Cheapest Way to Keep Phone Number for a Few Years

Later in the year my daughter will be moving to the US to attend University. We'll need to get her a US phone plan (FYI - no where near as cheap as in Oz) but she doesn't want to lose her Aus number as I set it up for her years ago with numbers based on her birthday.

What's the best way to keep this number. And by best I mean "cheapest" :)

I was thinking of getting a prepaid 365 day plan with no data and PAYG calls but maybe there is a better way.

Comments

  • +2

    Aldi $5 PAYG -> Amaysim - $10/Kogan $4.90 (if available) -> Aldi PAYG
    Just keep switching each year

  • I was actually just looking at that Aldi plan. What happens after a year? It wasn't clear. Can I just get another $5 sim or???

    • +3

      Unsure. I've just switched to their PAYG on my second number.
      I have 362 days to work it out.
      If I can't recharge another $5 ill just go with Amaysim - get to keep the number 1 year after last recharge

    • You'll need to to it up again, i.e. $5 every year.

      • It's not $5; minimum recharge is $15.

  • What's the best way to keep this number. And by best I mean "cheapest" :)

    The absolute cheapest way would be you transfer her number to your phone number instead (and cancel yours). But I don't think she'd like you potentially receiving calls from her friends nor would she want to receive calls from your friends when she gets back!

    Failing that, then yes.. a long-lasting plan would be your next best option - but then that won't be the "cheapest" like you asked for! :p

  • I would say TPG, $1/month plan.

    • I hadn't seen that. Worth considering due to no worries of it running out. $10 for the Sim though and some $20 prepaid fee. But will investigate. Thanks.

      • +1

        and an $11 port out fee

        • +1

          Wow. Okay - not even looking closer at it. That's immoral IMO.

  • Mine's a work phone (I run my own business) and have had the same number since it went digital but I do like your thinking as to "absolute cheapest"!

    She's only 18 and I don't think at that age they ever call each other :)

    Looks like Aldi initially.

  • +1

    Later in the year my daughter will be moving to the US

    Is this even an option? I can't see it happening to be honest.

    • +1

      Yeah. There's a decent amount of students moving over there. Complicated to organise but a big opportunity.

      • +1

        Awesome. All the best to your daughter. Great experience.

        • Thanks. Was very difficult to organise with almost no scholarships due to NCAA giving athletes an extra year and not increasing the overall intake but hopefully something to look back at in a few years time and decide it was all worth it.

      • Opportunity for a 200k student loan…

  • +3

    Did you search the forum topics? This question gets asked and answered regularly.

  • +4

    As someone who has lived overseas multiple times, I would say to put it on the cheapest prepaid that has international roaming. There's so many services now that use SMS verification that even if you think you can just forward the SMS to her it would make her life a lot easier if she has direct access to it on a cheap and crappy phone or second sim if her phone allows. Banks/Government services, Whatsapp, lost passwords etc are all times it will come in handy and being able to do it quickly will be a relief.

    • Any suggestions for prepaid that has international roaming for someone who travels to Southeast Asia/Singapore/Malaysia a fair bit? Thanks.

  • Will the phone number die if the phone doesn’t connect to the network for X days?

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