Community Chat

[sunshine45]

interesting list! not sure i am ready yet though to give up my cable tv or my laptop.

Dying technologies aren't the only unnecessary drain on our wallets. MarketWatch lists the following 10 items to avoid buying in 2014:

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/money/10-things-not-to-buy-in-2014/24482612#ixzz2xTNTk464

Digital Cameras.....stick with your smartphone or get a DSLR camera

Credit Cards with points/mileage......many cards are devaluing their rewards programs and/or adding yearly fees. they suggest getting one with a cash back program instead.

Extra legroom in economy

Laptop and desktop computers.....tablets are becoming go-tos now and are more affordable and have all of the same features.

2 year phone contracts....go with a no contract provider, the services are usually much cheaper, and just buy the phone at full price.

hotel rooms......demand is rising and so are the prices. try an apartment rental OR home rental.

dvd and blue ray players....go with a service like hulu or netflix.

gps unit....... use the free map apps on your smartphone or most cars these days come with built in devices.

landline phone services.....the landlines are slowly becoming the dinosaur. the percentage of those who are landline free in the usa is now up to 38 percent. (up from 21% in 2009)

cable tv...... go with streaming services like hulu or netflix.

[kittykatkay]

# 1 - I'm keeping my computer.

# 2 - I'm keeping my landline.

# 3 - I'm keeping my cable tv.

What's next - no underwear? well, I ain't gonna answer that one!

[chickenbutt]

It was too small to read, but I see reply #1 mentioned computers, landlines, and cable tv. I would not get rid of any of those either.

All my computers are laptops and that is just perfect for me. I kind of wish technology didn't start this thing where there is one line of choices. Like, ok, I am sure tablets and all that are great. But the screens are too small for some people so why couldn't there be computers with larger screens AND tablets and such.

One thing that has affected me is cell phones. I've had a cell phone since 1995. But I truly have zero need for a smart phone. NTTAWWT, but some of us don't need/want a smartphone. But if you are still in the dumbphone market you are pretty much skrewed. You are not in the carriers' targeted markets at all anymore and you can just get junky little qrap phones. (sorry - kind of a rant on the latest phone I had to get when they closed the Nextel network and I had to buy a Sprint network capable phone.) But the main thing is that the choice spectrum is seriously diminished if you don't want a smartphone. There used to be lots of regular phone choices. ok, rant over.

[deepwaterdotter]

Well paint me purple and call me Barney because I'm keeping my desktop, landline, dvd, and cable.

[mgm2]

Hi Sunshine,

I have two digital cameras, no smartphone.

,Credit card - no points

Extra legroom in Economy is an oxymoron

Laptop and tablet

No contract on my mobile phone

Hotel rooms - join their incentive programs, get cheaper rates , upgrades, and free stays.

My children keep telling me about hulu and netflix

Our gps unit has saved our marriage

We live in a rural community, we NEED a landline phone in addition of the cell phones

We have directv

[croemer]

Sounds like very good advice.

[Preds]

On 3/30/2014 kittykatkay said:

# 1 - I'm keeping my computer.

# 2 - I'm keeping my landline.

# 3 - I'm keeping my cable tv.

What's next - no underwear? well, I ain't gonna answer that one!

Ditto .... and I'm keeping my underwear and digital cameras, too.

[Linders Back]

I don't have a smartphone because when you add up what it would cost per year to "replace" many of the things listed here it would end up being more expensive. FREE apps aren't FREE. You can load them onto your phone for FREE but you still pay a monthly charge to use them.

Maybe if there were more than just the two of us, a family plan would make sense but who really needs "Unlimited text and data" unless it is for your business? Does everyone need to know what you are doing every minute?

MY GPS unit is FREE. No monthly service charges and I get up to the minute traffic.

While I don't need it yet, a lineline is essential for anyone using a "Lifeline" type of emergency medical service.

I don't think I could ever do everything I want to do on a "Tablet" . OF course, once you buy one and still need a bigger screen or like a real keyboard, they'll sell you those for more money as an "Accessory". They ain't stupid.

I'll stick with what I have for as long as it works.

[kittymomNC]

On 3/30/2014 kittykatkay said:

# 1 - I'm keeping my computer.

# 2 - I'm keeping my landline.

# 3 - I'm keeping my cable tv.

What's next - no underwear? well, I ain't gonna answer that one!

Me, too!! And I haven't even thrown out my old VCR or all the tapes I recorded--it still works if I want to use it. Bought a converter to move the VCR tapes over to DVD, but my son "borrowed" it....he's promised he'll do my tapes as soon as he has time!

Maybe they're gonna start making underwear with built-in computers and cell phones.....you can talk into your bra-a-a-a........!

[lovescats]

One of the best things I ever did was get rid of cable and go with netflix, hulu+ and an indoor antenna for tv.