Phone Plan for a Pensioner

letmethefuqin on 15/08/2023 - 20:53

Long story short,
A family member has hit rock bottom financially, and as part of trying to find solutions to cut costs at every corner first up is the mobile phone..

Pensioner
Unlimited talk and text (assuming this is the standard these days)
Data - assuming 10gb a month (doesn’t leave the house much but I’m guessing back ground soo refreshing or face timing when they are stuck somewhere at the shops would chew this much)

Best I’ve found is kogan post paid $15 for 10gb per month.

I originally was considering a 365 expiry deal but the reality is through some error and old age that data will be burned through in a month not a year

Anyone know of a better deal? Or pensioner discount options that could make any other deals equal/better ?

Mobile Phone Plan

Comments

  • askbargain on 15/08/2023 - 20:54
    +5

    boost sim cards

  • jv on 15/08/2023 - 21:04

    Do they really need data?

    If not, $60 per year for unlimited talk/text with Amaysim

    • letmethefuqin on 15/08/2023 - 21:09

      I think data would be needed
      For maps, and when they are lost and need to use face time or send a picture

      As to how much data that could use it a month.. I’m not really sure

      • [Deactivated] on 15/08/2023 - 21:18
        +3

        Review their data usage on the current plan to get a better idea of data needs as this will be the differentiator when looking at suitable options

    • AustriaBargain on 16/08/2023 - 11:16

      Old people love FaceTime.

      • jv on 16/08/2023 - 11:18

        They can still do that over wifi.

    • antosullivan on 16/08/2023 - 12:08

      I have an elderly neighbour who doesn't know what Data is, this plan would be great for them.

      I can't find on Amaysim website, is it hidden somewhere?

      • jv on 16/08/2023 - 12:13
        +1

        is it hidden somewhere?

        yes…

        Buy a $2 sim and activate it to the 'AS YOU GO' plan with $10 credit.
        Once it is activated, contact Amaysim as ask them to change your plan to the 'TALK AND TEXT ONLY' plan which is $60 per year, unlimited talk and text (but no data). They should use the $10 credit, and charge you an additional $50.

        • antosullivan on 16/08/2023 - 12:21
          +1

          Thanks!

          I actually logged in to my old amaysim account which is on the As You Go plan (yes I should have done that before asking my question)

          I am able to change the plan to "$60 - 1 Year - Talk Text Only" in the Manage Plan > Change Plan page. FYI for anyone else.

          • jv on 16/08/2023 - 12:26

            @antosullivan: For some reason, they don't allow a new customer to join that plan first. You need to be an existing customer and switch to it.

          • ScottyP on 28/09/2023 - 01:12
            +1

            @antosullivan: Awesome. Thanks @jv for the heads up and thanks @antosullivan … can confirm was able to change plan online.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2023 - 20:42
        +2

        I have an elderly neighbour who thinks that mobile phones are the work of the devil. I think he maybe right!

  • omguleh on 15/08/2023 - 21:11
    +3

    Start with the Dodo $10 per month sim. If not enough data move over to Kogan.

    • djkelly69 on 15/08/2023 - 21:25
      +1

      +1

      It has unlimited calls/text, 2gb data per month at normal speed, then unlimited data at reduced speed. Not sure what the reduced speed is like, but should be ok for proposed uses.

    • jackary on 16/08/2023 - 09:45
      +1

      Another +1

      I do tech support for seniors, and this is my default plan for them when asked. Unlimited everything, no bill shock. It’s literally $10 a month.

      1mbps is fine for checking your emails or googling something, might even get a 240p/360p YouTube video to load.

      Edit: the YouTube system requirements page says it should be more than enough for a 360p YouTube video.

    • Repposh on 01/09/2023 - 12:04

      Is there an MVNO similar to Dodo (unlimited calls) which uses the Telstra network? I have a similar issue as OP, only my user's phone can only use Telstra bands. Have offered a new phone, but user likes current phone. Currently on Telstra casual, and chewed through most of the call credits in less than a month.

      • omguleh on 01/09/2023 - 12:34

        Moose Mobile or ALDImobile

  • scrimshaw on 15/08/2023 - 21:11
    +11

    Kogan is $99 for 365 day plan which is the equivalent of $8.25 a month. you'll get 120GB of Data.

    amaysim also has $99 for 365 days plus some EDR points. this offer ends today. You'll get 60GB of data with this plan.

    you can configure their smartphone to have data restrictions to prevent over-use (limit data by month) — see Instructions
    https://www.theverge.com/22991599/data-usage-android-google-…

    Click here to see all mobile plan deals

  • holdenmg on 15/08/2023 - 21:13
    +3

    Check out Services Australia offering a Phone/Internet Allowance:
    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/telephone-allowance

    Also… Telstra:
    Why we’re making payphones free for calls around Australia
    https://exchange.telstra.com.au/why-were-making-payphones-fr…

  • tsunamisurfer on 15/08/2023 - 21:15

    The cheapest I can think of is, get a $2 sim card and activate and only use the phone for receiving calls only.

    To make calls go to the nearest public pay phone, its free.

  • Mugsy on 15/08/2023 - 21:40
    +1

    OP, do they have NBN at home?

    If yes, I'll give you some comparisons to use so you can gauge how much data may be needed.

    My parents (both pensioners) are on Coles mobile's prepaid play for $120/yr (currently $99) with 60Gb data included and unlimited calls/texts. I think up to 50Gb of that data rolls over every year if unused and they barely use 2Gb of mobile data each year. Furthermore, if we leave auto recharge off, Coles will give a discount at ~$90 to renew in the last month before expiry. Has occurred two years in a row now. International roaming is crap on Coles mobile though… but it doesn't sound like your family member will be going overseas any time soon and there are alternative, more economical ways to get data whilst traveling.

    For me, I'm on Kogan mobile on their small plan that comes with 120Gb of data. I normally pay $99-120 per year depending on what sales is on when I recharge. I use ~40Gb of data per year as most of my usage is over wifi at home or work.

    Hope that helps.

    • letmethefuqin on 15/08/2023 - 21:44

      This info does help! I’ll make some comparisons
      Thanks

      My biggest concern is if I put them on something like Coles or Kogan for 1 year plan and their internet drops out and they don’t realise they are using their mobile data and it gets chewed all up in 1 month if you get me

  • toniyellow on 15/08/2023 - 21:46
    +5

    I think you are overestimating data use.

    I'm the default tech support for a pensioner, she uses under 2GB of mobile data a month. Goes out about 3 times a week.

    Her phone is on data saver to limit background data, maps and spotify are set to download a cache on wifi so mostly work without data. She will scroll Facebook anywhere, anytime, it's the app that uses the most data, but she hasn't hit her quota yet so its not a problem. There is a data lite version of Facebook app but she hated it, and she's under her quota so went back to the normal one.

    If you have access to their phone, you should be able to see how much they use and on what apps.

  • The Value on 15/08/2023 - 22:01
    +1

    Set monthly data limits.

  • shxhshzhz on 15/08/2023 - 23:33

    if you want the cheapest currently available, Catch Connect have the 60GB plan on sale for $89 (was 120), combine with 8% cashback which ends tomorrow, final cost $81.88 for 60GB over 365 days. works out to $6.82 per month. could be enough if they have wifi at home

    https://catchconnect.com.au/home/left-image/product/20

    if they ever chew through it all leaving 0GB left with a month or two remaining, either get a Boost cashback sim (sometimes even making a profit) or get one of the cheap Lebara sims that go on sale for $4 from Woolworths or Coles

    • sumyungguy on 16/08/2023 - 08:47

      If you run out early, why not just port to another 365d plan? I do know someone who will deplete their data soon so they’re porting out of Amaysim on a 3m plan so they can port back in if there’s a Black Friday deal.

  • JIMB0 on 16/08/2023 - 09:56

    Payphones are free these days. They can also receive calls now and have a wifi hotspot on top.

    • AustriaBargain on 16/08/2023 - 16:22
      +1

      Here's hoping you don't need to look after yourself in old age, or else you'd be screwed!

      • JIMB0 on 16/08/2023 - 20:37

        Just put some curtains up and fit a door then you've got a place to live.

  • Rob-4x4 on 16/08/2023 - 10:09

    What network coverage to they need ?
    If they live or travel in Reginal Australia then really full Telstra network is needed and only available via Boost or Tel$tra.
    Alternatively if that level of coverage is not required then a Sim on the Optu$ or Voda network would be lots cheaper.

  • AustriaBargain on 16/08/2023 - 16:21

    Always worth considering Telstra. Their plans are month to month now, they have unlimited data (shaped to a healthy 1.5Mbps after you reach monthly limit), your number is maybe less likely to be ported away by scammer, unmetered Apple Music, better customer service (or actual customer service compared to some of these providers who seem to exist in the cloud somewhere), the rewards system is a bit better value than Optus' rewards. Only catch is you pay a lot more than $15 a month.

    • cashbackman on 16/08/2023 - 22:36

      AustriaBargain has Telstra shares confirmed.
      Lol jokes aside mate why do I see you so much on this website?
      Anyway a Telstra MVNO or any MVNO for that matter with cheaper prices suits much better for someone who has “hit rock bottom financially” no denying that.
      Telstra is expensive for lots of reasons, those reasons don’t apply to a broke pensioner unless they live super rural outside of Telstra wholesale coverage let alone Optus or Vodafone coverage.

  • mike6969 on 16/08/2023 - 20:29

    ALDI monthly plans simple and competitive. Uses Telstra towers

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