We don't have a cell phone. Mostly because we are cheap. We have had one in the past, but have found that it's mostly just a money waster. I feel a certain amount of satisfaction in not NEEDING a cell phone.
But today I can see why everyone else (as hannah would say) has one.
Nathan has been out of town for two weeks. In the last week I have missed all but 1 of his phone calls. There are 6 messages from him on our answering machine. And there is not a way for me to call him back.
And I don't know what time his plane comes in tomorrow...
And I'll be gone all morning.
Sorry Nathan!
A friend whose husband is deployed told me that she carries her cell phone with her at all times. She says she needs it, just in case he calls...She is so smart.
With Nathan deploying later this year, I need one. Maybe two.
But don't tell Hannah, she'll think she needs one...
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i agree. get one. do your homework and find out what your family members have. there are many companies out there that have free minutes to those that have the same cell company. totally saves on the phone bill. i have several friends who only have cell phones because it is cheaper for them.
Here's a way to get a cell phone (that you don't plan to use much) in an inexpensive way....get a Trac phone or a pay-as-you-go type phone. You have to buy the phone up front (easily purchased at Target or online with the company), but they can be as cheap as $30 or so. Then you load up a chunk of minutes. This is our plan, and we use T-mobile. And the way we use it is to load up the phone with mins that last a year, if we don't use them all then we buy some more mins when the deadline approaches then the unused mins rollover with no extra cost. We don't use our phones a whole lot so this 'plan' works for us.
I'll second the prepaid suggestion. We're currently without a cell phone, but when we did have one it came out to about $10/mo ($20 every 60 days to roll the minutes over).
I think if I were to get another prepaid phone I'd go with T-Mobile as well, prepay with $100, which gives you gold status and the minutes won't expire for a year, and you can pickup the $100 card for around $90 on ebay, so about $7.50/month for 1000 minutes a year.
We didn't really give the number out to anyone since it was basically for communication between Mary and myself or when we needed to make calls away from home.
I love it how Randy comments on your blog more than mine! :)
I was going to say what he said. We are fine for the most part with out a cell phone, but having the prepaid phone for the occasional call on the go was handy.
I think getting a phone while Nate is deployed would be a great idea. No missing his calls!
We just got cell phones ourselves. We had put it off for a long time because we are cheap and we didn't NEED them. Well, we still don't technically NEED them, but they are a convenience that now we can afford and are willing to pay for.
We don't have a prepaid plan, we have a monthly family plan, the cheapest, best deal we could find factoring in Quinn's corporate discount. You should see if any companies offer a discount to the armed forces. And the monthly plans have some features you can't get with prepaid plans, but they definitely do cost more. It depends on what you want it for.
Anyway, it works for us since we have to make a lot of in-state long distance calls (calling Quinn at work and calling several of the people in our ward are long-distance) and though we used to use a cheap phone card for all that, the in-state rates just increased an insane amount, so we were burning through 1000 minutes on our calling card in no time at all and it got to be pricey to have to pay all the fees to add more minutes. Since most of our long-distance calls are made after 7 pm, or on the weekends, or to other people on Sprint, those minutes don't count against our monthly amount. So we are in no danger of going over. With a prepaid plan, ALL your minutes count, like with a calling card. But if you aren't going to be making a lot of calls, then it is probably a good deal.
It took me months to talk Quinn into getting them (mostly because he thought he would never use it, even though I told him that he would be surprised at how much he would), but since we did, he absolutely loves his phone and uses it more than I do.
Anyway, that was a lot of writing to basically say "it works for us" and "we like it". Good luck, they can be really handy. Though I am with you on not getting one for the kids, even though my 6 year old already thinks he wants one (mostly because they have games on them). He can have one when HE can pay for it! :)
I can't believe how young the kids are these days who are getting them. A bit ridiculous in my opinion.
I HATE the phone. Hate it. But finally broke down last year and bought one. It's mostly for emergencies or when I'm trying to meet up with someone. I probably use it about four times a month but in the end it's just nice to have!
I feel good about not having one too - we have a "family" cell phone and I can definitely see why it's a necessary evil.
The pay-as-you-go thing is the way to go, definitely.
We just got a tracphone last month when I went to Utah. After my adventure in getting to Utah I was glad to have it. It will be mostly for traveling.
We are cheap at our house too. I think Scott also likes the fact that he is not 'always available'.
Sorry Nathan is deploying again. :(
Oh... I am one of "those" people who would just die with out it....
For the longest time I held out not to get one... but once I wanted one... I was told no... lol isn’t that how it goes... and then surprised by my husband on mothers day a few years ago.... I couldn’t live w/ out it now....
that is a sad statement isn’t it?
I’m enjoying your blog!
Lisawa~
Thanks for your great ideas. I will have to do a little research on prepaid...and on what is actually available on this little island...
Jessica - that was cute - a long way to say "we like it"
Hi Mary and R - glad you could come hang out together over here!
Amanda - Nathan likes that his work can't always reach him, but sometimes that can be a problem....I think we knew coming here that he would likely deploy. Bummer!
one more thing to consider with prepaid, or any cell phone actually, make sure you get good coverage or service on the island. T-Mobile may be great for us, but maybe not where you are,I don't know, but it is something to look out for.
that is a good point, Deanne. I've heard that some plans are not great here, and all cell phones have a big blank spot up on the north shore. I think I have noticed T-mobile kiosks, though.
lisawa - I'm glad you stopped by! Here's the thing, when I talk to a cell phone, I feel like I'm losing my hearing - I can't seem to hear all the words. Is that normal?
We're cheap, too. And, one of my ultimate pet peeves is people yakking on their phone while they're driving.
We do the pre-paid thing. I carry it with my mostly for emergencies or to meet up with someone, etc. I probably use it once or twice a week. I use Virgin Mobile.
DH doesn't have one, and loves the fact that he doesn't have an "electronic tether". He's YM president, though, and there have been many times when it would have been handy to give out his cell number (i.e. parents calling about activities, campouts, etc.) Many people are completely STUNNED when he says he doesn't have one.
So, I say go the pre-paid route, or get some type of a family plan. Good luck!
nikko - Stunned - that's exactly it. I get calls when he's on a training exercise from his guys and they will say "oh, I thought this was his cell phone number." and I say " he doesn't have a cell phone" and they are like "whoa!"
ps - I should mention that he called at 5am, so I won't have to leave him standing at the airport curb for hours!
Considering all, you should have a cell phone. Check reception where you are. Strangely, some don't receive well in certain types of homes and neighborhoods.
The summer before this when visiting my parents in NY I used one which was great. But this summer's phone didn't work in my parents' neighborhood.
My mother had to return her first one for that reason.
I used to laugh at people that "needed" cell phones, but now sadly I'm one of them. I think it's a permanent appendage now! :)
P.S. I mailed your package on Monday. Hopefully it gets to you soon!
Yep- you should get one.
I don't "need" my cell and I'm not constantly on it like my hubby, but I LOVE having one. It makes me feel more secure and I know the schools can get a hold of me if they need to.
Tori -that's a good point. I know the school has my contact list, but what if one of my kids needed me and I was busy shopping for important stuff like shoes, blissfully unaware...
I think having a cell phone is like having a credit card. Life is just safer with one. I never get in the car without mine. But, I also never have it on unless I'm calling someone. I do not know what my cell # is and have to look it up if I ever need to give it to someone--like if I'm waiting for the pediatrician to call me back and I don't want to be stuck by the home phone all day.
I don't have caller ID. That is something that seems like a complete waste of money to me.
Years ago Dh said that eventually our kids would need cell phones. I was like "huh? my kids don;t need no stinkin' cell phones!".
Yeah guess what, life is so much easier with everyone having a cell phone, we can coordinate in a snap: After school activities, going to the mall, traffic, spending the night at friends, etc.
At our home is a must, if your cell phone doesn't have a full battery, you are not going out.
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