6 Reasons I Still Don't Have a Cell Phone Plan (yet)

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If you ask most people what they can't live without, many would say their computer. Just about as many would say their cell phone/PDA/Crackberry. I agree with the first one – I couldn't earn a living without my PC. I don't currently have a cell phone plan, however, and here's why.

I'm particularly homebound. I'll admit it. I'm a SAHM, WAHM, and a homeschooler. Notice any recurring themes in my job description? Yeah.. I'm home a lot. Which brings me to the number one reason I don't have a cell phone. I'm almost always home, and my home phone works just fine, thank you.

I'm cheap. The going rate for a plan in my area with enough minutes to make it worth my while is around $50 a month. Then you add ridiculous taxes to the bill, the commitment of a 2-year-plan, and the cost of replacing the charger that I seem to always lose every 30 days, and you have one heck of a phone bill. I don't even have cable, so how can I justify spending over $80 a month for conversations that can most likely wait until I get home?

I'm private. Those of you who follow me on Twitter have probably already forgotten about me. I don't especially like to share every sordid detail of my life with everyone in “My Circle.” I talk to my Mom, my sister, and ocassionally a Grandma or two during my day – one time each. The rest of the world usually conducts their business with me via email or when I see them in person. I don't do too much small talk on the phone.. it just feels weird.

I'm busy. Did I mention that I homeschool? That's 4 kids, 2 sets of diapers, 40 or so dirty dishes, 2 lesson plans, and 100 emails that must be tended to-- before noon. Seriously, though, I do try to keep moving. When I'm not writing or folding laundry, I like to sit in the rocking chair in my kids' room and watch them sleep. All this takes great focus, and a rogue cell call just doesn't fit into the plan.

I'm committed to my landline. I hear so many things about Skype, and it really sounds like a good option – for someone else. Living in the middle of nowhere takes great faith in things like cell receiption, internet connectivity, and electricity (especially during tornado season, when outages are common.) If I can't pick up my old fashioned rotary phone and place a call during an emergency, I'm out. Technology can only replace so many of my dependencies on reliability.

I'm committed to safety. This is just how things work for me, so please don't take offense if it doesn't apply to you. As much as I appreciate what cell phones can do, I seem to always lose my focus when talking on one. Whether I'm driving, walking, or frying potatoes, the conversation can be the priority – or what I'm doing, but never both. It's just best for the rest of the world if I pay attention to what's at hand.

So how do I handle not having a cell phone plan? I do, actually, have a cell phone. It's a cheapo $14 pink tracfone with 120 minutes and a good charge. I take it with me when driving any distance and especially when toting around the kiddos in the dead of winter. It comes in handy when I need to get ahold of my hubby or if I'm doomed to wait in the doctor's office for longer than I've planned. I've relied on it when attending conferences and am stuck in the cabin of a going-nowhere plane with no chance of catching the next flight. But the entire set up costs less than $10 a month, and I'm free to ditch this plan any time I like.

Do I envy my friends with the iPhones and the unlimited web plans? Sure. Sometimes. On those rare, brief moments when I'm out and about, not running after stray kids, and feel the need to check the weather report. But those times aren't nearly often enough to justify that cell phone plan.

 

 

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Guest's picture

This was a really scary 80s flashback until the part about the prepaid cell. Whew. I thought you had no phone at all. Prepaid makes a lot of sense for a lot of people. In Europe, it's very common.

Guest's picture
kris-nyc

hey, i agree there is hard to find cheap cell phone plans with a large amount minutes however with research online you can find anything. here is one website that show you how to get a dealCheapest Cell Phone Plans

Guest's picture
Stuart

My job pays for my cell phone. I just give out my GrandCentral number in order to preserve the minutes. Then I reply to the voicemail by email or by cell when I have free minutes. It seems to work for me.

Guest's picture
Kim Dodd

Wow! This was like I was explaining to all my friends, again, why I don't have a fancy cell phone. My exception is that we don't have "winter" where I live, but months of 90 plus weather, and lots of expansive spaces between stores where I could "use your phone." I finally got one for this purpose, and it suits me just fine! Thanks for bringing the world the topic of SAHM and cell-phones! Another reason I love reading your contributions to Wise Bread!

Guest's picture
poor boomer

You should get out more often.

Guest's picture
Daniel

i use a virgin mobile and a t-mobile prepaid. i get the phones dirt cheap on ebay and in the case of t-mobile, i can usually pop my prepaid card into any phone prepaid or contract that works in the t-mobile network and it works fine.

i have never gotten into the habit of being perpetually connected with my phone and im happy to have my prepaid option when i need it.

Guest's picture
steve

You can get to as low as about $7 per month if you use the right prepaid option on Virgin Mobile. What I do is I top up my prepay plan once a year for $100, which gives me a year of service and some ungodly number of minutes that I won't use but which won't expire as long as I re-up the next year.

I primarily use my cell when I'm traveling or if there is some kind of critical situation where I need communication (like when my Dad had to go to the cardiac unit of a nearby hospital last month). In those occasions I use as many minutes as I want, and I just use my yearly minutes because most months I *talk* very little on the cellphone. Lots of times I won't even answer it and just dial back the person who is calling on my landline or on a landline where I am at. (For this purpose, I have a pingo.com calling card that gives me long distance minutes in the US for less than 4 cents per minute. Again, prepaid.)

The other reason I have the phone is that my cell number serves as my answering machine.

Also, the phone is a cheap one and it has a flashlight built in, which is handy all the time because I am a bike commuter and am often out in the dark this time of year. I also use the phone flashlight to navigate to distant rooms in m y house at night in the dark, avoiding having to flick lights on and off as I move through the rooms. I just use the phone flashlight and turn on the room light once i get to the...kitchen, usually.

Whew!

Guest's picture
Olivia

People look at us like we're cross-eyed, but I'm with you. Since we live in a medium sized town and all the shopping I normally do is nearby, it seems silly to add an expense like that.

Guest's picture
FrugalZen

A Leash.

And thats all a cell phone is is a Social Leash.

When I retired, and its one of the reasons for doing so early, was to get away from carrying a phone, radio, and pager.

Yes I still have one...a Net10 PrePaid (owned by TracFone) that I keep in the Motorbike in case of a breakdown..other than that you can leave a message on the answering machine (yes they still make them..mine $6 at Wally World) and I will get back with you when its convenient for ME.

I really don't understand the need for being in constant communication and texting all the time like people do today....no one knows what Quiet Solitude is anymore.

~ Roland

Guest's picture
Helen Hair Guest

I was beginning to think I was the only person left on the planet - who didn't use a mobile phone!!
It's a relief to see there may be one or two more of us!

I think there's such an addiction to using them and needing them, and not being able to live one's life without them! It's scarey!

Helen Hair

Guest's picture
Courtney

Bravo! I even work as an admin in IT, where cell phones are the norm, and I don't have a cell. I have never missed it. If something happens during the day, I'm at work - and if it happens in the middle of the night, I'm home! If it happens while I'm on errands, I will simply check my voicemail when I get home. This 24-7 checking-email-on-Blackberries thing that is becoming standard in the IT business is destructive. You can never really get necessary R&R with that kind of device, and it then becomes harder to give 100% at work.

I got so many questions from family about emergencies that I did purchase two $10 Tracfones and put 200 minutes on each. These go in the car and are strictly for calling AAA, but we haven't had to use either in over a year.

Guest's picture
Emily

You know, that was a very thought-provoking post. I sat back and tried to think how many times over the last week/month/year I used my phone for a true emergency. I can't come up with a single instance. Hmmm, this is something to explore, and fortunately we have some time to do it before the contract is up. Thanks!

Guest's picture
Guest

I don't plan to ever get one. I don't want a life that 'requires' a cell phone. The expense of one is the least of it. I agree with Roland, that I am old enough not to need the 'social leash.' I raised four kids (for the most part alone after my husband died) and did all my travelling without one. I don't even have an answering machine. However, I would greatly miss my pc.

Guest's picture
Kathryn

I too have a Trac Phone and rarely ever use it - it is great to carry with you on the road in case you have an emergency, to have a child get a hold of you if you are not at home and I also use it for long distance as it is cheaper than any long distance plans that are offered in the area and it is easier to see how long you have been on the phone and how many minutes you have used instead of getting a nasty surprise on your phone bill.

We used it when we went on vacation 6 hrs from where we lived with no problems and have even been able to reach Australia.

Unless you have a job (and hopefully an employer that pays for your phone - even then, keep in mind your employer will have access/record to who you are calling and how long you talk to them and use this against you in a review to not give you a raise) where you need to be reached at all times, you are better off without being available to everyone all the time for everything.

Linsey Knerl's picture

I had to laugh at this comment.  I totally understand how someone would get the impression that I'm a hermit, or somehow technologically inept from this post.  I would like to add that I was one of the first of my friends to have a cell phone back when it was kind of a rare thing to have one.  (I also lived through the "pager" days.) 

And, yes, these days I'm a bit more homebound than I used to be.  Most of it has to do with the phase of life I'm in (small children have a tendency to keep a short leash and my business is largely home-based -- we farm!)  But I'm thankful that I also have friends and family close by.  I can literally walk next door to visit my parents any time I want.  I can entertain guests in my own home.  My social circle is literally within a 5-mile radius from my house.

I love going out, but when you live as rural as I do (with the metro over an hour away), it just makes sense to keep it as local as possible -- financially speaking.

So while some folks get a kick out of the newest Blackberry (which I do secretly drool over), I spend my tech dollars on things that are practical for my lifestyle:  top of the line chainsaws and a small collection of GPS units.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments!

Linsey Knerl

Guest's picture
Elizabeth

I'm with you guys! I have a pre-paid cell for emergencies, but that's it. If I'm not at home or work, I don't usually want to be bothered. (I also don't answer the phone at home if I'm in the middle of something either). I think phones are tools that helps us conduct our lives, but we shouldn't be slaves to them.

Guest's picture
Beth

I'm also a homeschooling SAHM and find it inefficient use of my time to run around much. I have a Tracfone that works out nicely for my errand days...I just wish it was pink. :)

My husband, our oldest child, and I use the phones mostly to juggle the use of one car between three adults. DH and I spend no more than $20 per month to keep our two phones stocked with minutes. Oldest child is responsible for her own phone and may spend more to keep in touch with her friends.

We have not had any problems with coverage and connectivity.

Guest's picture
Rospo

I spent a few seconds wondering why you'd even write about this, but recalled a comment by my step daughter: "You two are SOOooo disconnected..." (a teen rant that resulted from a failed bid for an iphone).

No cable here either, no cell (it wouldn't work anyway cuz we're remote), and we both WAH.

I'm convinced that some people talk just to convince themselves that they're still alive. Why else would they blither as if their lives depended on it; interrupting a family meal at a restaurant, etc?

My conclusion, and what I told my step-daughter: if you're talking, you're not thinking. The two activities are mutually exclusive.

Cell phones make talking very convenient, but what we need is a device that encourages people to think. So, my step-daughter will get a book instead. Maybe one with a better approach to negotiating with others...

Guest's picture
gt0163c

I'm a Gen-Xer and I don't have a cell phone.
Mostly it's due to the cost. Although prepaid phones are definitely affordable. But, it's also because I don't see a real need for one. Over 75% of the time I'm either at home or at work. All the important people in my life have both of those numbers (as well as my email addresses) and have a pretty good idea of which one to use to get in touch with me. The rest of the time, I'm places where I really don't want to talk to anyone who's not physically with me (the gym, church, driving, hanging out with friends).

There are times when it would be nice to have a cell. But, overall, as long as everyone understands that I don't have one and can actually plan ahead (something that seems to have become a lost skill for many people), I'm good. In the very few cases where I've NEEDED to use a phone, one has always been available either in the form of a pay phone, business phone or the cell phone of a random stranger I've politely asked to make a call (that's mostly been at the airport, informing friends providing transportation of flight changes. In those cases, when I ask someone, I usually get at least three people offering me their phone. I've never had someone say "no".)

Guest's picture

You know I use my phone mainly for texting my husband when I'm away from the IM on my computer. It hasn't even been charged for a week. I have a Blackberry, but I cancelled the data service. I figure if my employer needs me to be available 24/7 by email, they can pay for the service.

Sometimes I wonder what I'm paying for. And WHO are all those people who cut me off on the road with their SUV's talking to that's so important that they can't wait until they get where they're going?

Guest's picture

I use my personal landline so little that I'm transfering the number to my Tracfone.

I have a huge surplus of minutes, so for the foreseeable future, I'll be spending merely $20 every 3 months for my phone. If usage increases to where I'm spending $50 a month or so, I'll get a regular cell phone plan.... Maybe.

Tracfone at least has inexpensive phones. The cost is partially subsidized, but not bound by contracts, My current phone currently sells for $20. Most 'real' cell phone companies' cheapest phones available are at least several hundred dollars. The best you can hope to pay for a phone is $50, and that's with a 2 year contract. God help you if you need to replace an out of warrantee phone that breaks during the middle of your contract...

That's why I dropped my original cell plan in favor of Tracfone several years ago. My phone would not work, it wasn't soon enough to offer me a contract extension for a new phone, but beyond the phone's warrantee. It'd cost me $100 to fix, or $100 to replace with an older used phone. I used the service so little it wasn't worth it. Switching to Tracfone was so economical, that it was worth it to just pay the termination fee on my old cell contract.

So I may not want to jump into that even when the monthly plan becomes cheaper

Guest's picture
Prettygreen

I do the virgin wireless cell phone. No contracts- no bills.
I just top off the phone every 45 days- $20.00
The cool thing is that my $20.00 just keeps adding up if I don't use it. A couple of years ago I dropped my phone in the lake and I just used the money that had been accumulating in my account and got a new phone for free.
I only use my phone for emergencies and when I want to see what time it is. I don't like wearing a watch.

Guest's picture
steve

The cellphone companies must hate WiseBread people!

Guest's picture
Miranda

Saves a ton, since we don't talk much on the cell phone, but I like having it just in case. I would like a camera on the cell phone, though, and am considering getting a Tracfone with a camera. The extra expenditure (about $50) would make it worth it to me, since I've missed a number of precious moments while camera-less.

Guest's picture
jdp

Take out homeschool and WAHM and insert "i'm always at work and reachable there if i'm not at home" and you have me.

I love tracphone. I also have no long distance or any extra's on my home phone. So if you call and its busy - call back. I don't know how but I'm always finding awesome longdistance card deals where the minutes cost about 1/5th what my AT&T would.

Guest's picture
Mom of 6

From one SAHM, WAHM homeschooler to another, good for you! I'm home with four now, aged 8-16, two having finally crossed the bridge to adulthood. I do like having a phone on me for auto emergencies and family crises when I'm out of the house, and my Tracfone does that just fine. And I do love the occasional call just to say, "When are you coming home, Mom? I need a hug!"

To paraphrase an old armed services ad: Homeschooling Moms: We do more before noon than most people do all week.

Guest's picture

For one person, I agree that having a cell phone plan is pretty expensive-- but as your children get older, it might become cheaper to have a family plan.

For me and my brother, it's actually cheaper to have a cell phone than a landline, esp if you move often and have to deal with installation fees.

I have my parents and brother (college age) on my plan, and we pay $90 a month in total (taxes and fees included). It's only for 700 minutes a month, no extras, but since most people we know are on the same network, the minutes are free. Collectively we probably use only half our allotted minutes, and the rest roll over.

When/if anyone needs a family plan, check around for corporate/academic discounts, and also feel free to bargain with the account reps. Once you can switch out of your plan without penalty, it's easy to ask for more free minutes a month, or have them match a competitor's lower price. They'll do quite a bit to keep your business.

Guest's picture
Linda

Well we don't call them that in the UK. We refer to them as mobiles.

I agree with most of what you say though I do feel they would have their use in a real emergency i.e. accident where access to landlines isn't easy.

But once we all got by quite happily without them.

People in supermarkets using them really annoy me. They go around with it glued to their ears chucking things in their baskets often with kids trailing behind them. I don't believe any conversation is that important that you need to have it in the middle of a supermarket!

They hold us all up at the check out too as they carry on their conversation while loading and paying for their groceries.

Andrea Karim's picture

Yeah, the only reason I still have a cell is because I was able to get onto my parents' plan as a part of a family plan. $5 per month as opposed to $67. Tracfones, though, are a blessing, and I see no reason to get a cell phone if you don't need one.

However, if you are a single person with an active social life in the city, well, then hey, a cell phone can come in mighty handy. Especially if you are as prone to getting completely lost as I am.

Guest's picture
Guest

There are cheaper options in prepaid than Tracfone (about $100 year)

Once you add $100 in refills (a $100 refill is as low as $85 on sale) to a T-Mobile prepaid phone, all future refills (even the $10 refill) are good for a year.

Page Plus prepaid (a Verizon reseller) offers $10 refills, good for 120 days ($30 every 360 days) - and can be refilled online.

For all the above, unused minutes roll forward.

Now that T-mobile has expanded its coverage here, I'm gradually shifting from Tracfone to T-Mobile for the several prepaid phones I keep.

Guest's picture
Bri

I am with you, I need the landline. But, as a woman, a cell phone can be a "life saver" literally. A coworker sold me his old Virgin Mobile phone and showed me how to buy the minute plan for $21/quarterly (every three months) and the minutes roll over. So, for 7 dollars a month - I have a working cell phone for emergencies. I did not give out the phone number and I don't have it in my memory - because I only use it to call out if needed. This might work for you. Thanks Cary B for the good advice. When I headed off to Mexico for my dental work (saving 7K over Austin Tx estimates) I was glad to have it in my pocket. There is a long stretch of desolate road and I could call AAA on the cell if needed!

Guest's picture
Barb in Ohio

My husband and I laugh that we will be the last on earth to have one. What did we all do before them? We still do it today. Wait to talk to someone until we get to work/get home - I enjoy my quiet time on the bus, in the car, etc. My family actually talk to each other on car rides instead of hooked up to technology - yes, we don't have a portable dvd player or ipods either... We have been loaned a cell phone when we took a long car trip - more for my parents peace of mine rather than our own... We are also lucky to have friends who have let us use theirs for the handful of times we wanted to use one. We figure that one day we will need to look into one or two, but a tracphone will now be considered, after reading the comments. It has been increasingly difficult to find pay phones these days too. But, we just can't justify the cost and with so many plans out there and all the phones, gadgets, etc... it just makes my head spin. :-)

Linsey Knerl's picture

No DVD's in our car, either. The kids are still small, so they enjoy looking out the window (gasp) and talking to one another. I have a son who is almost two, and his favorite activity is to say "Neigh" to every animal we see on the the drive. Since we live in Nebraska, this is quite often. Cow, sheep, or mule -- it doesn't matter. He's happy, and I'm happy.

Linsey Knerl

Guest's picture
Bill M

i am so hip connected to my cell phone that I can't live without a phone being beside me at all times.

Guest's picture
Richard

My family has been using various models of Tracfone for years. Yes, it is much less expensive and there are no service contracts than other cellular services. However, Tracfone is the worst when it comes to customer service. The 1-800 number you call for Tracfone is in the Philippines and not very many representatives speak English very well. I had three inactive phones that I wanted to reactivate. I purchased three 60-minute airtime pins on their web site and discovered that they combined them all into one 180-minute pin. I called to explain the problem. They willingly walked me through the process of reactivating 2 of the 3 phones with 60 minutes each. However the third phone needed a new part (SIM card), which had to be mailed. They informed me that once the new part arrived to call them and they would then be able to reactivate the phone. In the meantime, the number two phone would not work. I called them about it and they walked me through the process of getting it working again. When the part for the number 3 phone finally arrived, I called Tracfone as instructed. They informed me that I would have to buy more airtime for the phone because they added the airtime to my number 2 phone and blamed me for the problem. I explained the problem to a supervisor and still got nowhere. I reversed the charges to my credit card and I'll never do business with Tracfone again!

Guest's picture
Jenni

I am in the same boat with you. The charging of cell phones uses more energy than the regular old phone with a cord, which I have two. And with the loss of our privacy in so many areas of our lives, this is one where it is better to have a land line than a cell or cordless phone. There is a website that speaks to being more green, and doing what would be best for us and for the enviroment. I plan to get a tracfone for when I travel, and add minutes, then, but other than that I really don't need a cell. I also don't need the added expense either.

Guest's picture
Whit

While I completely understand the rationale behind not having a cell phone, I am hooked on mine. My husband and I are on the same plan, which saves quite a bit of money, and do not have a landline at all. My work phone is for work matters only, and I never give out that number as a contact for family and friends.
I certainly understand not wanting to be leashed to one's contacts, but I usually leave my phone off and check it periodically throughout the day. Honestly, I'm much more chained to my email, which I check at least twice as often.

Guest's picture
Kris-nyc

Hey, this is an awesome article. Great news. I'm also try to see which plans is the cheapest . When you have a moment check out my Cheapest Cell Phone Plans project. Thanks.

Guest's picture
Ginny

Yep, I have a prepaid cell for occasional use and a landline. It's email I can't do without--phones are mostly an annoyance and cell phones are an even greater annoyance. People just babble all the time, and instead of being in the moment, they don't pay attention to anything they're doing. I see mothers supposedly taking their kids to the park; they stay on the phone the whole time and the kids futiley try for their attention. There are probably kids who take their first steps while the parents are distracted by their need to babble babble such profound words as "Hey, whatcha doin?"
.

Guest's picture
Guest

The general public seems to do whatever the TV tells them. Look at popular music when MTV was ruling. Whatever is in rotation, that's what the lemmings listen to. Now, everyone just can't be anywhere without a phone. Who the hell are you , Donald Trump ?
If I didn't need to carry one at work there is no way I would be fielding innane calls during my own time.The dieect connect is the scourge of all time. Beep Beep beep
"what are you doin' ?
"nuthin, what are you doin'?
"nuthin'"
Please kill me now.

Guest's picture
G Not Connected

I have never owned a cell phone. (age 41) There was a time when they didn't exist and I got by then no problem either. I think of them in the same catagory as things like SUVs, cable TV, Huge HDTVs.

Some people need to be in touch at any given moment. I say if you can't reach me at home leave a message and I'll call you back. Or e-mail me.

I hate when I decide to call someone and they are out on a date or something. I just wanted to say what's up. Why would you answer the phone on a date? That's pretty rude.

I also don't like when I am in the car with someone and they spend the whole time on the phone. Or when I see a group of people, together, but they are all on separate calls with other people. Is it not good enough to talk to the person or people you are currently with. I just feel that cell phones remove the personal contact.

Maybe someday I will have to get one but no need yet.

Guest's picture
M. D.

I'm in my late 20's and never had a cell phone. I'm sure that kids who had parents that paid for all their stuff got started young with cell phone usage. As for me when I'm not at work, I'm at home and when I'm not there either I'm out and don't want to be bothered.

I can understand that some people want to be connected 24/7, it is convenient like if you're stuck in traffic and running late for an appointment but you pay the price. But sometimes I need my privacy and want to be left alone even at home. I also hate it when I'm hanging out with someone and they are too busy answering calls and talking on their cell phone. I was recently helping a friend with painting a room and his buddy who was too lazy to come and help kept interrupting with his calls.

I can make most of my phone calls at home. All my friends carry cell phones in case of a 911 emergency. I have friends in the 25 to 28 age group who have debt and still use a $45-$100 a month contract plan cell phone. Some include the Blackberry phone with internet. Texting is the "in" thing too and sending pics through cell phones. All the costs add up including charges for going over the limit. So many people have found "extra" charges on their bills. If you don't want to be a slave of the phone companies then prepaid cell phones are really the way to go to watch your spending. If you use your cell phone a lot then look into a contract plan you can afford and ask about hidden charges and access fees. Make sure you read the fine print.

Guest's picture

I do not have a cell phone, either, and I am certainly not getting one in the future.

Here are my reasons:

1) I hate interruption.

I do not think I am able to allow anyone to bother me while I am in the middle of something. I would not stop anything I am doing inorder to answer a phone call.

2) I am busy.

I am always in the middle of something.

3) I already have an e-mail address.

You can always send me an e-mail. The main difference between e-mails and cell phones is that e-mails let you know someone HAS contacted you, while mobiles let you know someone IS trying to contact you at the moment. You may or may not sign in and/or check your e-mail box, but with a cell phone, BUM, you are "caught" immediately. Cell phones and privacy are extreme opposites. They are freedom-murderers.

4) I am too good to have a cell phone.

I am not that easy to reach. You wanna get me, you have to work for it. Making a phone call is not enough. You may need to send me an e-mail and wait for me to get back to you. If I don't reply, that means you are not reaching me whatsoever. What matters here is what I want, not what you want.

5) I already have a home phone.

Eventhough I am nearly never home, you can always leave a message or something. Again, you will reach me when I want, not when you want.

6) Millions lived without it.

My great grandparents, The Pharaons, never used cell phones. However they were able to build a civilization which continues to fascinate the world every time we discover something new about Ancient Egypt.

The question should not be "Why don't you have a cell phone?" It should be "Why the hell do you have one?"

Lemme answer it for you..

You carry a cell phone 'cause that is what everyone else is doing.

Greetings from Alexandria, Egypt to anti-cellphonists all over the world!

Love and respect,

Noblez Chavazelle

Guest's picture
Justin

I used to own a cell phone, but I got rid of it and I do not want another one. I am not of the older, supposedely "technophobic" generation (I am 29), I am very technology-savvy, I love my family and friends, I work outside of the home, and I have a lovely wife and son. So, I fit the description of many people my age, yet I do not understand the obsession with cell phones. I guess it is just a preference. I have a landline with unlimited anytime/anywhere minutes and it costs $40/month. I can be reached at work. I make a plan with someone and then stick to it. I get directions ahead of time and use maps. And I get along just as easily as most people I know who pay $60 or more per month so that they can text "OMG, ur so funny", take a call that is apparently more important than the present company, and obsessively check for unread or unheard messages every 12 seconds while I am trying to have a good conversation. Get another cell phone? No, thanks.