I don't use a cellphone often, but wanted one for emergencies when on the road, etc. I bought an inexpensive one (got it from Amazon.com, but have seen them at places like Target), and got pre-paid service from Virgin. I have to "top it off" every 90 days to keep my account active, that costs $20. It's been handy for a few things like when i'm out shopping and need to double check something with hubby (like when he asks me to pick up something at the hardware store), I can call him. I had to call AAA a while back when my car wouldn't start (the starter went kablooey), and then called my hubby to tell him I was going to be late, and that he had to pick me up at the mechanic's. I consider $20 every 3 months to be pretty cheap usage. The phone is a Kyocera.
The downside is that coverage is kinda spotty. It doesn't get service in many rural areas, but that usually isn'at a problem for me. It works when I visit my Mom in Idaho - 30 miles west of Boise, it works most places I've been in California. It worked in Nevada, along the freeways. It did NOT work in Greyeagle or Susanville - but those are kinda out of the way places.
I would hate to be without my cell phone. My son got me one of the newer ones for my birthday. You can text message, calculate, email, and on and on. It even serves as my alarm clock. The one place it won't work is in some places in the grocery store where I shop. Not all spots but some. It must be the metal ceilings. I haven't figured out how to use all the gadets yet but I will eventually.