I take my technology one step at a time and refuse to allow anyone to rush me.  Lessons, tutorials, and forums are available on just about everything if you look for them.  Of course, this means that I have classes stacked up and am always a little behind on something. 

Corporate websites also are always behind.  Office Depot shows they have items in stock at their store which are anything but, and their phone clerks claim that package deals come with items they deny knowing once you are in the store and face to face. 

Repairs are always lurking behind any machine.  Last night, the bottom oven unit burned out while I was baking cornbread.  It had this huge glowing hot spot and the temp was dropping.  I responded by turning the broiler on and, of course, scorching the top of the bread.  Turned the entire unit off, the hot spot kept glowing, and I had to cut off the breaker. Cuz sez the whole built-in will have to be pulled to replace the unit, and Bro's getting side effects from the leukemia medicine and I really don't want to ask him to work.

Without the cornbread, though, I might drop a pound or two.

My last cable bill charged me for a movie I never ordered. For one thing, I don't even know how to order movies.

My cable bill which is cable/interne/phone ran about 160 a month I recently called telling them I was having money problems and could they give me a better deal and they did from 160 to 100 savings of 60 for 12 months.  Same thing with my cell phone called and went from 55 to 30 saved 25, I did sign a contract for 2 years, but I was going to keep it anyway. I received great customer service form both places Mediacomm and AT&T and you know that never happens. Call your companies right now they are losing buisness right and left due to the economy, get a better deal the worst that can happen is they say no.

Dear ALl, What most of you have been talking about, life being too complicated in this electrnoic age, I completely agree with.  To the point that not only don't I have a cell phone, I don't even have a television!  I awlays leave my house withtime to spare before appointments (in case there is a traffic jam), & my personal physician , Peter,, won't let me read distressing news ssories, which seem to be about all there is on TV.  I'm a happy camper w/o these technologies.  On the other hand, I love being online.  Go figure.  Yours in Hiiiiim, Deb

We pay $12 for cable, and than $30 for internet.  The internet is wireless, and there are frequently 3 computers running on it, with school and work, it is essential.  There are many schedules for work and sports that are now only online.  I have minutes for the cell phones, I try to keep mine under $10 a month, although have been running about $15 to $20 for the last few months of summer.  This will drop this fall. Minutes are good for a year.  I was happy not to have to buy and chase down converter box rebates when the switch to place, that seemed worth the $12 a month.  I might feel differently later, but for now am happy with our pricing.  Oldest dd pays $10 a month towards internet, she needs it for work and school.

Yes, it is complicated to set things up, but once you find a cheap rate, it is worth paying for convenience, I have found.  I do not miss dial up, I 'll say that.  Maybe I'll have to go back to using the library, which is always full, but at this point, I would say home internet is used several hours a day at our house, it is used for work, school, sports, tv, news, finding events, using the library website and getting books and movies a few times a week, games, and shopping for things like textbooks and presents.  Yes, it is a luxury, but one we all enjoy. I guess I am trying to figure out if it is an essential or a luxury.

For those who use public internet at the library- do you have to sign up and wait for a computer, or is one ususally free to use?  I have to sign up and wait most times, our library system is one of the best in the country and very heavily used.  Minnesotans are frugal folks, by and large, many people only use the library for internet, and many are there every day.  It is too hard to wait and use it with two preschoolers, at this time for me, although I can use a computer at school some days.

latenightleader:

For those who use public internet at the library- do you have to sign up and wait for a computer, or is one ususally free to use?  I have to sign up and wait most times, our library system is one of the best in the country and very heavily used.  Minnesotans are frugal folks, by and large, many people only use the library for internet, and many are there every day.  It is too hard to wait and use it with two preschoolers, at this time for me, although I can use a computer at school some days.

At our library you can usually walk in and get a computer.  On weekends or holidays you may have to wait for a few minutes but not too long.  You can use up to 3-1hour sessions a day.  My only complaint is that you can not print coupons from the computers at the library, so you miss out on a lot of good deals.  But at least we do have access and I only pay for a library card ($30) for a year. 

mikasha:

 And, of course, without technology I wouldn't be on this forum. So I guess it's not all bad. Just remember to watch out for falling computers. 

And that's reason enough to endure technology problems.

for the last 3 years we have a horrible electric bill I called and asked about taxes I was always told some complicated reason well  guess what we got a check from the electric company three and 4 month worth of taxes we were supposed to pay .. My DH laughed he said you  deserve this your the only woman I know stick your argued with them every month for three years .. I said you notice they didnt pay us interest  he said Honey give it up

gayla50:

for the last 3 years we have a horrible electric bill I called and asked about taxes I was always told some complicated reason well  guess what we got a check from the electric company three and 4 month worth of taxes we were supposed to pay .. My DH laughed he said you  deserve this your the only woman I know stick your argued with them every month for three years .. I said you notice they didnt pay us interest  he said Honey give it up

I don't understand why only 3 to 4 months worth of taxes;

I've used public computers almost everywhere, before I broke down and purchased my own.  Weekends generally are busy.  At some libraries, they will allow unlimited use as long as at least one computer is vacant.  My major complaint is unemployment compensation office computers, which have mile-long lines on Monday-Wednesday, and the local office will not allow you to bring your own laptop into the office, citing, so help me, national security reasons.