Community Chat

[chickenbutt]

Not a super necessity and I don't even have it on as much as I have it off. I've had a cell phone for 20 years. At this point, since I can't work anymore anyway, about the only function of it is to have when I'm away from home in case of emergency.

I guess I'm the anomaly now, as every where I go I see people who seem to be tied to their phone every second. I was recent in an oral surgeon's office (two visits) and both times, while I waited in the waiting area, I was the only person who didn't have their face stuck in the phone punching away. It was weird because when they would call the name of one of the other people nobody would respond until the second or third time. Rude. I see so many people (not everybody of course) who is so absorbed in whatever they are doing or viewing on their phone that they are absolutely clueless about the rest of the world and have to be shaken out of their phone coma.

If I had to make some priorities and cut some things out, I would have no problem cutting out my cell phone. But I just have a stoopid phone with a 200 minute per month plan and I don't text, so my bill is only $30-$35 a month. It would have to get pretty bad if I had to lose enough luxuries that $30 a month would have to go. If it were between the cable tv (which is $125 a month for ALL the channels, incl premium) and the cell phone, the cell phone would go in a hot second.

[divine]

Yes!!! I feel naked without it.

[NoelSeven]

On 3/1/2015 inallsincerity said:

On 3/1/2015 NoelSeven said:

On 3/1/2015 bikerbabe said:

On 3/1/2015 Marienkaefer2 said: I don't think the original post is about cell phones as much as it is about budgeting. If someone doesn't have enough money for food, there is more going on than just a cell phone.

^This.

My point is, it can also be a priority for those on a limited budget. Some are free, or almost at no cost.

I agree.I have a good plan with at&t. My husband has an iphone with all the bells and whistles. I am content to use the phone that was free with the plan.

I still have my old flip phone. It works fine, I can text if need be, but no bells and whistles. My daughter keeps trying to talk me into a smartphone, but I really don't see the need. I have a desk computer, there are numerous lap tops in the house, and we all have iPads. Well, DH's choice was a Samsung tablet, but it's always with him.

[Moonchilde]

On 3/1/2015 Marienkaefer2 said: I don't think the original post is about cell phones as much as it is about budgeting. If someone doesn't have enough money for food, there is more going on than just a cell phone.

It's also about priority choices, and dislikes in general.

[deepwaterdotter]

On 3/1/2015 NoelSeven said:

For Seniors reading who think a cell would help in time of emergencies, or just make you feel safer:

"TracFone has phones that start as low as $10 and call plans that cost under $7 per month. And T-Mobile has a super-cheap 30-minute plan for $10, and minutes don't expire for 90 days. That averages out to $3.33 per month."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/low-cost-and-free-cell-ph_b_5575971.html

There's a lot more information available online for anyone interested.

Thanks for this info. If we find that a cellphone would be helpful, this is the type of plan that would be of interest.

[divine]

On 3/1/2015 qvcfreak said:

On 3/1/2015 Mama Mia said:

Everyone in our family does text. Why not just call, you're using the same pnone?

mm

My son text because he can't always use the phone. If he's studying or at the library. He answers us but will end with working or studying

Plus, texting is so much faster. If you just need a simple question answered it saves a lot of "chatter" time. We always text that we have arrived home safely, or ask time of arrival, etc. and it really does save a lot of time. Now...when we want to have a conversation we call.

[NoelSeven]

On 3/1/2015 deepwaterdotter said:

On 3/1/2015 NoelSeven said:

For Seniors reading who think a cell would help in time of emergencies, or just make you feel safer:

"TracFone has phones that start as low as $10 and call plans that cost under $7 per month. And T-Mobile has a super-cheap 30-minute plan for $10, and minutes don't expire for 90 days. That averages out to $3.33 per month."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/low-cost-and-free-cell-ph_b_5575971.html

There's a lot more information available online for anyone interested.

Thanks for this info. If we find that a cellphone would be helpful, this is the type of plan that would be of interest.

You are so welcome, deepwaterdotter!

Not everyone needs or wants a full plan OR a smartphone, but many want and actually need a way to call for help when necessary.

[luvmyteddy4]

On 3/1/2015 NoelSeven said:

For Seniors reading who think a cell would help in time of emergencies, or just make you feel safer:

"TracFone has phones that start as low as $10 and call plans that cost under $7 per month. And T-Mobile has a super-cheap 30-minute plan for $10, and minutes don't expire for 90 days. That averages out to $3.33 per month."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/low-cost-and-free-cell-ph_b_5575971.html

There's a lot more information available online for anyone interested.

I use the T-Mobile plan and buy a year's worth of minutes so I don't forget. 40.00 bucks a year and I never use my phone but I would rather be safe than sorry. The hard part is remembering to charge it.

[NoelSeven]

On 3/1/2015 luvmyteddy said:

On 3/1/2015 NoelSeven said:

For Seniors reading who think a cell would help in time of emergencies, or just make you feel safer:

"TracFone has phones that start as low as $10 and call plans that cost under $7 per month. And T-Mobile has a super-cheap 30-minute plan for $10, and minutes don't expire for 90 days. That averages out to $3.33 per month."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/low-cost-and-free-cell-ph_b_5575971.html

There's a lot more information available online for anyone interested.

I use the T-Mobile plan and buy a year's worth of minutes so I don't forget. 40.00 bucks a year and I never use my phone but I would rather be safe than sorry. The hard part is remembering to charge it.

Thank you for the additional information, luvmyteddy! $40 a year is fantastic, and would make an excellent gift (holiday, birthday or just because) from anyone here to someone they care about who could use a little help.

[SydneyH]

On 3/1/2015 moonchilde said:

It's also about priority choices, and dislikes in general.

That's what it sounds like imo. Not everyone has the same priorities as OP.