You can buy the older Kyocera phones that Virgin Mobile uses on eBay. Cost is under $50... sometimes only $10 or so. Then refill with $20 every three months or less and you have no other costs. All calls are the same price so doesn't make any difference what area code the phone has. If you want it for 2-3 months every year, keep the phone and reactivate it next year when you need it again.