There comes a time in every family where the children in the family begin asking for a cell phone. Many parents struggle with this as cell phones can get expensive yet the benefits of always being able to reach your child and additional safety net that a cell phone gives a child are things that many parents want.

If you’re at the point where you are looking for a cell phone for your child, you have probably seen the phones designed specifically for kids. These phones are often simple and many only have a few buttons that allow the user to call pre-set phone numbers. These phones certainly reduce the risk of your child accidentally calling China for three hours, but many older children and teens will want a fully functional phone. At some point, your children will be ready for a real phone and it often makes sense to start them off with a real phone, especially if you can find a good price on one.

We all know that cell phones can be extremely expensive. Many children do not understand how expensive it can be to have a cell phone and pay for the plan with the provider and children are much more likely than adults to lose or break a nice phone. This creates a problem for parents looking for a phone for their kids because they don’t want to pay a lot for a phone that will inevitably get lost or broken. What many parents forget to think about, however, is that they can find a good deal on refurbished cell phones for their children that will hurt the bank account much less when the phone is broken or lost. You can find phones for any cellular provider in the used market with a simple internet search, such as “used Verizon phones.”

With something fancy, like a used blackberry your family will be able to take advantage of all the fancy bells and whistles that are popular today. Things like GPS capabilities can come in handy in emergencies and almost all teens will want to be able to stay in touch with friends via text messaging. Older children will also appreciate phones with features like cameras and the ability to play music.

Giving a child a phone with full functionality gives many parents concerns about surprises showing up on the bill. If you are really concerned, you can get your child a phone on a pre-paid plan or you can use the parental controls offered through most providers to block your child’s access to things like internet browsing and game or ring tone downloads. When the right amount of research and shopping around is done, families on any network can find something like a cheap used tmobile cell phones (or Verizon, AT&T, etc.)for their child that gives the kid more functionality from their phone than a kiddie phone but also allows parents to monitor and block certain features and applications.

Are you one of those people that likes to keep up with the latest technology? A ‘smart phone’ offers many bells and whistles over traditional cell phones, including GPS, the ability to send and receive email, surfing the internet, watching movies or other videos, and listening to music. You may choose a smart phone because it offers business productivity advantages, or because of its entertainment value. You may also want a smart phone because it is the latest and greatest cell phone technology available. While all the extras are nice to have, they usually result in a much higher price tag for smart phones over other cell phones.

Smartphones like the Blackberry, iPhone, and Palm Treo are probably the most popular models. When newer versions of these phones are released, you’ll often see people willing to wait in line for hours so that they can have one. These phones also usually keep their “top-of-the-line” status for months after their release, meaning that cellular carriers often never put them on sale.

To get a smart phone without the high price tag, consider an alternative option, like a used Verizon blackberry. It is only a myth that smart phones have to be bought through wireless carriers. Numerous third party vendors carry a wide selection of used cell phones, including smart phones, that can be purchased at discounted prices.

Buying a refurbished phone is another excellent way to get a nearly-new phone at a substantial savings. Refurbished cell phones are those that are returned for various reasons. Usually, they are still covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty. They have been carefully looked over to ensure quality. Some may never have been used at all and the phone must be sold as a used cell phone. If the package has been opened, the phone can no longer be sold as new. These used cell phones and iPhones offer all of the reassurances of buying a new phone, without the high cost.

A used cell phone can usually be found in numerous places once a particular model has been available for a while. Some of these phones will look like they’ve only been used 3 times while others will show a bit more wear. Look for a used phone that comes with a warranty.

Finally, if you can find a smart phone that is unlocked, you’ll be able to take advantage of going the used route even more. Unlocked phones are able to be activated on several different networks, meaning that if you can find a great deal on an unlocked used Sprint Blackberry, you’ll be able to take advantage of the good price even if you operate on a different network, like Verizon.

Whether you buy your cell phone new, or opt for a used or refurbished phone, sooner or later you may want accessories, like headsets, cases, or AC adapters. You may also find that your battery life is slowly growing shorter and shorter, in which case you may want to replace the battery rather than the whole phone.

If you need a case for your phone, remember that a lot of phones fit in to numerous cases. Although there may not be a case made specifically for your phone anymore, chances are you can find a case for a different model that will fit your phone. If you strike out there as well, check sites online, such as eBay or Craigslist for people selling used cases made for your phone. The benefit here will be additional cost savings.

Probably the most common accessory to purchase for a cell phone is a hands-free device that allows you to talk on the phone without holding it up to your ear. These have risen in popularity as many states have implemented laws making it illegal to drive and talk on the phone without one of these devices. Bluetooth headsets allow you to do this without any additional wires and the most convenient, but only work on Bluetooth enabled phones. If this is what you are searching for, make sure you shop for a phone that has Bluetooth technology. If your used blackberry does not have Bluetooth, you can get a hands free system that resembles a set of ear-bud headphones. The advantage here is that these systems are often much cheaper than Bluetooth headsets but offer the same kind of functionality.

Finding replacement batteries and accessories for refurbished cell phones may be a little trickier than finding these items for a phone you purchased new, because they are usually specific to that model of phone. In some cases, the same battery will work on a number of similar phone models, but even this is rare. If the phone is no longer being sold by the dealer or company, then the accessories may not be sold new either. In that case, you can look online or locally for used replacement parts.

Phone chargers (A/C adapters) are also a concern. Anyone who has had a dead battery and been away from home has likely realized that most chargers only work on a specific model of phone. This means that you won’t be able to purchase a charger from a different model than your phone if you plan on actually charging your battery. If you need a new charger for your used cell phone, check with the manufacturer to see what options you have, or look in your local Radio Shack type store that stocks a wide range of “universal” chagers with adapters for multiple phones.

Any time you need a replacement part, make sure you get the part number from the manufacturer. Manufacturers may also have a list of other phones that have parts that are compatible with your phone, which can be helpful if accessories for your phone are hard to find. So, if you need a new charger for your refurbished Verizon phones, check with Verizon for information about part numbers and other compatible parts before beginning your search. Finally, make sure that the replacement parts and accessories you get are authentic. There are a number of counterfeits out there that can hamper the performance of your phone. Having the exact part number that you need goes a long way in finding the exact part that you need.