Lately, J and I have been thinking about something a little bit crazy. We are talking about canceling our cell phones and just having a land line! *GASP* Hello 1990s!
Most of us grew up without cell phones so this really should seem like such a big deal. I think it's a good idea but I still feel nervous about it, which is crazy. We briefly went to prepaid phones about 2 years ago and then after not too long went back to smart phones. I have had a cell phone for the past 12 years! It is kind of hard to remember a time when I wasn't teathered to a phone. And cell phones are so much more than just phones these days. They are cameras, video cameras, calendars, address books, instant access to the internet, kindles, and alarm clocks. We can constantly check Facebook and our email.
Sometimes, more often than I want to admit, my cell phone is a distraction. I have a to do list to get done and instead I check Facebook to see what everyone else is up to or I check my email or Pinterest or Instagram.
Why are we thinking of getting rid of cell phones?
The biggest reason is we pay $150 a month for two smart phones! That is $1800 a year! When you put it that way, it's insane. It seems insane to spend that much money on a phone. Our landline cost $20 a month and internet in our home is $50. We have been talking about cutting costs in our budget and our cell phone bill glares at me. I have cut it down as much as I can without cancelling.
The second reason is our cell phones are such time suckers. As I mentioned already there is many times where I find myself mindlessly surfing pinterest or Facebook. Instead of going to sleep or doing laundry or whatever else I need to get done. It is a bit ridiculous. It also keeps us from being in the moment a lot of times. Whenever we feel even slightly bored we turn to our phones. They interrupt time with our family and time with our friends.
I think it will be hard to give up my phone cold turkey. I will have to use my alarm clock to actually set the alarm for the morning. I will have to use an actual camera when I want to take pictures. I will have to go back to using a paper address book and calendar. I forgot my phone this morning on my way to work and didn't have it for 4 hours. It was weird but I survived.
What do you think? Could you ever give up your cell phone?
Most of us grew up without cell phones so this really should seem like such a big deal. I think it's a good idea but I still feel nervous about it, which is crazy. We briefly went to prepaid phones about 2 years ago and then after not too long went back to smart phones. I have had a cell phone for the past 12 years! It is kind of hard to remember a time when I wasn't teathered to a phone. And cell phones are so much more than just phones these days. They are cameras, video cameras, calendars, address books, instant access to the internet, kindles, and alarm clocks. We can constantly check Facebook and our email.
Sometimes, more often than I want to admit, my cell phone is a distraction. I have a to do list to get done and instead I check Facebook to see what everyone else is up to or I check my email or Pinterest or Instagram.
Why are we thinking of getting rid of cell phones?
The biggest reason is we pay $150 a month for two smart phones! That is $1800 a year! When you put it that way, it's insane. It seems insane to spend that much money on a phone. Our landline cost $20 a month and internet in our home is $50. We have been talking about cutting costs in our budget and our cell phone bill glares at me. I have cut it down as much as I can without cancelling.
The second reason is our cell phones are such time suckers. As I mentioned already there is many times where I find myself mindlessly surfing pinterest or Facebook. Instead of going to sleep or doing laundry or whatever else I need to get done. It is a bit ridiculous. It also keeps us from being in the moment a lot of times. Whenever we feel even slightly bored we turn to our phones. They interrupt time with our family and time with our friends.
I think it will be hard to give up my phone cold turkey. I will have to use my alarm clock to actually set the alarm for the morning. I will have to use an actual camera when I want to take pictures. I will have to go back to using a paper address book and calendar. I forgot my phone this morning on my way to work and didn't have it for 4 hours. It was weird but I survived.
What do you think? Could you ever give up your cell phone?