cell phones...can u live without them?

[cheapbastard]

I can definitely get along without one. I have one, and I always forget to take it with me. I am not a big fan of being available all the time. We have an answering machine at home and if it is important people can leave a message. I live in NZ and we supposedly have the highest cell phone rate in the industrial world. I don't like paying those high rates. I always try to phone from our landline. I am also quite hesitant to call a cell phone because it will cost me 59 cents a minute.

[frugalfarmwife]

Never had one and don't want one, when I'm out of touch I like it that way Hubby had one for a few years for work and HATED it, it was like they had a leash on him.

When I'm in the barn or in the fields I prefer the peace, quiet and company of the animals, that my time and place.

If it's really important people can leave a message on the answering machine

kj

[Ima saver]

Frugal, that is the way I feel. I really don't like talking on the phone unless it has to do with business. I get a lot of computer calls so I let the answering machine pick up all the time. I hate when people have to talk on them while in the restaurant. And I do not think it is safe to talk when driving.

[Pickle73]

we have them (with taxes comes to about 80 per month). way too much plus landline (cable phone service 35 month). I am thinking about going to a prepaid plan, since I don't use the phone that much, but dh does. argh!

[DivaJen]

I could live without a cell phone, but I like having one. We originally got a cell phone for DH's freelance business. Now, we each have one and calls to each other are included in our monthly fee. I like the security of it, knowing that in an emergency I can be reached or reach someone else. I don't give the number out to very many people, so it very rarely rings. I use it for long distance calls, and I'll admit that it's nice being able to call a friend who lives out of town during the day during the week and not think about what it's costing. We never go over our minutes.

[kashi]

I could live without mine, but I choose not to. SO and I both have cells and no landline, too. I haven't had a landline in years, and I don't plan to get one. It would be a waste of money. I like having my cell to call long distance and in case of an emergency, like if my old car broke down in -30 degree weather. However, I don't feel obligated to answer my phone simply because it is mobile. It is easy to turn off or ignore. People can leave messages.

[acezz4e_tish]

id buy the ones iwth the cards. they are 20 dollars in almost every store here in town. even when the time runs out on the card, you can still 911 if you need it. ours ran out and our serpentine blew on 169 at fort wayne, we used the *55, and the sherrif sent us a tow. it was storming bad too. it was not a fun day.lol. that cell come in handy tho.

[tigerstar]

I'm with the posters who use prepaid phones. I use Virgin Mobile, and if you sign up to "topUp" automatically every 90 days, then you only have to add $15 each time (instead of the usual $20). $5 a month works great for me! I only give this number to family & they know to only call if they really need me. Otherwise, the phone is really for *me* to use for my convenence (or in case of an emergency) Friends know they can reach me at home. My best friend also has Virgin Mobile, but we only txt each other.

Of course, I still live at home, so I'm using my parents' landline for home calls, but even then I'm rarely on the phone. When I get my own place, I'd have to see what my new expenses would be...my outlook might change by then.

For now, prepaid works for me!

[acezz4e_tish]

i agree! we have tracphones. you can add 5 dollars or more when you want and they dont expire. the phone itself costs 20, and you get 10 mins with the phone.

[lrjohnson]

I can, because I do. Never had one. I agree with Robex and frugal farm wife, I don't always want to be available.

I have been thinking about getting one that isn't on a contract, that I just put minutes on. I travel out of town for work and would like to have that safety tool available-our roads have been closing a lot here in Northern California too. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to make a call when I'm not at home. My boyfriend had a work one for about a year that he was allowed to use for personal use, and it was handy sometimes. However I see so many abusers out there-talking on a cell phone in a restaurant is incredibly offensive to me-that I'm wary of getting one and becoming "one of them." I'll probably mull it over another year or so.

[Ima saver]

I don't like them used at restaurants either. My husband has one for work purposes and we leave it at home or in the car. Also, we turn it of when he gets home.
My husband gave his number out to a customer, that was a big mistake, that guy called 10 times a day. You don't want to be on the roof when the phone rings.

[cercis]

I take my cellphone everywhere, but I don't answer it everywhere. All cellphones have a button you can push to refuse the call and send the caller to voicemail. And, as far as I know, they all have caller ID, so you can tell if it is someone you *need* to talk to. If I get a call I need to take in a restaurant, I silence it, excuse myself and step out to the entry to call them back.

The only time I've taken a call in a questionable area was when my mom was traveling and called when I was in the library, right after I had just given my name to the librarian to get my holds. There was no one there to say "tell her I had to take this call and I'll be right back". And I know from experience that if you go away for even a moment after requesting your holds, they will return them to circulation and you may or may not be able to get the ones you wanted right away (if it's a high desire book, they will have notified the next person on the list and you have to get to the back of the line again). Yeah, it's an excuse and I could have just dealt with not getting my books then, but I knew it would be a quick call, she was just calling to let me know they were okay (or not) and to give me an update on when they would be back.

[CJsoccerchic]

Because I'm young and constantly moving, the need to keep a CONSTANT and PERMANANT number has become increasingly hard with every place you move to. Having a cell phone has rid me of the "having to call all your friends and realtives and jobs what your NEW number is" I'm always reachable on the cell phone and if NOT, leave a message, I'll call you back soon... It's $60/month for me, but that's unlimited talking locally and I usually don't call long distance, if I do, I buy a $5 long distance phone card that will last me 2 months! I think it's worth it... but yes, sometimes I hate the "invisable leash" that comes with having a cell phone...

[CJsoccerchic]

Oooooo and definently do not use cell phones in front of friends, associates, and in restaurants - all considered rude (I think i read that in "dear Abby")

[PrincessPerky]

A friend of mine has 'nextel' with the walkie talkie thing, she wanted me to switch so she could instantly talk to me anytime, honestly my phone is on vibrate on my couch, you can imagine how often I notice it ringing! I don't lke being pulled from a baby bath or game with the kids to the phone, I love the silent caller ID of my cell phone! I certainly do not want to stop playing or working to say 'hi" If I had the free hands/time I would be willing for a real phone call! (we have no landline)

[infocus]

My teenage son and I could live without ours, but this is one thing I feel is important. We have a family plan with two phones, no roaming or long distance anywhere in the US, free nights and weekends, and free incoming. Since we are both away from home a lot, and away from each other a lot, this enables us to keep in touch and also make calls wherever we are whenever we need to. I feel it is important to be able to call for help in case of emergency, especially as a single woman. I have a long commute to and from work each day. And I want my son to be able to reach me immediately if he needs me, regardless of where I am. I can go to the store or whatever without worrying about missing a call. I have noticed that pay phones are just not very available anymore.

However, it is $85 a month for all of this, and that kills me. I cancelled the home phone, but that was only $25. As soon as our contract is up in August, I am shopping for something cheaper. However, if you use your phone a lot and want the free incoming minutes, etc. you need to get one of the more expensive plans...

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

A friend of mine has 'nextel'

Don't get me started on those *&^% Nextel phones. There's nothing like enjoying a calm ride to or from work on the train, when suddenly you hear: BEEP BEEP "Hey, Jim Bob! Are ya there?!" BEEP BEEP "Yeah, I'm here!" BEEP BEEP "Ok, just checking!" BEEP BEEP "Anything new since I paged you 2 minutes ago?!" BEEP BEEP "Nope!" BEEP BEEP "Ok! Talk to ya later!" BEEP BEEP

[acezz4e_tish]

lmbo!!! beep beep.

[acezz4e_tish]

you dont have to take a phone in the resteraunt with you and if you dont answer, you dont get charged, right? they chose to take it into resteraunts and be rude. that shouldnt be a determining factor in having protection of having a portable phone. i love ours, its convienent, and if its lost or stollen, its only a 20 dollar investment, not hundreds. i love our trac phone for that. if our power goes out, we can call the company with it, if we break down on the highway we can call who we need to call with it. its not like in the good ol days when you could accept a ride with someone when you break down, and me out alone wtih the kids, i wont want anyone to approach my vehicle or id be a nervous wreck! i feel secure knowing that when i go out in the van, i take the phone and put it in the glove box and its there if i need assistance.

[Ima saver]

There must be a lot of rude people in restaurants, I see it constantly.