cell phones...can u live without them?

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

I myself have a prepaid phone. So I only have to put $20 on it every 90 days wich was better than having a contract & being a sahm I really don't need all the minutes or such an expensive bill.

But dh now has a contract on his phone, because he wanted the latest & greatest phone. He doesn't use all his minutes ever so I used them instead of our land line while I'm online to make my phone calls. *L*

[PrincessPerky]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

Can I? of course I can, once upon a time people managed without landlines, I think I am at least as capable as my great grandma, umm ok well at elast when it comes to a phone.

However, I have one cell phone, no land line, and I would rather not give it up. I use it here in NC and in PA (family lives there) WE use it in the car (I talk, DH drives) anywhere. And the wonderfu, thing about prosperous America, when DH was in a minor accident he could just borrow any one of the other drivers phones!

[GrimJack]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

I had a cell-phone (car phone actually) in the late 80s cus I worked for a cell company but I seldom needed it. I was an MIS super in the mid-90s so I had one so I could talk my hirelings through problems and not have to go in. Now I just have no use for a cell phone. I have land line at home w/DSL -- the only reason I would have a cell phone now is because all the cell companies MUST allow 911 calls for anyone at anytime. If I could find a car recharger for my mid-90s brick, I would keep it in the car for emergencies.

I do drag my laptop around (I made the mistake of trading price for weight - this sucker weighs a ton - next time I will pay extra for one of those light weight skinny jobs) so I could use Skype in a pinch.

GrimJack

ps I would let people use my carphone and the first thing out of their mouths was "you will never guess where I am calling from".

pps We used to get kicked out of bars for calling the bartender on our cell and ordering another round or, especially, when we ordered food delivered. This was back before everyone had c-phones.

[Bluezy]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

A cell phone is a must have in case CJ's teacher's or care giver needs to contact me at work. It is also mandatory when traveling with a little one to have a method of contact to AAA, etc, for safety.

I swear by my Virgin Mobile phone service. It was the best investment in a phone I have ever made.

[Firefly]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

I don't think it is a necessity. I think people have just gotten so used to being able to keep in touch that way that they don't want to give them up.

[cheapbastard]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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]

Re: cell phones...can u live without them?

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.