Money Management

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

Walt34 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:24:26 GMT

We got a cell phone after DW had a (minor) accident with the car and would have had great difficulty reaching me if not for the kindness of a stranger with a cell phone. Initially we got one from Verizon but it was a two-year contract at $15/month which was cheap at the time. Later we dropped that and now use two Tracfones for $20 for three months.

We go for weeks at a time without using them but they are convenient to have when needed, and both of us carry them. So for us they are optional, but nice to have.

However, I would say they are a necessity for someone who is out and about a lot, like a real estate agent.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

jennylyn — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:46:46 GMT

I too think it depends on the situation.

It used to be a luxury for me, no real reason that I needed to have one except for a possibility of a car breakdown or something.

Now with the kids, I consider it a necessity. If the school needs to reach me, I know they can. That has happened more than once. Also, a car breakdown or other emergency out of the house would be a lot more difficult to manage with the kids now-having a cell phone gives a lot of peace of mind. DH has always needed one for work and it has always either been paid for by the company or cost was reimbursed (until now but that's a different story!). Anyway, his has been a necessity for a long time. Mine only since we have had kids.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

KellyTaylor — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:16:13 GMT

I think it's very important to stay in touch at all times, we love to go hiking in the summer and everyone has cheap Tracfone including the kids that we use to stay in contact in case we get separated or someone gets injured. We chose Tracfone because we could buy handsets for less than $10 so it doesn't matter if the phone gets damaged or lost because we can easily afford to replace it. The coverage is better with Tracfone than the other providers and there is no extra charge for roaming or long distance so it doesn't matter where we go on holiday, it always costs the same.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

jillibean — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:22:05 GMT

With both DH and I working in IT, we both have company-paid cell phones because they are required. DH only has his turned on when he is on call. Mine is on all the time, since I can get calls at any time day or night. It came in handy when my Dad was in assisted living, as that was how the facility contacted me. Prior to that I had a cell phone with a basic plan that I rarely used but felt I needed for emergencies, and DH has never had a personal cell phone.

Jill

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

kb999999 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:16:40 GMT

Hi ... Yes ... our's are out of necessity. Mine has a nice monthly discount and I added my husband to my plan because it was less monthly than his work plan offered him.

Also, since both adult daughters' still have their's attached to their hands, it is a fast and easy way to keep in contact with them. Also, receiving pics of the grandbaby are priceless!

Finally, all calls to my ill Mother, and others using the plan, can talk for free. Two years ago, my Mom and her hubby got phones - they now never leave home without them and they talk all the time now (he is a long-haul trucker).

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

MarthaMFI — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:29:50 GMT

necessary evil. researched the best prepaid option and dh bought it for me for xmas. mostly because of the kids for emergencies. though I don' t keep it on and haven't done voice mail. dh programmed all the numbers for me.

we have digital phone at home and dh cell phone has always been paid by work (before cells he had pagers) so family plans don't work for us. dh has a fancy phone :)

I don't drive in rural areas without dh so not an issue. I did use it for dd to phone home when she missed dh and ds from camp. but I have starting using it for convenience like phoning the inlaws at iga today.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

cmouse01 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:17:26 GMT

Luvd_Lioness:
when I go away for my evaluation end of next month, I will borrow my mom's cell (tracfone).

Sis - maybe you should switch to Tracfone too. They have 30 min/30 days for $9.99 or 60 min/90 days for $19.99. Those are actually the most expensive plans. The more you pre-pay, the cheaper it is. Or maybe Mom could add you to their phone with the new Family Value Plan I see they have. First Phone - 50 Minutes, $9.99* / month; Each Additional Phone - 30 Minutes $5.99 / month

We have two cells in the house. Like our mother, I have a Tracfone. Originally bought for cases of emergency ... but mostly used for "honey, I'm going to the store, do you need anything?" I also like it because I live in one state, work in another, and most phone coverages stop at the border. With the Tracfone, I may be "roaming", but that just means that I use two units instead of one unit per min. Still a lot cheaper than a $.60/min roaming charge!!

Dh has a separate phone with a major carrier. His is a necessity. He owns his own business - but it's a service business (tile, carpet, concrete, etc. cleaning) so he doesn't need an office / landline. So he uses the cell# as his business#. This way, no matter where he is, customers can still reach him.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

Luvd_Lioness — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:51:31 GMT

I consider it a luxury but a necessary evil at times. I got into having one when I lived in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area because it was such a time saver and for safety. Now where I'm living is smaller and the only time I really would use it is for driving in the country and when I go over 1/2 hr away. I do keep it shut off most of the time. Have used it to enter contests by texting (I'm slow!), and chatting but not too much since it's prepaid. $10 + tax will only last 2 months before the minutes goes away (not sure how many minutes that is). Not happy with the company (Alltell) since when I'm out of my "home" range, I have to do "double dialing". This requires me to know the phone # and dial it again for it to connect. I am thinking that when I go away for my evaluation end of next month, I will borrow my mom's cell (tracfone). I will only now stick with prepaid since I don't want to spend more $ on a contract.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

mamasjob — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:37:51 GMT

I've always thought it was a luxury until I had car trouble. One person stopped to offer assistance and he sort of scared me so I was glad to tell him I had already called for someone and could sit in my locked car and wait.

My dad never saw it as a necessity and then in December, before my mom passed away, he lost control of his car on an icy road and slid into a ditch. His car was far enough down that he could not climb up to the highway because of the snow. It was also about 15 degrees outside and really starting to snow. He did not have a cell phone and sat for almost 3 hours before a truck saw his tan scarf blowing from his window and stopped. A sudden storm snuck up on him on his way back home.

My dad and mom had one cell phone but my dad thought my mom should always carry it and she had chemo that day and was also driving but did not run into bad weather or icy roads like my dad (he went north and ran into a storm, she drove east and had sunny skies). She was very worried after my dad didn't return home so they had decided to get one of the pay as you go phones so each would have one.

Now, my dad faithfully carries his cell phone. But he never has it turned on, lol.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

Deborahmichelle — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:08:59 GMT

Dear ALl, For me, a cell phone is definitely a luxury. All that I would want it for is to call in an emergency. I have a land-llline at hoome, & out on teh street, people have rescued me. The cost just isn't worth it for me. That said, there are times when I'm waiting for a cab wen I wish that I had a cell to call the company & have them re-dispatch as the cab hssn't cooome n 15 minutes. (Under San Francisco Paratransit, I have taxi scrip -- you pay $5 for $30 worth of scrip. I need it because I cannot keep my balance in the bus.) Yours in Him, Deb

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

Toni B. — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:23:35 GMT

They seem to have a range from simple to very complicated with all the features and options. It makes me wonder if instant access to answers via phone, internet and apps is helpful or creating a dependancy on technology. I can see a day coming where people won't be able to problem solve or understand a map or phone book if it doesn't show up on a screen. I like being able to function in both new and old technology.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

gayla50 — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:32:21 GMT

I really dislike them but they are a necessary evil

my DH and boys are surveyors they arent in an office to contact so I have a phone that part of that group ..... alot of times its customers calling I do take messages

my Phone is for my family and E- family here.

we still have land lines

we go days with out the line ringing

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

2ndGenGranola — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:11:55 GMT

After breaking down on the Interstate on a December night, I no longer considered it a luxury but a necessity. I was no where near help. As it was it took help 45-60 min to arrive. I still don't have all the fancy things on mine. It is just basic with text (text came with the package). I am quite thankful for mine.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

cheapChic — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:35:05 GMT

necessity for me specially if a panic attack starts in I use no plans just buy minutes cheaper for me 20.00 every two or three months.

Re: Cell Phone: Necessity or Luxury?

karen kay — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:24:46 GMT

before i retired , i worked the evening shift so came home at about 12:30 am. i carried a trac-phone which was about $30 every 3 mts. i renewed it one time since retired and never even had it on . i didnt renew it. I dont travel but locally now and in the daytime, although that doesnt mean you're safe, but i consider it an expense i can do without.

exception 1 - my oldest son has his own business, so it is a necessity

exception 2- my daughter has a high school son, and is in a lot of activities and travels, so they need one to use it to know what time busses come and go. also SIL has own business

exception 3- my youngest son lives about 200 miles away and has epilepsy and needs one.

as far as me , i think it is a luxury . after working as a telelmarketer for several years, i wouldnt care if i never saw another phone period. i do have landline that i have my dsl for computer. think i'll check into something a little cheaper . it's 80.00 a month. to me that is ridiculous