***** Samsung A157 Go Phone: Unbeatable Price – Go For This Phone

This phone is totally awesome.  It is excellent for text based internet, like Facebook.  I totally love the T9Eab function, such that I find it more useful and quicker to use once (once you get used to it).  So for, cell phones that have a keyboard, generally I feel that once you get used to T9Eab, you will never want to go back.  Additionally, as a bonus with this function, you can add words to the T9Eab vocabulary.

It does have a small screen.  That can either be a bonus or a bane.  For me, personally, it's a bonus.

The A157 is also perfect for checking one's email.  I use Gmail, and here and there during most days, I use this phone to read my email.

Be warned though, there are some features of websites that this phone can't handle, such as buying at amazon.com.  If you use Amazon, then I recommend connecting with a computer with a larger screen.  Thus, though this phone can't buy via Amazon.com, it would probably not be good enough as a computer to use Amazon's functions anyway, and that is neither plus nor negative.   The reason being, size.  If you want a small phone, that is well constructed, and has some internet function capabilities, go for this phone!

I personally use my phone as an emergency phone, usually paying just $15.  I spend $5 for internet, and roughly $9 in emergency calls.  That is unbeatable!

The one thing I feel that is actually lacking with respect to the A157, is that it can't interface with say a laptop or a desktop to be a source of internet capability.  Yet, for $20, I still feel that you really can't beat the price of this phone for the functionality of it.

How to Get the Best Prices: Use Gmail

What it comes down to is this:  When we go shopping we need to keep track of prices.  Though prices seem to be ever changing, my experience is that if I keep track of store prices, usually I can get the best prices by shopping around at a few different stores.

If you have difficulty remember all the prices of stuff at stores, then you are not alone.  Few people can do it.  However, most of us have portable cell phones with internet capability.  So here is the secret: Don’t rely on a paid 3^rd party.  Instead, sign up for a free Gmail.com account.  If you have a Gmail account, you can count on this fact.  Google free mobile site, m.gmail.com will allow you access to your Gmail account even if you have the simplest of cell phones.

So if you want the best prices, take the following steps to getting the best value.

1.       Get a cell phone.  My cell phone is from AT(and)T.  It is an older model (in case you are interested, it is the first phone I reviewed at my Amazon.com account).

2.       Buy a data package for your cell phone.  For my cell phone $5 a month buys me more than enough power for me to use a Gmail practically all day long every day.

3.       Sign up for a free Gmail.com account.

4.       When you see an item you want, send yourself an email from your own account of that items price.  For example, if coffee is $4 a pound at the Christmas Tree Shop, send yourself the following email: “ChristmasTreeShop Coffee  $4 per pound.”  Then, when you are at Wal-Mart, or some other store, send yourself the following email: “WalMart Coffee $6 per pound.”

5.       Gmail lets you search all of your email.  I literally have thousands of emails that I can search.  So, after you have emailed yourself item prices, search your Gmail account.  For example, type: “Coffee” and the search engine for your Gmail account will turn up all the emails of prices you have sent yourself, such that you can make the most informed decision about your coffee purchase (or any other item).  For example, if CVS sells a multi-vitamin for a certain price.  Email yourself at Gmail: CVS multivitamin $20/100count.  Then, when you are at Ocean State Job Lot for example, and you see a multivitamin you like, email yourself, “JobLot multivitamin $15/100count.  Then, you can make price comparisons between various stores through inputting “Multivitamin,” in the search bar of your Google account.

6.       So, when you want to compare prices for coffee, open your Gmail account.  Search it for “Coffee” and all the emails that you have sent yourself relative to coffee prices will show up.  You will then be able to know which store is the best store to buy your coffee at.

7.       The next time you go shopping, before you go to the store, use your old emails using your Gmail account search feature so you can plot your shopping trip.  That is, make a list of where you might buy the item for the best value, the item you want to buy.

8.       Lastly, only send yourself new emails when the price changes.

It may take some work at first.  However, if you are willing to put in a little extra effort, you will be able to make your money stretch much further!