We also use tracfone. We buy a year's package for about $150. We never use up the text, data or talk. Now, we do have two phones so that would be $300 a year. Not bad for communication. Our phones are "smart" and were about $50? Maybe? We get service nearly everywhere and our house is in a DEAD zone for many cell phone users. I have to tell them when we buy a new phone that our zip code tower doesn't work and they have to use another one.