I am poor and I am cheap....what’s out there for me....
I’d get like an iphone 8 plus. Probably a bit more than $200, but easy for older/slower cell phone users to use and learn. Apple makes it easy.
If you just gotta do below $200, a moto e is a good choice. I think it is around $119 and honestly it will do everything you want a phone to do.
This still works good for me. When my cable modem or power goes out from time to time, I still have access to the internet to find out what's going on. That is the only reason I would have a smartphone vs a flip phone. I think they give you 50MB every month that accumulates every month if not used. About 8 bucks a month altogether. An extra gigabyte was 10 bucks that I bought once.
If you made it this far without one like I did, just get something cheap and easily returnable would be my advice.
If it matters to you, the Moto is made in China.
On every purchase I try to avoid Chinese made products (difficult, I admit).