Ask the Readers: Could You Survive Without a Cell Phone?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Michael, Guest, and Ernest S. for winning this week's contest!

For those of us with cell phones, it is almost impossible to imagine what our lives were like before cell phones. Between the ability to make phone calls, text message friends, and check emails, most of us would have a very tough time functioning without our phone. However, there are people who manage to get by without having a cell phone.

Could you survive without a cell phone?  Would you be able to use email, Skype, or instant messenger services for all your communication needs? Why or why not? 

Tell us if you could live without a cell phone and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry: 

  • Post your answer in the comments below 

For extra entries (1 per action):

  • Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
  • Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest ends Monday, September 26th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after September 26th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
  • You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
  • This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
  • You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.

Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Guest's picture
Jesyve

I have survived without a cellphone but only for a short time. Its hard to live in NYC and there are no working payphones for when you need to make a call. So I have gone back to having a cellphone but it is prepaid.

Guest's picture
Cynthia Pitman

I could easily get along without a cell phone, they are nice but I am often threatening to get rid of mine just for the peace and quiet that I would have. I lived for 5 years without any kind of phone and loved it.

Guest's picture
Christina

Physiologically, yes. No problem. But I do like being able to text someone something the moment I think of it instead of having to write it down or remember to e-mail them later. Another reason, I can't really live without a cell phone is because I don't have a landline. My cell phone is my only contact number - aside from a work number that I haven't even memorized.

Guest's picture
Ernest S.

I think I could do it, but it would be a painful transition. I really like being connected when trying to coordinate things away from home (e.g., picking someone up at the airport). Also, I feel like my smartphone really helps me to be more productive during the day.

Guest's picture
Ernest S.

"Liked" on Facebook

Guest's picture
Kristen

I couldn't do it. I haven't relied on a home land line for close to a decade. I'm not home a lot, and pay phones are few and far between. And, to be blunt, I'd become a social outcast if I wasn't accessible to my family and friends through text.

Guest's picture
Guest

No. I work at the company (named for a fruit) and need it to survive :)

Guest's picture
karon carter

i could easily and willingly survive without a cell phone. i keep my phone on at all times in case my elderly mother has a need otherwise it would be off. i am not an anti social person i just don't have that much to say. i work in the service industry and have plenty of contact with people so i don't have the need to "feel connected" at all times.

Guest's picture
Elizabeth S.

I like your facebook page!

Guest's picture
kol

Yes. Easily. I do not text, and have a 15 dollar phone, with a plan sim. I would not miss it much, but I feel like I am SUPPOSED to have one so my teens can reach me. Once they are both in college- it's gone!

Guest's picture
Elizabeth S.

I COULD live with out my cell phone, but never would I want to. We do not have a home phone

Guest's picture
Lynda

it would be very inconvenient but i think it's doable to live without a cell phone.

Guest's picture
Lynda

tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/116685222686363649

Guest's picture
Lynda

i like wisebread on facebook

Guest's picture
John McLain

I've never had a cell phone, and don't plan to get one. Life is better without giving someone the ability to contact you anytime day or night. To me, a cell phone is just one more hunk of junk to tote around. It'll never catch on ... :-)

Guest's picture
Rebecca B. A. R.

I could survive without my cell phone, but not without a home phone, too. I don't do anything on my phone now, except make and receive calls, get voicemail, rarely text, take pictures, and keep important notes.

Guest's picture
Diana

Of course I could, but it's nice to have.

Guest's picture
Irene ( aka Wilma Flintstone)

Yes, I live without a cell phone and without Facebook, and Twitter (no extra entries for me). My husband and I travelled to Canada and Brazil this summer without cell phones and without our laptop computer. We will try to hold out as long as we can. A few years ago we had the free year of OnStar in one of our vehicles. That was the closest we came to having a cell phone. No cell phone bill makes wisebread sense to me.

Guest's picture
Maria Jimenez

Yes, I can live without my cellphone. There are very few people who call me and they can always call my landline. I have not subscribed to a data plan and have been using my cell's web capabilities only where I can get free wifi. This means I can wait until I have access to a computer before checking my emails and social networking sites. I don't rely on my cell for that.

Guest's picture
Mary

I don't have internet or cable at home (I use the library to rent DVDs of TV shows I want to see or movies, and also for occasional internet use) so my cell phone with internet is the only way for me to check the weather when I am at home, so I don't know that I could do without it, at least without getting another more expensive service(internet or cable).

Guest's picture
Raina

Yes, I could survive. It's not preferable, but it's possible. I don't do THAT much with my cell phone. I make the occasional phone call and the even rarer text. It's mostly nice to be able to be reached when needed or to not worry about being stranded without a method of contacting someone.

Guest's picture
Francesca

I would not be able to survive without my cell phone. Because I have few minutes on my plan, I've tried as much as possible to make calls through Google Voice or Skype with family and friends - but it would be impossible or at least extremely inconvenient without a cell phone on hand.

Guest's picture
Guest

I currently don't have a cell phone. Haven't had one in over a year.

Guest's picture
Callie C

It would be quite difficult, but I'm sure I could. The only people that really contact me are my mom, my boyfriend, and only a handful of friends. I commute and live at home, and all these people have the number for the home phone. I skype with my boyfriend, although he does like to check in with me via text message throughout the day. Mostly the phone is used for texting. I honestly don't use it that much for the $50 a month that I pay!

Guest's picture
VLew

I think I could go without my cell phone and I have a "smart" phone. We are all so used to being connected and having the ability to do so many things at our fingertips we sometimes neglect other things. Sometimes I intentionally leave it at home for a day to remember what it was like not to constantly be "connected"

Guest's picture
Carol

I could survive without but I'm not sure my family could stand my not having a "leash".

Guest's picture
Corwin Stickney

I haven't had a cell phone for over 2 years now, and don't miss it a bit.
Have a desktop computer for email & Facebook, check them daily and
that is enough.

Guest's picture
Carrie Conley

I guess not, I just purchased one yesterday

Guest's picture
Carrie Conley

Like you on facebook...carriedupreeconley

Guest's picture
Carrie Conley

Tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/weeziestoy/status/118253620574687233

Guest's picture
Liz M.

No, I wouldn't feel safe driving around without one, especially now that there are virtually no public pay phones anymore.

Guest's picture
Liz M.

I'm already a Facebook fan!

Guest's picture
Liz M.

I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/#!/FakeGradSchool/status/118543305733718017

Guest's picture
Guest

I can and do live without a cell phone. Happily.