This phone is around $750-600 without a contract

Full retail price

I believe between, $600-$700.

With the Verizon Edge plan I only paid sales tax on the phone at time of purchase (about $35) an installment of $30 has been added to my monthly bill to pay off phone. The phone outright is approximately $750 from what I have seen .

You can't do it like that and not spend $500 or $600 on the phone which isn't wise. I signed up for Verizon Edge plan and it is months to month for service and you make monthly payments on the phone. This phone is $30 mo. You can pay off early, or upgrade after 60% or so of phone is paid, about 15-18 no. It works out a little less a month and right now you get extra 1G of data free. I never use close to data cap though cause the wireless on this phone works great.

Personally, you might want to look into the edge plan. it's similar to prepaid in the sense that there is no contract and you can get the phone at a cheaper price than if you were to buy it out right. I also heard that not all towers are utilized whenever you go through their prepaid plan, but the EDGE plan does utilize all towers. And EDGE also offers bring your own phone if you find one cheaper.