Wayne S.,
Just read your post, and I agree about people being rude and disrespectable (if there is respect anymore) on a cell phone. Just the other day we went to a restaurant to eat and we were entertained by a person's musical ring tone three times. He had it way down in his pocket, so by the time he got to it the music was starting over. I believe he had the volume all the way up too.
I have a cell phone, but it stays cut off until I get ready to use it. It may get used three times a month.
The most inexpensive phone I could find is a Tracfone. I bought a phone which includes a carry case, home charger, and car charger for 10 bucks.
The best way to keep the phone activated for an entire year is to buy four 60 minute cards for around $19.95ea.+tax. Each card activates the phone for 90 days, and the minutes never expire. The phone has double minutes for life, so you will get 120 minutes for each card.
Phone ($10) + four cards ($80) +tax = aprox. $97.00/12mo.= $8.08 a month. With a total of 480 minutes (8 hours) or 40 min. per month.
I figured that wasn't too bad for an emergency phone. Comes in real handy when travelling. Perfect setup for non-talkers like me.
P.S. after that, the cost would be about 85 bucks a year. ($7.08/mo.)