How I Kept My Old US Mobile Number with Tossable Digits - A Personal Journey

Ditching my US number wasn't an option. Here's how I made it work while living abroad.

I must confess I'm quite a procrastinator. For almost two years, I've been putting off making a crucial decision that would affect my life in a significant way. No, I'm not talking about deciding which country to settle in or which career path to choose. I'm talking about the seemingly mundane task of keeping my old US mobile number while living in Portugal.

Living abroad is an adventure, but it comes with its challenges. One of those challenges is staying connected with friends, family, and businesses back home. Google Voice is a popular option for many expats, but it wasn't an option for me because I was already in Portugal. I also considered iPlum, but its higher rates didn't make sense for my stingy budget.

After much research, I discovered Tossable Digits—a service that lets you keep your old number while living in another country. In this blog post, I'll share my experience using Tossable Digits to keep my US number and how it has made my life easier. And just to be transparent, this article contains NO affiliate links.

Why Keeping My US Number Was Important

I had several reasons for wanting to keep my US mobile number. First, I have a lot of friends and family members who still live in the US, and keeping in touch with them is important to me.

Second, many businesses and services, like banks and social media platforms, require a US number for two-factor authentication (2FA). Switching to a local number would mean losing access to these services or going through the hassle of updating my contact information.

During my research, I stumbled upon Tossable Digits' website. I found that they support many of the short codes used by the companies and services I needed, such as banking and other important websites (NO WELLS FARGO - but who wants to bank with them today when they are so behind the times). You can check the list of supported shortcodes here: https://www.tossabledigits.com/support.php?p=sms-short-codes

How Tossable Digits Works

Tossable Digits is a virtual phone number service that lets you use your existing mobile number while living abroad. It essentially forwards all incoming calls and text messages to your new local number, allowing you to keep using your US number without the need for a US-based SIM card. Here's how I set up my Tossable Digits account:

1. Sign up: I started by signing up for a Tossable Digits account. The process was straightforward, and I chose a plan that suited my needs and budget.

2. Port my number: The next step was to port my US mobile number to Tossable Digits. This involved contacting my US mobile carrier, requesting a port-out, and providing Tossable Digits with the necessary information. The porting process took about 3-4 business days but was worth the wait.

3. Set up call forwarding: Once my number was ported, I set up call forwarding to my new Portuguese number. This was easy to do through the Tossable Digits website, and I could customize the forwarding settings to my preferences.

4. Test the service: Finally, I tested the service by having friends and family in the US call and text my old number. To my delight, everything worked smoothly, and I could receive calls and texts on my Portuguese phone without any issues.

The Benefits of Using Tossable Digits

Tossable Digits has several advantages to keeping your old mobile number. Here are a few that I've experienced:

1. Seamless connectivity: With Tossable Digits, I can continue using my US number without any disruptions. My friends and family back home (Who refuse to use WhatsApp) can reach me just as they always have, and I don't have to worry about losing touch with them.

2. Access to US-based services: Many services, especially financial institutions, require a US phone number for 2FA. Tossable Digits has allowed me to maintain access to these services without jumping through hoops or giving up my old number.

3. No need for a US SIM card: Since Tossable Digits forwards calls and texts to my local number, I don't need a US-based SIM card. This saves me money and eliminates the hassle of maintaining two different SIM cards and mobile plans.

4. Customizable features: Tossable Digits offers a range of features that I can customize to my liking, such as call forwarding settings and the ability to block unwanted calls or texts. This flexibility has made it easy for me to tailor the service to my specific needs.

5. Reasonable pricing: Compared to other options like iPlum, I found Tossable Digits to be more affordable. While the cost of the service depends on the plan you choose, I found it to be a worthwhile investment considering the benefits it provides.

Overall, my experience with Tossable Digits has been a positive one. The service has allowed me to keep my US mobile number while living in Portugal, making it easy for me to stay connected with friends, family, and businesses back home.

If you're an expat or someone considering moving abroad, I highly recommend looking into Tossable Digits as a way to keep your old number. The convenience and peace of mind it offers are well worth the investment.

I hope my experience and insights have been helpful to those facing a similar decision. Procrastination may have delayed my decision-making process, but in the end, I found a solution that works perfectly for my needs. And remember, this article contains NO affiliate links, so you can trust that my recommendation comes from a genuine place.

Wishing you joyful and uninterrupted journeys, regardless of where life takes you! Kindly consider subscribing to receive additional tips and hacks for residing in Portugal.

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