Mobile phone idiot here...please tell me what is the best payment option (and phone)

[Columbia]

My old Nokia 3510 is on its last legs and I really want to get a new one, easy to use (I'm told Nokia is the easiest - most user friendly?) cheap if poss as all I ever do is text, and not very often at that - I do occasionally get called by school etc so is an emergency phone more than anything.
Saying that I think I might have a boyfriend suddenly so might be texting more

Have never had a contract, am currently on a Genie card (O2) which allows 300 free texts a month I think or something?

Should I get a contract one or stay with PAYG, and what phone is best?

Ps I don't actually use 300 texts, nowhere near!

Please, someone??!

Do you have Virgin TV?

If you do they do a fab mobile deal.

If you don't do much with it, PAYG is the way forward. You can get a cheap phone from Amazon, if you like Nokia, stick with Nokia. If you like the model you have, stick to that.

If texting is most of what you do, then the O2 plan is good - I have one from them that gives 300 free texts/month if I top up £10, 500 if I top up £15, and unlimited if I top up £30. It's a good deal if you rarely call people, as you have whatever cash you topped up left over for calls, overseas use, whatever, and all those free texts.

e.g. this one - sim free, Nokia, direct from Amazon.

Oh, and costing all of £30.

Ooh never expected so many answers at once!! Thanks girls. NQC what does sim free mean, I have always had a sim card - are there benefits to not having one?

Sim free means not tied to a specific network (generally anyway). You can buy a phone that comes with a sim, and is tied to that network, and then get it unlocked at any phone shop, but some people feel this is unethical.

You presumably don't want a new sim, at least not if you are happy with your current PAYG deal, and if you want to keep your current number. Easier to move the sim card across into the new phone.

Oh brill, I see...thanks! You've been very helpful x