Do they work over there or is it just bill pay only, really only need to text each other over there, not overly important if I can't ring or text home. Btw hers is bill pay mine is pay as you go.
You can buy a basic phone in any Walmart for $39 - comes with $20 credit pre-loaded.
If you are not near a Walmart then K Mart at Penn Station(Madison Square Garden) had them during the summer for $40 (incl.$20 credit)