Pay as you go mobile phones

While some people consider pay as you go tariffs a pain in the neck, others swear by them. If you're not a heavy caller and you don't really use your phone that often, then pay as you go is a great option -- particularly if you don't want to be tied into a long contract.

If you're worried, however, that getting a pay as you go phone means picking up a cheap, plasticky handset, then fear not. Pay as you go has come a long way and you can easily pick up a good handset for a reasonable price.

Since there are so many pay as you go handsets to choose from, you'll want to read our reviews first to get an idea of which ones do what, but you should also make sure you get down to a shop and test them out yourself before you commit to buying. You might well find even better deals in-store than on networks' Web sites, too.

Depending on your needs, you might want to check out whether or not it plays music, has a camera, features an expandable memory slot, supports email and anything else that you want your phone to do.

Another tip is to make sure you check out what you're getting for your money. Pay as you go tariffs differ depending on what network they're on. Some networks give you free minutes and texts, while others offer free cinema tickets.

Finally, remember that most pay as you go handsets are usually locked to a network provider and therefore if you're about to buy a replacement for your old phone, make sure it's on the same network, otherwise you'll have to pay to get it unlocked.