On my desk sits a sleek, hot, fashionable, all-the-bells-and-whistles mobile phone. It goes where I go, is on whether I am awake or asleep, and everyone has the number. In my desk drawer is a Samsung E1120 from Orange – for which I paid £10 at Asda. There’s no contract attached, it’s pay-as-you-go, so I don’t feel pressure to carry or use it. In fact most of the time, it’s in my drawer. But I’ve very glad to have it.

Why do I have this cheap phone you ask? Simple – It’s for those times when I don’t want to carry my good one. On the beach for instance, or when I’m going for a long run. I’ve used it when I was in hospital and it’s a must for nights out when I know I’ll be hitting lots of packed nightclubs. It’s been dropped out of my pocket more times than I care to admit and, with that mobile, I don’t worry if it gets lost or stolen.  Although, let’s face it, it’s not really a phone people would want to nick.

As much as I love carrying my “good” phone, I also love that feeling of “no worries” when I’m carrying the E1120. And, having a cheap second phone makes me a winner in another way as well. When it comes time to recycle my mobile, my good phone will be all the better condition for not having been subjected to nightclubs, beaches, and that dreaded pocket.