An unlocked phone is only really good if you want a certain phone that isn't offered by the service provider that you want to buy a plan from. Sure there are other reasons but nothing that a 14yr old girl would need or even care about.
Deemar is right about the contract's thing. It sounds more complicated than it is. Phone companies are evil, and they want your money and are willing to mislead you with complicated explinations to get it. My old phone cost less than $100 cause I signed on a 3yr term. My term isn't up yet, however that phone died. So in order to continue using the service I was paying for every month, I had to buy another phone at full price, which ended up costing me about $600 cause this new phone is freaking awesome, and awesome costs money
Though just a standard phone, used for calling and texting only shouldn't cost too much if you buy off contract.
