@Rascal, well the good thing is you really know what you want in a phone, I think for you I'd ask what is your budget? Depending on that then you can start to survey your phone options. You don't sound like an intense or "heavy" user, mostly the essentials and occasional data. To be honest for those who don't use their phone like a computer they'll usually be fine with whatever they get. There are multiple places you can go to, such as Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Cragi's List, and you can negotiate a little bit on the price. But if you want to have something most likely unused/new and with a warranty and not too expensive (i.e. between $200 - $400), then consider BestBuy Marketplace and Amazon. I'm very similar to yourself, I don't need the latest and greatest, I look to not pay more than $500, but you'll need to keep in mind with a lower budget you''ll be buying phones that are about 2 generations below what is current (generally 1-2 years older). Lastly I suggest considering the operating system (OS) and it's ability to update, some older phones can't update to the newest OS and that can be annoying, so suggest you go to sites like GSMarena.com and do a little research regarding the specs of the phone and their limitations. I'd say look at the marketplaces, jot down the phones you like that fit your budget, then compare them on gsmarena to see if the specs meet your needs and have the ability to update it's OS.
My current phone is the LG G5, i bought it almost 2 years ago, was not the latest model, and many say to avoid LG, but I'm not a heavy user and I don't treat my phone like crap. I needed a phone that had a good camera, good video capability, and can update it's OS to the newer versions. Paid around $330, and about 2 years later, never had a problem, works exactly how I want it to, and I'll be holding on to it until the battery craps out. Bought it at BestBuy Marketplace. Also consider waiting until Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or the holidays for better prices.
