We're really tired of paying insane amounts on our phone bills, so DH suggested we switch to flip phones, and use tablets for internet/email. MOST places we have occasion to go to when we'd need internet have free wifi, and of course we have it at home, so I think it might work out. I already have a tablet, so he'd have to get one, and we might invest in a gps for the car if we're giving up google maps, but other than that it seems like it'd be a good way to save money. Has anyone tried this? I feel like it'd take a little time to get used to, but it could work. My only real concern is that texting (which we'd keep) is a pain on the old flip phones. Do they make a cheap little phone with a full keyboard? Anyone see any downsides that we're missing?
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We did this!! We kept our iPhones and use them (as well as our tablet) on wifi at home or if we're out somewhere that has it. We've saved quite a bit on our monthly bill and we have no regrets! We did it in summer of 2012 and its gone really well!
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You can get slide phones with no email access so it has a full keyboard. I have a friend in Chicago who has no data, he said everywhere has wifi so he's good that way. He uses an iPhone and just connects to the internet wherever he is.
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We have basic phones and don't really think we're missing much. I go for one with a full keyboard for texting..., but other than that and calls, I don't need my phone for much else. I have an iPad and DH has a Surface Pro.
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We switched to prepay and I have a simple Phone with a small full keyboard. Can't hold many messages and picture messaging is a joke, but we kept our smartphones to use on wifi like mini tablets. Phone battery on non smartphones last FOREVER which is great. I have been thinking of getting a prepaid smart phone though (since the plan is the same price). You should see if you can take your current phones to a prepay service (Virgin mobile, net10, metropcs, etc). Best of both worlds that way (unlimited everything plans are like $45).
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I have two friends that still use their smart phones (iphones), but just cancelled the data part to save money. Then you can still have stand alone apps and wifi and a good keyboard for texting on your regular phone
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Sounds like your plan would work. I only recently upgraded to a smart phone. I love it but I don't like how much time I end up staring at it.
How much will it cost monthly to implement your plan? I pay $30 a month for a pre-paid T mobile with unlimited text & data the catch is that it's only 100 minutes per month. I do the majority of my phone calls through google hangouts so it's not an issue for me.
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@Corduroy: I think it's $20/month per person, so $40/month. Right now we're paying like $80 per person. We couldn't do that plan because DH uses his phone for work and needs to be able to talk as much as necessary. I just need unlimited text, because I hate talking on the phone.
We were also thinking doing this might help some with kids these days expecting smart phones when they're in elementary school. If we don't even have them, maybe it'd be easier to help them understand why they don't.
Also, I don't think either of us realized you could just turn off data but still be able to use it when you have wifi. That would save on getting DH a tablet, since he has an iphone now.
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@Sapphiresun: @babycanuck: Using wifi only is a huge moneysaver, but be careful when browsing! You can have your logins stolen pretty easily that way, unless you have two-factor authentication turned on for the sites you're visiting!
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Yea we saved my old iphone rather then turning it in and DD uses it as a tablet now.
I just know there are lots of times I use mine in the car to google an address or something.
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We literally share a 90s style phone.
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I think I might do this if (when?) we move closer to my side of the family. I'm constantly texting photos/videos of LO to my parents now though.
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@Torchwood: If your iphones are unlocked you could go through Straight Talk. It's $45 a month for unlimited talk and text + 2.5gb data. That's what I do (with an unlocked 4s).
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K, I am doing this now, just never wanted to give in to the smartphone hype. Why spend all that money on data if I'm always home? Annoying thing is all the cell phone companies are trying to push everyone towards smartphones.
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We do this! We're not on the phone much, so the fees just don't make sense for us. I'd only ever use a smartphone to browse IG, but I have a iPad for that. Life is pretty slow paced around here, so I don't feel like we're missing anything.
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It's totally possible! We are techy in so many ways but never had smartphones until last month for budgeting reasons. I couldn't bear to lose my super cheap Sprint grandfather plan that had no data. Anyway, with smartphones I notice we barely use data or even call out but it's a convenience to have.
My Centro was really easy to text with and had a full mini keyboard. That was even slightly better than my iphone for texting, actually. Be careful...there are a ton of horrible flip phones with the way less than intuitive systems.
We bought a freestanding Garmin Nubi GPS (they are really cheap now) - it's awesome and rarely needs to be charged.
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Both mine and DH's phone is paid for by our workplaces- I think if we were paying the bill- we wouldn't have smartphones~
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