I just made some changes so we'll see how things go....
Recently purchased my first smartphone from TracFone. $30 on sale for $16 inc tax.
I was able to transfer my minutes, etc, from old TracFone flip phone.
I just set up Google Voice, Hangouts, and Hangouts Dialer. I've been making calls via wifi for free. If someone calls, I just tell them to hang up and I phone them back via wifi.
I leave my smartphone at home. I keep the old flip phone with no SIM card in the car for 911 emergencies. I charge it when I drive.
Notes:
I don't have a TracPhone contract. I buy minutes, data, texts, via a card purchased with cash at Walgreens. (I left the office work world to write books full time so only a few people need my new phone number.)
I LOVE the absence of spam calls! If someone not on my contact list calls, I don't answer. They can leave a message. Few do.
I buy TracFone cards for $20 at a time. 1 hour cell phone plus some texts and data. The minutes, etc, last 3 months. I must add more minutes, etc, before the expiry date or I lose my phone number.
hope this helps