Geezer question about cell phone stuff

[showme]

I have a really embarrassing question to ask, and since I've always gotten good advice on here about my technical questions, I thought I'd ask you knowledgeable folks for an answer (Please promise not to laugh- I've searched the internet, and still can't figure this out). Ok, this has to do with my phone bill, and gigabyte usage, specifically. I, myself, refuse to get a "smart" phone, preferring my antiquated Samsung 'slider' (it even takes pictures!!) dumb phone, so I am really way behind in what most of you consider status quo. Here we go...
My phone gets and receives phone calls, texts and takes and sends/receives pictures. That's about all I know about it. Apparently, there's a way to hook up to the internet, because sometimes I hit the wrong button and an AT&T thingy starts spinning around, at which point I frantically try to shut it off, or just slam the thing shut, hoping it will go away. My wife, on the other hand, has a smart phone, which my daughter gave to her, and she's on it constantly, either playing word or "criminal" detective games, checking the weather, using the GPS and who knows what else. Our phones are through our daughters plan, which worked good while our daughter lived in Seattle, so they could talk stay in touch. We pay her $80 a month to have us on her plan.
Well, she has moved back to the St. Louis area now, and I'd like to get ourselves back on our own plan, but when I checked them out today, I am totally confused as to what I would need X amount of gigabytes for, if I need them at all. Like I said, we have wireless U-Verse for our desk and laptop computers, and I don't really see the sense in using a phone as a portable computer when we have perfectly good computers at the house. So, my question is, do I even need a plan that has 10, 20 or a hundred GB's for phones that would be specifically to make and receive calls and texts? And if I don't, where do I look to find such a plan, without AT&T, or whomever I use, assuming that I want all the speed I can find. I don't play games, watch movies or anything else on my phone that can be done on a computer. I, personally, still cherish the old days where the phone was in your house or business and if you weren't there to answer the call, the caller would just have to call you back later. As I said, I am a geezer with geezerly ways. Thanks for any and all reply's and help in this matter. Lee

[MitchF150]

My wife and I got our first smart phones earlier this year. We were already with Verizon, so we stayed with them. We got a plan that is 4gb shared for data and unlimited phone/text.

The only time data is used is if you access the internet, or send pictures or do stuff with email. Some apps will use data as well, so gotta watch that too.

We got just a basic smart phone (Galaxy Core Prime). I'm paying $99/month for it and that includes a couple bucks for each phone (we went with a payment plan for them to purchase them)

So far we have not even come close to using up the data portion. You can check how much you have used from the phone itself.

The phones can also connect to WiFi, so that helps keep the data portion low as well if you can do that. I connect to WiFi at home and at work.

Good luck!

Mitch

[IdaD]

Go to a Cricket store since you already have phones. It uses the AT&T network which isn't quite as good as Verizon but it's close, and it costs half as much. Or actually a bit less than half as much. We pay $70 a month for two iPhones with 2.5 GB of data (each) and unlimited talk and text. With one old phone that doesn't use data you might pay a bit less per month.

Edit - also if you're going to dip your feet into the smartphone world, get iPhones. They cost more up front but they just plain work better unless you're obsessed with customizing them down to a gnat's behind. We are still using the 5S versions and at three years old they work better today than they did new. The Android I had before was barely even usable after 18 months.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Verizon Wireless has basic flip phones and plans with shared data. So if you don't use data, your wife could use it. You can ask your daughter to look at her bill and see how much data each line used to see how much to purchase. Verizon now also allows unused data to roll over to the next month. If you can't get the data info from your daughter's phone, I would purchase the minimum data shared plan and monitor it during the month to see if you need to change it. You can change the plan to add or remove data easily online and even make the change retroactive. I finally talked my husband into getting a smart phone and he learned it just as easily as he did the old flip phone.

[Go_Dogs]

I'm another Geezer. I had an old flip phone and finally had to get a smart phone. Sheessh, I couldn't even figure out how to answer it when it rang. I sheepishly went to Best Buy on a quiet day, and went to the phone guy. He sat down and showed me all the doo dads. I'm still not a whiz, but I knew who to ask for help.

[janstey58]

I would recommend you start with a 4Gig shared data plan for you and your wife's phones. Most of the carriers will let you up/down your data plan with little to no change fees. Just watch that you don't go over, that is where they can slightly gouge you. Verizon has an app that can alert you to potential overages and show you what you have used to date, and/or they will email you. Good luck!

[Old-Biscuit]

WE also have a dumb phones......they don't even take pictures.

Check out 'Consumer Cellular' thru AARP

They have dumb phones and SMART ones too
Various monthly plans/data usage and wide range of monthly costs

For YOU....wouldn't need much data (like me....lowest plan offered)
For your WIFE.....sounds like she would use any/all available so pick accordingly. :B