Is your smartphone making you poor?

There’s a small but flourishing movement of people who are ditching their smartphones for “dumbphones.” They’re trading in their fancy Apple and Android gadgets for old fashioned no-frills mobiles and saying goodbye to data plans and distracting web apps. Are you tempted to make the switch? Let’s look at the potential savings and other benefits.

Financial benefits:

• Save hundreds on the handset. No-frills mobiles start as low as $30. Compare that with nearly a thousand dollars for an iPhone 6.
• Save money on data. If you don’t have a web-enabled phone, you won’t need to pay for data, often the biggest source of cost on a phone bill.
• Save money on insurance and theft. Smartphones are targeted by thieves; dumbphones are too cheap to warrant attention.

Other benefits:

• Longer battery life. Dumbphones can often go several days before needing to be recharged.
• Less worry. With their sturdy casings, plastic screens and rubber buttons, dumbphones are designed to withstand a lot of rough and tumble.
• More focus. People who switch say they are less distracted and better able to relax away from work, which I think is priceless!