My $45 Take on the "Dumb Phone" Trend: A Simple Guide to Digital Wellness
I recently dove into the whole "dumb phone" movement after chatting with some friends about digital wellness. But here's the thing - I'm not about to drop hundreds on a fancy "light phone" or dig up my old Motorola Razr (though the nostalgia is tempting).
What's This "Dumb Phone" Thing All About?
The dumb phone movement is exactly what it sounds like - people ditching their smartphones for less "smart" alternatives. Some folks are dropping serious cash on those minimalist light phones (which honestly seem like expensive smartphones with fewer features?). Others are going full Y2K with flip phones, probably hoping to recreate that satisfying snap when hanging up on someone.
Why I Wanted to Go "Dumb"
I was also craving a break from:
My embarrassing addiction to iPhone games (don't judge)
The endless social media scroll-hole
That "just checking one thing" that turns into a 2-hour deep dive into my friend’s ex's cousin's dog's Instagram
Slack notifications giving me anxiety at 11 PM
My Simple (But Effective) $45 Solution
Instead of making my life more complicated with new devices and phone numbers, I put on my problem-solving hat and asked myself: "What's the simplest way to get a nighttime-only dumb phone without breaking the bank?"
The Setup
Here's what I did:
Found a refurbished iPhone 5 on reebelo.com for $45 (the price of like, two oat milk lattes in most major cities)
Kept only the bare minimum apps: iMessage, my habit tracker, music, and the Apple apps you can't delete
Connected it to my Apple ID so I could still get texts
Why It Actually Works
This old iPhone is perfectly annoying in all the right ways:
It's tiny (hello, 2012!)
It's slow (patience is a virtue?)
Most apps aren't even compatible anymore
The battery dies if you so much as think about watching a video
But that's what makes it perfect. It's just functional enough to use for texting and jotting down Substack ideas in bed, but too frustrating to doom-scroll on.
The Results (No BS)
After a few weeks with my "vintage" iPhone setup:
My late-night scrolling has basically disappeared
I'm falling asleep faster (turns out TikTok at 1 AM isn't great for sleep)
Those middle-of-the-night phone checking urges? Way less tempting when your phone is from the Obama era
How to Try This Yourself
If you're thinking about trying this out:
Look up which old iPhone models can still handle iMessage
Find a reliable refurbished phone seller (I used reebelo.com)
Accept that it's going to be slow and embrace it
Keep only the absolute essential apps
Pat yourself on the back for not spending $300+ on a "light phone"
Tips from Someone Who's Actually Doing It
Don't expect perfection - this is about progress, not phone-free enlightenment
Embrace the jankiness - the worse it works for social media, the better it works for your brain
Remember: the goal isn't to become a digital hermit, just to stop mindlessly scrolling when you could be sleeping/reading/watching Netflix/literally anything else
The Bottom Line
You don't need to spend a fortune or completely ditch modern technology to have a healthier relationship with your phone. Sometimes the best solution is the simplest one - in this case, a $45 "vintage" iPhone that's just annoying enough to keep you from getting addicted to it.
Plus, if this experiment fails, you're out less money than you'd spend on a fancy dinner. Worth a shot, right?
