The joining credit already on this sim never expires, although as with all sim cards, you do have to make a call or send a text once around every 180days or the sim will be disconnected by the network.
The joining credit is in the extras section, to check dial 453, then select option 1.
You can use the credit for calls and texts and then either top up or throw away the sim if you like.
Sim card comes by itself, without packaging, books etc.