Cell Phone Dependency
I used to dislike cell phones and cell phone users. Of course, back in the day, 75% of the cell phone users felt that having a cellular phone gave them the license to act like obnoxious assholes, so you can’t blame me for disliking them for that reason back then.
Now it’s a fact of life – you have to have a cell phone.
Of course, you could argue this subject to death – a person true to saving money, pinching pennies, saving for retirement, being frugal, or being the best pf blogger (s)he can be would not have a cell phone because “it’s $50-300 per month thrown away“, etc, etc.
So I ask a few questions – how are you going to coordinate rides/pickups with your significant other when you are sharing a car? How are you going to not look like an unprofessional cretin when your co-workers decide to set up an urgent meeting? How are you going to be reached for emergencies?
Besides, cell phones started to beat land lines in their own game a long time ago. Cell phones are convenient, cheap, and are quite necessary if you are planning to live a fruitful, busy, and fulfilling life amongst other humans.
Because of our move, we naturally decided to get phones no matter what, but as soon as money allowed. The time conveniently arrived when I was sick and tired of being too late to pick up my wife from her job.
A short visit to Cingular with my work badge (to get a discount), and we walked out with two Nokia 6030 phones, a two year contract, 1,400 minutes to share, and a $95/mo recurring bill.
I would highly recommend a Nokia to anyone needing a phone. I’ve used all kinds of phones, and this one is the best in terms of battery life, features, and convenience.
My conclusions:
- Whatever plan/phone price they throw around while you’re in the store, double it in your head. They say it’s going to be $50 a month, but it won’t. Taxes and misc. items literally double the price.
- Don’t be a whiny pansy and get a 2-year contract, unless you haven’t done your research or planning to move. You’ll get a better rate, and your fancy new phone(s) will be free. Don’t even think about getting those “Go Phones” in Wal-Mart.
- If you’re a talker, it’s better to overpay for service your first month, and keep the minutes with rollover than to not get enough minutes and pay for overages. You can always drop down to a plan with fewer minutes during the next month.
- Go for battery life rather then features. A cell phone is still called a PHONE, not a media combine. Squeezing a few more hours out of a battery is infinitely more important than having a crappy VGA camera. Call me when they’ve integrated all of the following:
- Phone with a decent battery life and loud speakers;
- A six megapixel camera with a gig of storage;
- Video camera that shoots 1024px wide video @ 30 frames p.s.;
- Movie player;
- Mp3 player with at least a gig of storage and a battery life of 36-48 hours;
- PDA with email, Internet browsing, and installation of your own programs on demand;
- Integrated and universally accepted credit/debit payment system;
- Flashlight;
- GPS navigator
- Before all that happens, don’t waste my time with intergating cut-rate, crappy features into a device that’s only supposed to do one thing – MAKE AND RECEIVE PHONE CALLS.
- Make sure batteries are readily available through ebay and PriceGrabber, and NOT THE STORE THAT SOLD YOU THE PHONE.
- You might want to “splurge” and justify buying that insurance thing they will try to sell at the store IF AND ONLY IF YOU BOUGHT AN EXPENSIVE PHONE. Two years is a long time. You probably WILL lose the phone, run it through the washer, or drop it onto the parking garage floor. Don’t bother if you’ve got a cheapie. Unlocked GSM phones on eBay are dime a dozen. Swap the SIM-card, and you’re golden.
- Cancel your old plan before you get a new one.
Peace.
hmmmm, I guess I’m an unprofessional cretin although I don’t have one because of the cost savings, but because I like having people unable to contact me. That may have to change someday, but at least at this point, being an unprofessional cretin isn’t as bad as it might seem ;)
Comment by personal finance advice — September 11, 2006 @ 11:39 pm
Max, Prepaid phones are NOT all that bad. A nokia 6010 through Tmobile is only about $35 at walmart. You can buy a Tmo card that ogive you 1000 minutes for $92. Those minutes last for a year, and the cost comes out to only 9.2 cents per minute
Oh yeah… you don’t need to pay taxes w/prepaid, so the rate is less than the equivalent plan that is post-paid.
Comment by Lawrence — September 12, 2006 @ 12:48 am
Didn’t mean to offend anyone.
I needed to repeatedly get a hold of a coworker during a huge rush, but couldn’t because he refused to own a cell phone. Every time I called the number he gave me, a robotic voice instructed me to leave a message (home answering machine). I guess if you’re in a professional setting and don’t have a cell phone, it will get old very quickly. J, if I remember correctly, you’re self-employed; sometimes working for yourself reduces the need to constantly be reachable.
L,
I got 700 mins for around $35, they also last a year and they roll over.
Comment by How To Be Poor — September 12, 2006 @ 5:49 am
Prepaid are good for people who need cel phones but will never ever use the monthly minues. I keep one in my car for emergencies, travel, getting directions or when the land line is tied up.
Comment by Mike — September 12, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
First time poster, been reading a few weeks. Congratulations on the move. I enjoy reading your story. Tried checking out your “How to be Metal” site to see how it’s going–doesn’t look like it’s going so well (unless you put that there as a joke?)
Anyways, this sites coming along great. Keep up the good work.
Comment by Jay — September 13, 2006 @ 10:25 am
Hmm … I put cell phones in the same category as cable. It’s something I don’t need in my “buy only what I need” philosophy. However, I agree that many people put cell phones in the “need” category. Maybe the opporutnity is to save money by eliminating you land lines. Several of my colleagues had dispensed with land lines (and watches) in favor of the cell phone.
Comment by Super Saver — September 16, 2006 @ 4:58 am
Had one for three years; don’t have to have one now. I will always be thankful I don’t have to have one with present job. I am GLAD not to be constatntly attached to the world. My wife can reach me at two numbers at work, and I can call her at home, or leave a message. And there’s email …. Travel arangements? We have an old school analog conversation prior to that day. And we’re saving at least $462 a year, based on my old Verizon package price.
Comment by Michael — September 18, 2006 @ 8:43 am
butalbital butalbital
Comment by butalbital — October 2, 2006 @ 4:32 pm
debtconsolidation debtconsolidation
Comment by debtconsolidation — October 2, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
paydayloans paydayloans
Comment by paydayloans — October 3, 2006 @ 1:03 am
workathome workathome
Comment by workathome — October 3, 2006 @ 3:16 am
airtravel airtravel
Comment by airtravel — October 3, 2006 @ 6:42 am
paintballguns paintballguns
Comment by paintballguns — October 3, 2006 @ 7:06 am
ameribag ameribag
Comment by ameribag — October 4, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
paydayloans paydayloans
Comment by paydayloans — October 18, 2006 @ 5:23 pm
valentines day…
i unfortunatly can across yours site and i found great infos …keep it up…
Trackback by valentines day — October 19, 2006 @ 11:45 pm
sea life…
i unfortunatly can across yours site and i found great infos …keep it up…
Trackback by sea life — October 20, 2006 @ 2:45 am
red carpet…
i unfortunatly can across yours site and i found great infos …keep it up…
Trackback by red carpet — October 20, 2006 @ 10:53 am
used office furniture…
i unfortunatly can across yours site and i found great infos …keep it up…
Trackback by used office furniture — October 21, 2006 @ 1:49 pm
jktkgndh…
jktkgndh…
Trackback by jktkgndh — December 13, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
[...] How To Be Poor Blog Archive Cell Phone Dependency Posted by root 9 minutes ago (http://www.howtobepoor.com) Comment by debtconsolidation october 2 2006 10 20 pm people checked out this site and agreed with every word i wrote powered by wordpress v2 7 1 Discuss | Bury | News | How To Be Poor Blog Archive Cell Phone Dependency [...]
Pingback by How To Be Poor Blog Archive Cell Phone Dependency | debt settlement program — June 15, 2009 @ 10:54 am
mobile phone with free gift…
Most people make the mistake of going direct to a UK network for the next mobile phone… not knowing that there are incentives available from household names such as Tesco. These include Laptops, HDTV’s, Wii’s, Playstations, Tom Toms and much more….
Trackback by mobile phone with free gift — September 14, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
The cell phones have become the growing necessities. Its unlikely to unlike cell phone users.
Comment by Payday loans — January 31, 2010 @ 10:58 pm