NZ Spare SIM - Looking for Cheap Data, Long Term Validity

Lsquareeyes on 13/04/2025 - 08:17

I want a SIM to serve two purposes.

  1. Cheap data/easy to top-up as a backup, should my home internet go down - So hotspot/tether must not be blocked
  2. Ability to give my kid a phone on occasion, so they can contact me when out. It's not for socials (they're too young)… more for emergencies, pickups etc. Data only should be OK as we'll teach them to use Signal.

I would store it in a spare old phone for both purposes above. It would rarely get used, I'm most interested in some pack that is cheap and stays active for a long time.

Side note - Where I am Spark/Skinny infrastructure has the best signal but it's not essential.

General Discussion

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  • Alan6984 on 13/04/2025 - 10:11
    +5

    I use 2Degrees - $130 pa for effectively unlimited calls, txts, and data (for my usage pattern):

    I work from home, so I am on WiFi most of the time, so my data usage is relatively light unless I have a meeting at a client, or we are out.

    I do a $34 (2 week plan) once to get 40GB which rolls over, then swap before it renews to $8pm (150MB). The 40GB (or what is unused) lasts 12 months and I also get so many call mins and txts I'll never use them all.

    It costs $34 + 12 x $8 (actually slightly less by $4) a year = $130 pa and I get, what is to me, essentially unlimited calls, txts, and data (I won't ever get near using them all).

    The approach was suggested by someone on CC, but I can't recall who, so if you are reading this, then hat-tip to you!

    • squareeyes on 13/04/2025 - 11:12

      Now this is the kind of Cheapies big brain thinking I came here for :)

      • Alan6984 on 13/04/2025 - 12:47

        I'd happily reference the originator, but I'm not sure who it was - perhaps they will claim it for their own :-)

        • bigcheese on 13/04/2025 - 13:00

          This is the original post I believe.
          Different amounts but same concept.

          • Alan6984 on 13/04/2025 - 13:50

            @bigcheese: That was it - thanks @Genesis (and Le Grande Fromage) :-)

    • Bill on 13/04/2025 - 14:10

      I was considering doing this earlier this year, but using warehouse mobile instead of 2 degrees. During summer they had the double data bonus, then you could switch to $4 data packs to keep using the carryover data. Ultimately, there were too many challenges involved so it never came to fruition, in particular because warehouse mobile no longer have an app, I wouldn't have been able to remotely manage things, and it was just easier for me to get the kogan plan instead.

      It would have ultimately worked out to be a 3.4GB monthly mobile data plan for $7.75 per month

    • Everettpsycho on 13/04/2025 - 21:37

      Interesting in the carryover terms you can let the plan lapse and then as long as you renew within 3 months you keep the carryover. For the original request they could pay $8 every 3 months or whenever the SIM is needed if it's more often than that.

    • Kiweeroo on 14/04/2025 - 11:25

      Do any calling minutes carry over as well on the $34 plan, Or only the data ? Thanks

      • Alan6984 on 14/04/2025 - 11:28

        Do any calling minutes carry over as well on the $34 plan

        I currently appear to have 983 calling mins rolled over, so for 2Degrees it seems to be calling mins too, but if important, its probably best to check on their website or give them a call.

  • kfr23 on 13/04/2025 - 09:42
    +1

    You can't really pick both cheap data and long validity. Mighty Mobile are probably the best, not the cheapest data but expires in 365 days if not renewed.

  • Dunno on 13/04/2025 - 09:59
    +1

    $5 warehouse mobile(2degrees network) sims with $5 credit on them, can be used to buy 500MB data.

    • bigcheese on 13/04/2025 - 10:05

      I was just going to suggest Warehouse Mobile.
      You only need to top up $5 every 365 days to keep the number active and easy enough to buy a data pack when you need it or just use casual rates if it’s really infrequent use.

    • richms on 14/04/2025 - 07:38

      Terrible to top up. No account with them you have to have a device that can receive the sms to get the code to be able to log in as they seem to have decided to forget that passwords are a thing.

  • squareeyes on 13/04/2025 - 08:19

    Another note. Do people use family plans (i.e. shared data/calls) for this sort of thing? My personal plan has lots of data and this might work too having just thought of it.

  • squareeyes on 13/04/2025 - 09:51

    I hear you on my unrealistic requirements:) So looking at Mighty Mobile… $499 per year middle tier 365 plan.

    I could get Skinny $17 plan that accumulates rollover data (bonus calls/sms) 1.5GB, or $27 for 4GB which would be $204 and $324 respectively. I could start on $27 and roll back to $17 once I have data built up (hopefully isn't lost when I change).

    Granted, Mighty seems to be unlimited (limits only speed on various tiers).

    I might be better served with a regular monthly SIM and paying to keep it active, than a 365 thing.

    • Everettpsycho on 13/04/2025 - 13:11

      Have you cknsidered farmsource offering from one or 2degrees? Its unlimited fkr $30/35 a month. Tbay would come in cheaper than mighty mobile with faster data available.

      Could also consider using partner plans or data sharing on certain plans so you have a spare secknd sim jsing your promaru daya pool available if you need it fkr a fraction of a full priced plan.

      • Alan6984 on 13/04/2025 - 13:44

        Have you cknsidered farmsource offering from one or 2degrees? Its unlimited fkr $30/35 a month. Tbay would come in cheaper than mighty mobile with faster data available.

        Could also consider using partner plans or data sharing on certain plans so you have a spare secknd sim jsing your promaru daya pool available if you need it fkr a fraction of a full priced plan.

        Can someone translate to English ;-)

        • Everettpsycho on 13/04/2025 - 13:56

          I really should proof read, autocorrect is compounding the lack of proofreading now making it worse. Quite why my phone thinks half of that is words I still dont know🤣

          2degree or one nz via farmsource offers unlimited data for $30/34 respectively. Which comes in cheaper than might mobile.

          Second paragraph was suggesting partner or data sharing plans. I think 2degrees still offer you to share some data to a prepaid sim or most networks offer second sims discounted using the first sims data pool.

  • Garry on 13/04/2025 - 18:47

    try mightyape 24 dollor plan unlimited data at 10mbps with unlimited calling. no capping of data at 10mbps
    this plan is on promotion price on mightape.co.nz
    it is good plan, if you are looking for 4g speed instead of 5g

  • AhhNo on 20/04/2025 - 11:13

    I have a $65 plan with 2degrees. I share data for free to my sons iPhone as well as his ipad and my ipad - So they can use imessage and facetime. Doesnt cost me anything extra. Shared Data is free, you can share unlimited, or an amount you want each month. I do open sharing, I have so much carry over its actually expires before I use it (To be clear I dont pay for my plan, my workplace does) If I was to loose this free plan, I would still choose 2degrees becasue of the free shared data option.

    • Everettpsycho on 20/04/2025 - 12:07

      I suspect the answer is no, but I'd like to know if the farm source plan can be shared this way. We have a couple of tablets with LTE built in but don't use them enough to warrant paying for a plan, this is an option if definitely consider but not wanting to spend triple a month to get it as sparks prepaid data stack is currently so cheap now I've got almost 9gb a month attached to it.

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