certain number of minutes remaining on it.

As the teenager uses the phone for calling and texting, the balance of minutes will slowly be reduced. If the teenager calls all of his or her friends in the first few days of owning the cell phone, then the phone will likely run out of minutes very quickly.

This is where the learning happens. The teenager must learn to manage the minutes remaining on the cell phone, or be willing to buy extra minutes.

This management skill quickly transfers to managing money because it is the same principle. If the teenager gets $50 in their bank account for the month, but uses it all in the first few days then they will have to find a way to make more money, or just suffer being penniless for the rest of the month.

Cell Phones Teach Responsibility

When a teenager owns a cell phone, it teaches them to be responsible for it. They must make sure not to lose it, not to break it or drop it. If something happens to the phone, they must know it is up to them to fix the phone or get a new one.

Cell phones also tend to make a young kid feel older because they recognize the extra responsibility they are receiving when given a cell phone.

Prepaid Cell Phones are very Inexpensive

The final benefit of giving a prepaid cell phone as a gift to teenagers is that it is very inexpensive compared to other cell phone companies.

A good Tracfone cell phone is $10-$30 and available at many stores. Enough minutes to last a month can be purchased for $20 in store, or even online.

It can cost as little as $10 a month to own and sue a prepaid cell phone. And the great thing is, if more minutes are used, one can simply buy another minutes card.

Conclusion - A Great Gift Idea for Teenagers, or Anyone Else

Obviously contract cell phones have certain benefits for those who use their phone often or want certain features. But a prepaid cell phone makes a perfect gift for a young teenager, or anyone who doesn't have a cell phone.

It will teach them several valuable skills and help them stay connected with friends and family.

How to Make Your Prepaid Minutes Last Longer

Running out of minutes for your prepaid cell phone is no fun, so here are a few tips to help make those minutes last longer

5 Tips for Managing Your Prepaid Minutes

Use these practical tips to help control how fast your minutes escape from your cell phone. 

1. Always Use a Promo Code

When you add a new minutes card to your prepaid cell phone, always make sure you use a promo code to get free bonus minutes. 

Most promo codes give you 20-50 bonus minutes.

While 20 or 30 minutes does not seem like much, it actually does make a difference.

With 30 bonus minutes you can send 100 more texts, or enjoy a few longer talks on the phone. 

Check out our full list of updated Tracfone Promo Codes and find one to use next time you add minutes to your phone.

For some minute cards, like the 400 minute and 1 year of service card, you can get as much as 250 bonus minutes! That is a huge boost to your minutes, so go check out those promo codes!

2. Get a Phone with Double Minutes (or Triple Minutes!)

Double Minutes is a feature from Tracfone that doubles every minute you buy for your phone. So if you buy a 60 minute phone card, when you enter it you will get a total of 120 minutes.

Double Minutes comes on almost all Tracfone prepaid cell phone and is a must have. If you don't have it with your cell phone, we suggest you buy a Tracfone that has it. A new Tracfone cell phone with Double Minutes included can be as cheap as $10.

Some newer Tracfone prepaid phones have Triple Minutes included with the phone. If you are looking for a nicer phone, and are planning to use it often, we strongly recommend Tracfone's Triple Minutes phones. 

3. Don't Answer Calls from Telemarketers

While you might be tempted to answer every call you get, this quickly uses up your minutes. 

So check the phone number before you answer, and if it is unfamiliar  or from a 1800 number, think twice before answering it. 

It might just be a lot easier to listen to any message they leave, and then determine if it is worth your time. 

4. Don't Give Your Number Out to Everyone

Avoid as much as possible giving your number out online. Try not to post it on any websites, or when you signup for accounts unless it is required. 

The more often you give your number out online, the more likely it is a telemarketer will find it, and try to call you.

Also be careful who you give your number out to. If you are checking out at a store and they ask you for your number, think twice before giving it. Offer your email instead.

We are not suggesting you stop giving your number out to friends and family, that would eliminate the whole reason you got the cell phone! 

Just be mindful who you give your cell phone number out to, and if you think they don't really need it, then don't give it.

5. Know When to Text

Texting using Tracfone prepaid cell phones costs much less then a phone call, about .3 minutes epr text vs 1 minute per minute talking.

So when you just have a simple question or statement, try sending a text instead.

Do recognize that if you start carrying on a long conversation through text messages, you could probably have had the same conversation using less minutes if you had called.

So just be aware when sending a text is better than a phone call.

Interested in more information about Triple Minute phones from Tracfone? Check out our Tracfone Cell Phone Reviews Page!

Tracfone 376g Prepaid Flip Phone

A Good Backup or Emergency Cell Phone

The Motorola 376g is a flip phone prepaid cell phone from Tracfone.

It offers great durability, good battery life, and good value for the money.

376g from Tracfone

Durability

The 376g, and other models including the 370 and 375 Motorola versions, are older style flip phones with simple features, but great durability. 

In our testing, the Motorola 376g survived multiple drops from waist and head height onto concrete floor. The battery and/or back cover often came off, but once replaced, the phone worked perfectly.

The only damage sustained were small scratches and dings on the outside of the phone, which did not interfere with the use of the cell phone.   

This rugged prepaid phone also endured sustained abuse during 3 years of testing. The phone continued to function properly even after years of dropping and throwing of the phone. It also survived being dropped in water. 

Battery Life

Good battery life is a key benefit of flip phones which are able to turn off the screen when the phone is closed. 

The Motorola 376g has great battery life, lasting up to 15 days on standby. For average use, it lasts about 5-7 days when new.

The phone continues to have good battery life even after years of use. In our testing, even after 3 years, the phone still could last 48-72 hours on a charge with normal use.

Compared to many other phones currently available which last less than 24 hours after 6 months, this is very good.

Good Value

The Tracfone 376g is an older phone and typically has a reduced price in many stores. Although the Tracfone website lists the price at $20, de9w2dsl has seen it in-store for about $10.

Other versions of this phone, including most of the prepaid flip phones from Tracfone, are widely available and offer similar features and benefits.

This phone is a great deal for the money, but is a simple flip phone. For those looking for a more feature filled and stylish phone, consider reading about the LG 500G.

Emergency or Backup Phones

Tracfone flip phones make great emergency or backup cell phones because of their long battery life, rugged durability, and good value.

These prepaid cell phones are useful for anyone who might be without a cell phone when they need it. Maybe for a grandparent when they are away from their house, or perhaps for a backpacker. 

Technical Specs of the 376g from Tracfone

The Motorola 376g and similar versions offer calling, texting and camera. They also have phone books, downloadable ringtones, and internet access. 

While we would not recommend using the internet feature because of the cost, it is available for use to download pictures and songs.

Overall, this phone offers all the features of a simple flip phone that can be used for a variety of needs.

Read more Tracfone Reviews Here

What to do if You Drop Your Cell Phone in Water

Dropping Your Cell Phone in Water can Happen to Anyone

Maybe your phone fell into the toilet, or your friends pushed you into a pool, or even some water just splashed onto your cell phone, no matter how it happens, it can be a problem.

But with this simple guide, you might be able to save your cell phone from it's watery grave.

How to Fix a Cell Phone Dropped in Water

Cell Phone in Water By brokinhrt2

The first thing you should do is don't panic, and quickly grab your phone out of the water. Maybe it is in the pool, or a toilet, no matter where it is get it out of the water as quickly as you can.

1. Use a Towel to Dry it Off

Next, grab a towel, toilet paper or t-shirt and dry off the excess water on the outside. Don't worry about getting in between the keys, just get any water drops dried up.

2. Use your Vacuum Cleaner

Yep, that's right, if you have a vacuum cleaner, use it to suck out the moisture and water from the cracks on the phone between keys or the screen. Note: Don't use any heating devices like hairdryers because these can do more damage than good.

3. Take the Battery Out

Take off the back cover and the battery. Take off anything you can remove that covers the phone like a case or screen cover. Remove the SIM card, which is usually located next to the battery. If there is any water in these areas, dry it out with a paper towel and set these pieces aside on a paper towel.

4. Get a Bowl of Rice

Rice is a great at absorbing water, so get a bowl or Tupperware full of rice, and bury your phone in it. Let it say in there for at least a full day before removing it. The rice will slowly absorb any moisture from the inside of the phone and hopefully restore it to functioning condition. 

5. Try Turning it On

Once the phone has sat in the rice for at least 24hrs, take it out and check for any moisture. If it is still wet, then repeat the process. 

If it is dry, which it should be if you did the previous steps correctly, then replace the SIM card, battery and anything else you removed. Now, cross your fingers and turn it on. 

In our experience, this worked perfectly on a Tracfone prepaid flip phone that was dropped in a toilet. After a few days in rice, it worked just fine.

If your phone doesn't turn on for some reason, try charging the battery. We also had a phone go through a washing machine and it worked ok after a charge of the battery.

If your phone still does not work, then consider taking it to a electronics store, taking it apart yourself, or buying a new cell phone.

If your phone is totally dead, then check out Tracfone Reviewer's Cell Phone Reviews page where we have reviewed lots of great phones from Tracfofne

Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone from Tracfone

What is the Cheapest Cell Phone Plan?

Many people need a simple cell phone that can do basic calling and texting without the high price of the major cell phone carriers of AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

There are many different options for choosing a cheap cell phone plan, and a few different factors one should  be familier with.

Questions to ask When Buying the Cheapest Cell Phone Plan:

• How much talk/text do you need?
• Do you want any extra features like internet access or phone book.
• Do you want the cheapest phone, or good value for your money?

How Much Talk Time and Texting do you Need?

This is an important question to ask, how many minutes do you need each month? If you don't plan to use your phone very much; a few texts and phone calls a week, then the cheapest plan could be right for you.

Cheap Cell Phones Are Available, but Which One?

But if you want to make several longer calls a month, and 100 or more texts a month, then consider looking for the ability to buy minutes as you go or from a minutes card.

Tracfone sells minutes cards that range from 60 to 450 minutes for 3 months of service. This allows you to buy more or less minutes depending on how many you use in three months.

Also included on most Tracfone prepaid cell phones are double minutes for life, which doubles all minutes you add to the phone!

So if you add the 60 minute card, you will get 120 minutes total!

An average cell phone user who makes several phone calls a week will need about 100 minutes a month. A 120 minute prepaid minutes card ($30) from Tracfone with Double Minutes for Life, will provide 240 minutes every 3 months. If you add a promo code, you can get an extra 30-60 bonus minutes.

Check out our free promo codes to get bonus minutes every time you add a new minutes card!

This is the cheapest cell phone plan that Tracfone Reviewer has found, at about $10 or less a month. Obviously, if you use the phone only as a backup, you can get the 60 minute card and save even more.

Do You Want Extra Features on your Prepaid Cell Phone?

Do you want a plain flip phone that is bare bones or something with a few features to make using the cell phone easier?

If you are just looking for a prepaid cell phone that will be a backup phone or emergency phone, than the cheapest cell phone will be best for you. 

Tracfone sells several phones for $10 that have text messaging, simple features like a phone book and even cameras. But they won't have many features, and will look like a phone from 10 years ago.

But, for another $20, one can find several different cheap cell phones that have a variety of features. The LG 500G (Usually $30, sometimes on sale for $20 or less!) Has voice recording, MP3 playback, video and camera functions.

 Read the full review of the LG 500G to learn more about all the features.

Tracfone Reviewer suggest spending a little extra to get a better phone. We have found that while the cheapest cell phones are adequate for a backup phone, a better phone will make life much easier and at only $10 to $20 more, you can have a faster, newer phone.

Also be sure that whatever Tracfone you choose has Double Minutes for Life (which most do).

Do You Want the Cheapest Cell Phone, or a Good Value Cell Phone Plan?

Many people think they want to get just the cheapest cell phone plan they can find, but this has serious drawbacks.

Tracfone Reviewer has found that there are several different cheap cell phones and plans that are also a good value for your money.

Tracfone prepaid cell phones can be the cheapest cell phone option if used only a few times a month. The price per month will be less than $10 for service and minutes.

If you want to use your prepaid cell phone a little more often, but still want to keep prices low, a nice phone can be purchased for $30 or less and a 120 minute card with 3 months of service will average out to about $20 for the first three months, and $10 after that.

Consider the Tracfone Family Value plan (and read our review of it) where you can add several phone onto one plan, with the first phone costing $10 a month for 50 minutes, and all additional phones costing $6 per month for 40 minutes. All minutes are automatically added each month, and if you have a phone with double or triple minutes, then you get 100 to 150 minutes!

There are cheap cell phone plans available, and almost anyone can afford $10 a month especially for the security and comfort a cell phone can offer.

Got Questions? Leave a comment!

Now check out Tracfone Reviewer's pick of the Best Cell Phones from Tracfone for Texting!

Tracfone Review - LG 500G

The LG 500G is Fast, Feature Equipped, and a Great Value

The LG 500G from Tracfone is a prepaid cell phone with full QWERTY keypad and follows a blackberry in its styling. 

It does not have any flipping or sliding parts which often have a tendency to break or malfunction. 

The LG 500G is faster than many Tracfone prepaid phones, especially older phones such as the Motorola W376G.

Tracfone LG 500G 

Texting and navigating through the menu and options is quick and fluid. Texts are sent fast with a notification box that flashes on the screen to say thy have sent.

The Tracfone LG 500G also has plenty of features to keep anyone busy.

LG 500g Features:

• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• 1.3 Megapixel Camera and Video Recorder
• Voice Recorder
• Mobile Web
• MP3 Player (cable and microSD Card not included)
• 2.2 inch LCD Color Display
• Hands Free Speaker
• Keypad Lock
• 1,000 Entry Phone Book
• Alarm Clock
• Long Battery Life - 9 days on standby, 4-5 with average use
• Includes Double Minutes for Life
• Cell Phone Charger
• Thin Design - Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.7 x 0.9 inches (3 ounces) 

The Tracfone LG 500G does not have all the capabilities of a smartphone from Verizon or AT&T, but it brings plenty of features that offer great functionality for this phone.

What de9w2dsl Thought about the LG 500G

What We Liked about the Cell Phone:

Great variety of useful features. The keypad lock, alarm clock, hands free speaker, large phone book, and qwerty keypad are all great and very useful.

LG 500G

Slim and sleek design that looks good and fits easily in a pocket.

Camera, video, and voice recording nice to have and work well enough. But don't expect to take high resolution pictures of beautiful mountain scenery with this camera phone.

The LG500g has fantastic battery life compared to most other cell phones, especially smartphones. Tracfone advertises a 9 day battery life on standby mode which seems easily possible. In de9w2dsl's testing, the phone lasts 4-5 days when used normally (a few texts/calls everyday and use of alarm clock and other features throughout the day). 

Many smartphone batteries only last 2 days when new, and some become reduced to a 12 hours of battery life after a few months of use. But the LG 500G still lasts 4-5 days after 12 months of use.

And our last big like about the LG 500g is that you can find, and download for free lots of games from websites such as MobileRated.com. These games aren't super fancy, but they are fun and will keep you, or others entertained!

What We Did Not Like about the Cell Phone:

While the LG 500G is a fantastic phone, there are a few things de9w2dsl did not like about it.

The biggest issue we had is that the internet access button is easy to accidentally push and each time you do that it costs 0.4 minutes. 

There is no way to change what this button does, so you will be accidentally hitting this quite a bit while you are getting used to the button layout. 

It can be very frustrating to see several minutes of service be burned by accidentally hitting the internet button, but one does get used to it. We have found that using key-lock does a good job at avoiding accidentally hitting the internet button or dialing someone while the phone is in your pocket. 

One does get used to the key configuration relatively quickly, and stops accidentally hitting the internet button.

What we wish the Tracfone LG 500g would allow would be to change what the internet button does, so that it isn't accidentally pushed.

While on the topic of the LG500g's Mobile Web, it is worth mentioning our dissatisfaction with it. It burns through minutes quickly surfing the internet on the Mobile Web, and isn't very good. But no one should be getting this phone with an expectation of surfing the web from it.

Overall, the Tracfone LG 500G is a great buy at its regular price of $29.99. It can sometimes be found for even cheaper prices, both in stores, on the Tracfone website, and most often on Amazon

View our other Reviews of Tracfone Cell Phones

de9w2dsl - A Blog Bringing the Best and Cheapest Prepaid Phones to light

de9w2dsl is a blog that will provide useful information relating to prepaid cell phones and plans from Tracfone.

The goal of de9w2dsl is to share clear and simple reviews of Tracfone products to help consumers make a better decision when choosing a cell phone and service provider.

Today, there are many different cell phone options ranging from unlimited talk, text and data smart phones, to international cell phones. These plans can be hugely expensive and some people are only looking for a simple prepaid phone that won't break the bank.

Tracfone is one of several prepaid cell phone companies that offers good value for your money with simple, easy to use cell phones.

This blog is written based on first hand experience using tracfone prepaid cell phones and services. de9w2dsl hopes to provide you answers to your questions and concerns regarding buying a prepaid cell phone.

If you have any questions or comments, leave 'em in a comment.

-de9w2dsl Team