So you don’t want to talk to your next door neighbor or your dog as you grocery shop? You don’t want to try to look important while you ignore business people or restaurant workers or others completely deserving of a bit of politeness? You’d rather not have everyone in your life able to reach you no matter where you are or what you’re doing? But you would like to have a cell phone for emergencies?
Check this out: Virgin Mobile. Yes, it looks like it’s for kids–but that’s because they’re marketing to kids, since it’s CHEAP. But it WORKS. This is where I got my cell phone. They’ve got the expensive ones, with all the bells and whistles, but they’ve also got basic phones for–I think I paid $20, and it’s got all the features I need or want. It even has stuff I never expect to use, not being a fan of video games in any form. And I pay–you’re not going to believe this–an average of $5 a month.
You have to remember, though, that amount is with a bare minimum of use. You have to “top up” every three months, even if you have money on it (it’s pre-paid) to keep your phone active. I use mine maybe twice a month, and I’ve got over $50 on it. Though now that I discovered I have text messaging, I will be using it more. That’s okay. It’s $.10 to send, and nothing to receive. And if you do need more time–you can top up from your phone, from a top-up card bought at nearly any grocery store, online–it really, truly is hassle-free. I love this service.
And you can tell people, “Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency, I don’t have one of these $100 a month just in case plans. Just text me.”