One day when you finally found reason why you want a cell phone, but a few months later you are fed up with having to keep on going to a nearby store and buy a card every time you run out of minutes. You get so mad that you want to throw your phone away. Don't even think about doing that yet because there is a solution that will not only remove your fustrations, but could save you money.

This can be a hard task (if under 18) because it depends on what kind of parents you have. What you need is a prepaid card (not the ones you get for your phone). The prepaid card I'm talking about is the ones you can take to any atm machine (or any store) and use it as a debit card. Yes, to use it, you can be at any age. Want to know the hard part about getting it? Here it is, if your under 18, you need your parents social security number. You can add your own social security number, but they will ask what your age is. No, you can't lie about your age because not only that is illegal, but the company of the prepaid card service can give you VERY SERIOUS CONSINQUENCES. How you can get one is by going to a drug store (e.g. Walgreens) and look where they would sell prepaid cards (I hope you got parential permission first). I got a prepaid card over at Walgreens and they offer Green Dot Visa or Green Dot Mastercard. You will need to have a minimum put in your account (for Green Dot, it is $25.00). At Walgreens, they don't take any personal information whatsoever. A cashier will activate the temporary card by scanning it. You're still not done yet.

When you get home after you buy a prepaid card, you will have to call the phone number or connect to the website the prepaid card service gives you to participate in their prepaid service (faster if done over the internet). Now this is when your going to need your personal information. If you signed up online under the age of 18, your parent\guardian is going to have to call the company to give their social security number (good luck!). After everything is done to have a prepaid card, you will have to wait between 3-7 business days to receive the permanent prepaid card. When you get it over the mail, you'll might have to activate the service again. I know it sounds pretty retarded to get your parent's social security, but they are required to do that, ONLY BECAUSE OF 9\11 (You are probably asking why it would have to deal with 9\11? I asked myself that same question. Don't ask me why, thats the way the government works)

After you received the card, now this is where the fun begins. Whenever you need more minutes, all you have to do is have the card with you, call your wireless service provider, and ask them to put minutes on your phone, using your card (Note: You will have to ask them if they accept Debit Visa or Debit Mastercard). ((I forgot to note when I originally made this guide that in most places where you use the card, it is recommended that you purchase a state id from a nearby DMV office. In order for an associate to know that you are the person named on the card, you will need some form of identification issued in your state!))

Want to go to the money saving portion of using the card, I recommend switching to Cingular's Pick Your Plan. Not only that you can be any age to do it, but you can use your prepaid card. It's like getting an annual plan (pay monthly), but you are in no commitment and there are no taxes or hidden fees. It's even like a Pay-as-you go plan, but you don't have to keep buying minutes everytime you run out. You can also use a checking account or a credit card, but you cannot able to use your savings account! You get more minutes, but your paying less.
The lowest rate they have is $29.99 a month, but you get 200 minutes for 15 cents a minute (they also have other rates that also includes limited or unlimited Night and Weekend minutes) versus a pay as you go where for you to get only 50 minutes when you pay that much for 25 cents a minute. ((When you do this, you will need your identification number issued in your state))

Getting the Green Dot Prepaid card and Cingular's Pick your plan is the way to go. You will have to go find their website yourself since I'm not allowed to have links outside of eBay.