Living without telephone??

We use a calling card for any long distance calls and since everyone except our very small town is long distance it use to get pricey to even call the school for the children..that was long distance...8 miles away. We now have no long distance on our phone..use the calling card that we bought years ago at Sam's club and it is 3.5 cents a minute to anywhere...recharge the phone card with my debit card over the phone and never go to Sam's club to do it. It is the easy and cheaper for us than using long distance. You are more careful of how long you talk with a phone card. I keep my phone turned off most of the time. It drives people nuts !! (LOL)..and a couple of times a day I check the messages..I figure I am not that important that people need to find me at a moments notice. I then can decide if and when I want to call who back..and am not bothered with the phone ringing. We use to have to travel the 3 miles to town to use the pay phone and really didn't mind that except in the snow...Or how about the phone that is set up through your computer system ?? Good Luck !!

Mastiff made a good point, in case you missed it. Those of us who have lived without phones got lots of 'unexpected' visitors, since they can't call ahead. Sometimes, they come at embarassing moments. You might want to take that into consideration.

I didn't have one for the entire 8 years that I lived in Montana, and it was fine most of the time. A hassle a few times, like the time I had to hike two miles to a neighbor with cell's house because I had been assaulted! But those times were few and far between.

We didn't get one in Texas for the first few years, although we lived in a regular house with power and all. I used payphones, work phones, mom's phone, or did without. Sure made raising teenagers a little easier!

But we have one now, that I never even bother to answer. I have a cell phone, which I got for two reasons, 1. an hour commute to and then back from work, 2. Recurring car and other problems, it got to the point that I just felt like I needed to be able to let kids and parents know where I was, that I was ok, when I would make it home, etc. One night I was caught in flooding rain and ended up stuck on the wrong side of a creek, that finally I carefully waded, just to get home because power lines were home and I knew that everyone would be frantic and worried about me.

Of course since I got it the car runs better, lololol, KNOCK ON WOOD! Jk.

I love my cell phone, actually. I like the free long distance after 7, I'm not a big phone talker, but I could be to anyone in the US if I wanted to be. I like being able to keep in touch with the kids on that 'out of touch' time after work. It also cuts down on friction between daughter and I, I don't have to worry about her tying up the land line, because no one that knows me calls me on it anyway.

But that's me, and I have done it both ways and been fine with it. Not having one is more a matter of planning and having a contingency plan for emergencies than anything else. The pay as you go phone is excellent advice.

hollym

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"Be Kind...for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"

Philo of Alexandria

Lol, Gayle! Luckily my years in Montana sans phone came with a loooong driveway! I could see 'unexpected visitors' and fade into the woods if I didn't feel social!

hollym

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"Be Kind...for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"

Philo of Alexandria

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person in the world who prefers to live without a phone. Not having a phone means one less bill to pay every month, and phones tend to ring at the most inconvienient times. As I'm still in the planning stages of homesteading, I'm still living in the city, and make the few calls I do make with a pay phone.

I was soo tempted to get rid of my phone, but I have 3 kids, hubby, etc. I wouldn't worry about phone at your age.
If anyone has broadband, you can get Vonage through your computer for $24.95. I have had it for months, works fine. The telephone company doesn't know I exist so no telemarketers. Who HOOO!!!!

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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

We haven't had a phone for many years, I can't remember when I last talked on a phone and I really don't miss it a bit. Yes, it can be inconvient but it is much quieter without the ringing and there is someone selling something on the other end. We got into this fix when a hurricane blew down tree limbs that took down the power and phone lines to our house. The power company came up and fixed their lines after almost 2 weeks but the phone company didn't come. We called them from the pay phone down the road and they told us that it would cost us a lot to have the phone lines replaced. They fully understood that it was the storm that had caused it but they didn't care, they just wanted their money for replacing them. We said no because at the time we didn't have it and have been happily phoneless ever since. For awhile we had cell phones because our jobs required us having a phone but unless we were expecting a call from work they were turned off. For the computer we have cable. It can be inconvenient during bad weather having to go down to the gas station on the corner to use their pay phone but I still prefer not having one. I guess it is what you get used to. I just hate it when I get calls and I tell them that it is inconvenient for me to talk just then and they keep right on talking ignoring what I just told them.

I don't think I would miss one. I have a wife and kids, so of course we have a regular "land-line" plus a cell phone. But if I lived by myself I would certainly consider living phone-free. I probably get one personal call a month, if that. It drives my wife crazy, but I don't even answer the phone when it rings. 99.9% of the time, I know it's not for me!

It may sound strange, but I actually dislike talking on the phone. I usually pace back and forth, just waiting for the call to end. Even if it's someone I enjoy talking to, I just don't want to hold that hunk of plastic up to my ear!

I think the idea of the pre-paid cell phone is a good one, though. Just for emergencies.

I've got one but I rarely use it. My phone company is pathetic and my local calling area is very, very limited. Everywhere I have to call is long distance. Even a long distance call to town. I have a cellphone with free long distance and I use that 99.9% of the time. I even run it through the regular phone lines in my house with a cellsocket docking station. My landline very seldom rings. Last week I got a call I think. I'm not sure of the last time I used it. Probably a month.

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Respect The Cactus!

Well, I guess I could survive without a phone for personal use. My work requies at least a cell phone.

I am not sure I would want to be without a phone, although I dont use it much.

I am reducing my phone cost by going VOIP, dummping the local carrier and going broadband phone. This way my bill goes from $32 phone + 16 LD down to $20 for everything. It does have some drawbacks if the internet is down but I do have my work phone and I have an old unsubscribed bag phone for emergency cell calls.

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Gary in Central Ohio

ditto

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The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.

Simple Freedom Cell Phone at Wal-MArt cost $10 month Have 80 minutes locale or 40 minutes LD no roaming. My cousin has been using this service for 6 months and has had good luck with it.

Kenneth in NC

Nick
I live 1/2 mile (across two narrow strips of woods and two big fields) from my shop, and I use a 900mhz Digital Spread Spectrum cordless telephone to make calls. The base is in my shop. I have to walk out on the front porch which is facing my shop to make and receive calls. I did have a outside antenna hooked to the base, then I could use it inside my house. I lost the antenna in a fire--just never replaced it. This might be something you could try if your parents will allow. I was told that the 2.4gig works better than the 900mhz, they even have a 5 gig now, but I don't know how either works. I do know that the Cost of the phone with the 900mhz has a effect. I paid almost $200 a few years back for my 900, about the same time my sister bought a $49, 900mhz------she couldn't leave out her small yard with her's---I could go 1/2 mile with mine. I also bought a Close-out 900mhz off of a E-bay seller's site for $39-----I knew it sold for $250 when it first came out---------It also worked 1/2 mile without any problem. When I say "with out any problem" I am saying you have to find area's that you have a signal, where a tree or what ever is not blocking the signal. My phone has page/intercom on it so i can talk to whom ever at the base.
Other things you can think about-------you can get a set of the FRS/talkabout radio's if you want to have contact with your parents. I also have a neighbor alot closer(about 300 yds through the woods) than my shop that said I could hook my cordless phone in his shop if I wanted, but I had to get a nextel phone for another business, but still use the 900mhz some.
--------Oh, just incase you don't know from other post------I live Off Grid--no utilities, my shop is a part-time business 1/2 mile away.
So-----Yes you can live without having your own phone and still have a phone, but If I did put a cordless phone base in someone's home--I would help pay the bill. Later Randy

Someone mentioned a CB radio.

Another option would be to get your ham radio license. You could contact others for emergencies then. There's always someone on the 2 meter band you could contact. Also, depending on the FM repeaters in your area, you may even be able to use the autopatch to dial into the public phone system for emergency calls. That's pretty common too.

If you go satellite internet you can buy the two way sistem on ebay and save a lot of money over new equipment. I sold mine on ebay to a great guy in NE arkansas.

Thanks a lot everyone for all of the replies! I'm going to look at the pre paid cell phone option. I think i figured it out before and it seems like a lot of phones are available for less than $10 a month. I may just even try to do what Randy suggested and see if a cordless would work....although I first have to check with the parents on that one. I'm just looking for the most cost effective option for me. I could afford a regular land line, but i figure any savings from that is more money to pay down the mortgage!! Just a little FYI...I'm 22, single, no kids so i don't have any children that could get hurt and make a phone a must. Mostly keep to myself so I don't have all kinds of people calling me. Thanks again for all of the replies, you all have given me much to consider.

Nick

Whatever,I WILL keep my internet until I vant afford it,be it cellular,dsl,cable or Sat.

BooBoo

During the first year of marriage, I didn't have a phone. BTW I like my internet so Iam am not getting rid of my phone.
Pre -paid cell phones are your best bet.
tnborn