It is becoming well-nigh impossible to not have a smartphone. Every store and every company assumes you have one. There are a few financial companies and banks that need to text you a 6-digit code to verify you. In the last few months I have tried to open a few high-interest savings accounts that *require* you to have a smartphone, both to verify you and to conduct online transactions.

Bummer for me, our house is in a dip in the land and cell signals skip right over us, we have to go outside and run to the top of the hill to get a signal to get their code.

Now, when you go to McDonald's drive-thru, the first thing they say when you reach the ordering speaker is "Do you have your order in the app?" Also, many fast-food places give you deals & discounts if you order in the smartphone app.

I resisted for a long time, our voice-only dumb flip-phone worked fine for us, but the wife kept insisting, so we finally got one (actually 2, one for each of us).

Our first was a ZTE, $11.60 incl 1 year service. (not unlimited calls & texts)
Next was a Moto G6, $57+tax with a $50 giftcard, net $7.74
Next was another G6, $58 - 20% discount, with a $50 giftcard, net $-3.35. Such a deal!
All Tracfone, 1 year, 1500 minutes.

You, too, can be as cheap as me.

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I missed the DG sale, put in a limit order that didn't fill, then the price ran up.