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A Virgin Mobile Custom Phone and Plan is the Perfect Present for Kids

#Sponsored #SprintMom #CustomMom #MC

October 30, 2014
I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Sprint. I received a device to facilitate my review. 

Your parents and grandparents may have told you "when I was your age" stories and you may or may not have thought how archaic they are - well, that's how I feel now when seeing the difference from my childhood and my daughter's. I got my first computer when I paid for it, with my own money, from working part-time, at the young age of 17! My daughter... well, she's been on the computer since she was 3, and actually learned to read through on-line programs at 4. Similarly, I got my first cell-phone when I was able to pay for it myself at the age of 19 - and now my daughter has her own cell phone, at the ripe-old age of 9!


Times have changed, and we have to change along with it. Luckily, businesses like Virgin Mobile and Sprint make it affordable to do so. Virgin Mobile runs on Sprint's reliable service, and offers several types of phones and plans for every budget and need. Because my 9 year old doesn't need all the bells and whistles that come along with many phones and plans, we found the perfect fit with the LG Pulse ($79.99), and the Virgin Mobile Custom Plan (Starting at $6.98) available only at Walmart.  


Obviously I love the price - it's an affordable gift for a child's Birthday, or Christmas (hint, hint) - there's also a $59.99 (ZTE Emblem) and a $129.99 (LG Unify) phone under the Virgin Mobile Custom Plan. I also love the low monthly rate, although I added more options (ie. more minutes, and more text messages) and my rate increased to $15.48, which is still quite affordable. It's affordable enough for my daughter to pay for it herself with her allowance! Ha - now I have a way to ensure that she always does her chores and get good grades! 

I also love that it's no-contract and it's pre-paid. If my daughter, either now or in the future needs to be punished or grounded..I can take away her phone for a month, and not have to feel bad about paying for unused service. Similarly, instead of taking the phone away for the whole month, I can decrease how many text messages, minutes, data, and social media she's allowed to use, for that week, 2 weeks, or the month, and I will get refunded the difference! And if I need to add more of those options because she's going on a class trip or a friend's house for the weekend, or I want to reward her, I can do so as well - all instantaneously with a swipe. I can control these options on her phone, or even on my own phone, which doesn't have to be a Virgin Mobile or Sprint phone, by downloading the free app! - so I'm always in control! 

For my daughter's plan, I chose to only go with minutes and text messages, as she doesn't need social media and data at this time, being only 9 years old. Most of the games and apps (some educational, some fun) we downloaded for her can run without the internet. BUT the phone connects to Wi-Fi so she can connect at home to download and update her games, apps, kindle books, and music, and use Google for homework, all under supervision of course. If you did choose to give your kids access to social media, you can customize when they are allowed to use it (ie. 3pm-8pm) - how cool is that! No more using Facebook and Twitter during school hours or when they're supposed to be sleeping! 

I'm still discovering all the cool features of the LG Pulse (I think my daughter knows more than I do!). I love that for the messaging, my daughter can attach a location (to let me know where she is right now, good for teens!), a contact (so you know who she's with or who her friends are), a schedule, a memo, and much more. My mom (the grandma!) loves when my daughter sends her photos, videos, voice recordings and drawings - and each counts as just one message! 

One thing I'm a little disappointed in, is that there isn't an Otterbox case available for the LG Pulse, but my daughter has dropped this phone several times and still no cracks or scratches! - I'm sure our luck will run out soon, and with no insurance plan available, I do want a case. Amazon does have hard protective cases, starting at just $3.99, so I'm looking forward to ordering one soon! and I'm sure my daughter will have fun decorating and customizing the case, and we can get a bright pink one too. 

Virgin Mobile Custom phones can be found at your local Walmart. To learn more about Virgin Mobile you can find them on Facebook, and Twitter and via their Website.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt8PibXPRUc

A special thanks goes out to Sprint and Influence-Central for inviting me to the Virgin Mobile Custom Event! I received a LG Pulse Virgin Mobile Custom device to facilitate my review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I highly recommend this as a first phone for your kids and my 9-year-old agrees!