The Setup: How I Replaced My Phone Plan

[mouakter13]

No SIM, No Contract, No Monthly Fees – My Life Without a Phone Plan

I got tired of paying for a service I barely used, so I decided to go nuclear: no SIM card, no contract, no monthly phone bill at all. At first, it felt like stepping into the unknown—how would I call an Uber? What about banking alerts? But after three months of living without a traditional phone plan, I’ve not only survived—I’ve thrived. Here’s how I made it work (and why you might want to try it too).

I turned my old smartphone into a Wi-Fi-only device and relied on free or low-cost alternatives for everything:

Messaging & Calls: WhatsApp, Signal, and Google Voice for texts/calls over Wi-Fi.

Navigation: Downloaded offline Google Maps for driving and walking directions.

Rideshares: Used Uber/Lyft via Wi-Fi or borrowed a friend’s hotspot in a pinch.

Banking/2FA: Switched to email-based authentication or special database used a VoIP number for verification.

The biggest adjustment? Planning ahead. I couldn’t rely on mobile data to bail me out, so I downloaded maps, playlists, and boarding passes before leaving home. Surprisingly, this made me more organized, not less.

The Savings (And Surprising Benefits)
$0 monthly phone bill (vs. the $60+ I was paying before).

No more spam calls or texts—my digital peace is priceless.

Better focus—without constant notifications, I’m less distracted.

More meaningful connections—if someone wants to reach me, they put in effort.

The Verdict: Is It for Everyone?
If you’re glued to your phone for work or emergencies, this might not be realistic. But if you’re mostly on Wi-Fi anyway and want to save hundreds a year, it’s worth a trial run. Start with a month—you might realize how little you actually need a phone plan.