We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Cheapest option for light users

JuliusCaesar
JuliusCaesar Posts: 90 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts
edited 29 June 2022 pm30 10:59PM in Mobiles
I'm a light user who only rarely makes phone calls or sends texts, but does require bursts of data from time to time. I have been using a combination of services to keep my monthly cost to around £1.50 per month, with an average of 1 GB of data per month.

Here's how it works:
(1) I use a dual SIM phone
(2) I use a 24GB 24 month PAYG Three SIM for data. This gives an average of 1GB per month, but is ideal for people who mainly use wifi and need bursts of data at certain times.The current cost of these SIMS on Amazon is £35, but they occasionally go down to £32 (you can set up an alert on CamelCamelCamel).
(3) I use an ASDA Mobile SIM for calls and texts, but only use it for texts (which cost 4p). SIM needs to be used once every 180 days to keep the number alive.
(4) I use the Vyke app for calls. These cost 1p to landlines and 3p to mobiles, so this is cheaper than ASDA. (texts cost 4.2p, so ASDA is marginally cheaper)

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has come up with a cheaper system offering a similar combination of calls and data for light users.

Comments

  • geek1981
    geek1981 Posts: 184 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    150 minutes, 150 text and 1GB data for £2.99 with monthly rolling contract on Vectone 
  • Neil49
    Neil49 Posts: 3,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    A Lebara offer that ended yesterday (but keeps cropping up) was £1.99 per month for 5 months for 5GB data, unlimited minutes and texts, 100 International minutes to specific countries and EU roaming.

    30 day contract for new customers but people seem to renew ok.

    It's currently back up to £5.90 per month but they always have some sort of deal going.

    They use the Vodafone network. 
  • sarahTT
    sarahTT Posts: 91 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    See this thread:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6364685/rwg-any-good about an outfit called RWG and their two free offers. For low users that seems to be a real alternative and in your case you could combine this with the Three data SIM.
  • Actually there is an even cheaper option that I didn't mention, although it isn't suitable for me.

    This would be to combine a 24GB 24 month Three data SIM for data with a £5 SIM from RWG for calls https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/pay-monthly-sims/free-50-mins-50-sms-plus-250mb-data/ which offers 50 minutes and texts per months and never needs topping up if you don't exceed this. This would be enough for me, but they don't appear to offer wifi calling, and I have a very poor mobile signal inside my house, so need this feature. Asda do offer wifi calling.

  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Chutzpah Haggler
    It's not the very cheapest but we use 1pmobile which works out at £2.50 a month. It has a topup requirement of £10 every 4 months so not the best option for those whose usage is always low, but it's great for low normal usage but intermittant high usage as you can buy a data pack with built up credit for the months of high usage, eg £6 for 4GB. It supports wifi calling and you just need the one SIM, and includes EU roaming.
    Given that so many people seem to be on stupidly expensive contracts, eg £30+ a month, pointing them at a simple option that is massively cheaper is probably better than a complicated option which might save an additional £1 a month...

  • Neil49
    Neil49 Posts: 3,256 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 3 July 2022 pm31 4:17PM
    Latest offer from Lebara that I've found.

    Lebara 1GB 5G data, 250 UK Min/ Unlimited text, 99p per month for 3 months, cancel anytime (£3.99 after) @ Lebara

    You can cancel and just switch to another contract towards the end of the 3 months. 

    Lebara now have wifi calling as well. 
  • benny5
    benny5 Posts: 245 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker

    Super deal. 

    But as it’s on the Vodafone network there’s a coverage problem where I live. It’s also a problem with the ASDA deals. ' Network Coverage' checkers suggests I’m better served by EE, failing that o2 or 3.


Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.