Virgin Mobile's No Contract plan may be the way to go!

Tired of expensive phone bills and being stuck in a two-year contract? First cell phone plan but want an android? Virgin Mobile may be the way to go.

For a while, I was running off of Verizons' day-to-day phone cell phone service but it started getting expensive when I was commuting to Pittsburgh for my last job. My phone had died (meaning the battery) and Verizon couldn't do anything to help me because the phone was no longer being sold so I finally decided to switch services.

Many cell phone companies do carry no contract plans which is the route I wanted to go. My previous job was a one year term of service and at the time I had no idea what I was going to do after. So, sticking to a no contract was the best option for me.

I had shopped around; Cricket offers great unlimited plans starting at $35, however, if you wanted an Android, you were going to pay more for the plan. Also, depending on where you live, the coverage can be kind of iffy. At least that's what I've heard from people who have Cricket. Boost mobile is also a great source for no-contract. Their unlimited Android plans start out at 55 but after 6 on-time payments, it goes down to $50, and so forth after 12, and 18 on-time payments. That was great deal but at the time, their phones seemed pricy to me so I moved on.

I ended up going with Virgin Mobile. One of the great things I knew about Virgin Mobile was it was a no contract plan that ran off of Sprint's network. I was in Mingo Creek for a camping trip with my previous job and was still getting bars (signal) on my phone. At the time, I had an LG Optimus V, but this past December upgraded to an HTC One V because of the internal memory for the phone.

They have a great selection of phones including the iPhone (however, with no contract, you will pay more for the iPhone, warning!). I've had no problems with signal.

I, for one, mostly text and use the internet on my phone. I do use my minutes for calling but didn't necessarily need unlimited voice. Their plans start at $35 which includes, 300 minutes, unlimited text and data. $45 plan includes 1200 minutes, unlimited text and data, $55 includes unlimited everything. I have only ever ran over my minutes one time (I have the $35 plan). It was the day before my minutes were supposed to renew and since I had payed for my next month plan, they went ahead and let me start my plan a day early.

I do however warn you on a couple things. If you do go ahead and get the $35 or $45 dollar plan, do use your minutes as much as you can before the next month is due because it won't roll over. There is a fee of like a dollar I believe it's called e911 and of course tax so my bill comes out to like $38 and some change. Lastly, you know how if you're in a contract every so often you can upgrade? I just warn you, in no contract plans you can't (at least from what I've seen) However, you can usually find pretty good sales on the phones so keep that in mind.