Finally joining the "data plan" family ....

[MRG]

They know my phone works, so I just get yelled at if I don't answer or at least return the call. If the feature went away, then I guess there's nothing I could do about it.

I divert certain caller's to voicemail. If I miss DW's, she sometimes gets mad, till I point out, you're not in the voicemail list, yet. Probably doesn't help me much.
MRG

 

[Marita40]

I think I beat you all. Never even had a cell phone. I have a home landline only: works fine with me. And it is not like I'm computer illiterate or anything. I'm on the laptop or Android pad much of the day. I just don't do phones, if I can help it.

 

[SteveNU]

I've been keeping an eye on them just to see how well their model works. (For us, it's a non-issue since, as I said above, we only have AT&T here.) But for me personally, the beef I have with Republic is that you have little choice in phones, AND (worse, IMO) that phone is hopelessly and forever locked into Republic. That's not a problem if you love the service and use it for years, but if it doesn't work for you, that phone becomes a brick.

Circumstances are different for different people, of course, but just as I no longer ever want a contract, I never want to use a locked phone ever again. I bought a Nexus 4 shortly before they were discontinued and after their last $100 price cut, for $199 and totally unlocked.

Yep that is the only catch but if you just want unlimited voice and text and data for a really good price it is a great option. And the phone is a pretty good one too. I figure in 4 months I will break even and then I will be saving at least $100 a month with no difference in the service I have.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

 

[Calico]

Tracfone owner (not a luddite)

Still have my Motorola Razr V3 flip phone. Small, compact, light and makes and receives phone calls. When it dies I'll probably get another one off Ebay for $25.

Read somewhere that some guy was robbed at gunpoint. Robber took his buddies Iphones but laughed at his Razr and said "what the f*** is this and gave it back...so I have that going for me as well!

I saw this same story today and it made me laugh. Anyone who mugs me for my cell phone is in for an unpleasant surprise.

I have a Tracfone flip phone. No camera, no special features. It does four things: makes calls; receives calls; sends texts; receives texts. I buy time for it once a year and then forget about it.

I w*rk on computers all day at my j*b, and basically live on my iPad or laptop when at home. I have no desire or need to be tethered to a phone, or to use it for anything other than the occasional phone call.

I have no plans to change my (phone) dinosaur ways.

ETA: IIRC, I paid $29.95 for the phone.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I saw this same story today and it made me laugh. Anyone who mugs me for my cell phone is in for an unpleasant surprise.

I have a Tracfone flip phone. No camera, no special features. It does four things: makes calls; receives calls; sends texts; receives texts. I buy time for it once a year and then forget about it.

I w*rk on computers all day at my j*b, and basically live on my iPad or laptop when at home. I have no desire or need to be tethered to a phone, or to use it for anything other than the occasional phone call.

I have no plans to change my (phone) dinosaur ways.

ETA: IIRC, I paid $29.95 for the phone.

+1

For light users like me - why should I pay much for a service plan ?

I got one of the Tracfone older gen smartphones. The smartphone handset cost around $50 and I pay about $6.66/month ($20 for 3 months) for (lightly used) service.

Mainly I make a few phone calls a month and a few texts. I also lightly connect to the net but mostly use the (free) WiFi capability to check the news when I'm near a WiFi spot.

Less than $7/month gives me all that I need.

 

[Calico]

I think I beat you all. Never even had a cell phone. I have a home landline only: works fine with me. And it is not like I'm computer illiterate or anything. I'm on the laptop or Android pad much of the day. I just don't do phones, if I can help it.

Until a few years ago I was of the exact same mindset. However, after ending up with a few too many flat tires/other mechanical issues with my 18-year-old car at the time, I gave in and bought a cheap Tracfone to keep in my glove compartment for the inevitable monthly-ish phone call to AAA from the middle of nowhere. The phone lived in the car for a few years, and then one fall the guy who came to pump out my septic tank cut right through the outside phone line while digging, and I just decided not to repair it, so there went the landline. So the Tracfone is the only phone now. I have a newer car, so no more calls to AAA!

The phone has come in handy on a few occasions when extended family members were in the hospital, in terms of getting updates and arranging "shifts" for sitting with the patient, but most of the time it is turned off. I am like you - I don't do phones either. Anyone who wants to reach me knows email is the way to go.

 

[Walt34]

I have a Tracfone flip phone. No camera, no special features. It does four things: makes calls; receives calls; sends texts; receives texts.

That's what we use too.

I've thought about getting a smartphone but I can't help but wonder if I'd really use it enough to justify the expense. We don't go shopping much and when we do it's mostly online with our desktop computer.

I have a Nikon DSLR for pictures, don't need a phone for that and it takes better pictures. Never sent a text message. Got a GPS for the car, for the rare occasions when we use it.

And I hadn't thought about disappointing a mugger.

 

[Lsbcal]

Walt34, I have the same profile. ☺

 

[Sue J]

DH and I each have old flip-phones with legacy prepaid plans. Calls are $0.15/min and texts are$0.10. We are fine not having smartphones because these old plans have no monthly fee and the prepaid dollars don't expire. I can add $15 when needed and it lasts me for 6 months or more.

We hardly use our phones, it's mostly to call while out and see if I need to pick up something. At home I keep my iPad handy and while it would be nice to have that connectivity while out, right now I'm not feeling the need to pay for it.

The best part about our old flip-phones is that they make phone calls just fine and there is no monthly fee.

 

[audreyh1]

We haven't had a landline phone in almost 10 years.

DH had been wanting to get an iPhone for a couple of years [a major beef was small numbers on the dumb phones], but we just couldn't get past the plan pricing.

I didn't want a smart phone, but I did want to upgrade my ancient LG phone.

Fortunately, mid-year 2013, Verizon briefly offered a special "loyalty upgrade" deal to it's long-time out of contract customers to upgrade iPhone5 $100 off usual price and a lower cost data plan.

They split our two-phone family plan - letting me keep a very cheap dumb plan with 300 minutes and free upgrade to new LG dumb phone. My husband got an extra $100 off the iPhone of his choice and an unlimited text/talk 2GB data plan for much less than the published rate.

What a relief! We were getting ready to switch carriers because we didn't like any of the new plan pricing and I didn't want to pay for data on my dumb phone - or text either.

 

[homestead]

I bought a iphone 4 for $120 and got it programmed to work on pageplus network without a data plan. And for $80 for 2000 minutes pre-paid that last 1 yr. It works for email and browsing on my home wi-fi and any hot spots in town. Love it.

 

[Calico]

That's what we use too.

I've thought about getting a smartphone but I can't help but wonder if I'd really use it enough to justify the expense. We don't go shopping much and when we do it's mostly online with our desktop computer.

I have a Nikon DSLR for pictures, don't need a phone for that and it takes better pictures. Never sent a text message. Got a GPS for the car, for the rare occasions when we use it.

And I hadn't thought about disappointing a mugger.

I figure if someone is going to mug me, it serves them right if all they get out of it is my "stupid" phone.

I'm thinking of having a t-shirt made with the words "My phone is a Tracphone" emblazoned on it, to discourage potential bad guys.

The GPS in my car is old school also - it's called a M.A.P. None of the young folks in my life know what it is........

 

[martyp]

I've had an iPhone for 4 yrs. I currently have an iPhone 5. I have an AT&T unlimited data plan from way back. I never actually speak on the phone. It is a small computer and internet connection in my pocket. I use the camera feature the most. Facebook. Traffic maps. Etc. I don't wear a watch anymore. I just check the time on my phone. Wouldn't leave home without it. If you can't afford it . . . well that is one thing. But just to resist the technology for the sake of resisting. I never understood that.

If everyone had dial phones and you wanted to walk over to their house and talk face to face . . . would you resist getting a phone?

 

[Bestwifeever]

I have the smart phone equivalent of your flip phone, Calico--the HTC One with Virgin Mobile. It was the last 3G smart phone sold as I apparently have Sucker written on my forehead, so the data is slow and awful and the sound is even worse. But it is unlimited data and everything else at $35/month which should make me feel better about it, but frugality is sometimes overrated. And the camera is terrible too! How I let myself be talked into this at Best Buy is beyond me. It replaced my ATT go phone or whatever that was called, prepaid minutes plan, that stopped holding a charge.

Meanwhile, DH is on his second iPhone with Verizon.

 

[Katsmeow]

That's what we use too.

I've thought about getting a smartphone but I can't help but wonder if I'd really use it enough to justify the expense. We don't go shopping much and when we do it's mostly online with our desktop computer.

I think it just depends on how you would use it (or if you would). Things I use my iPhone for (and DH uses his Android phone similarly):

1. As our phone. We have no landline so a good phone is important to us.

2. For texting. Yes, that can be done on a "regular" (aka dumb) phone but it is easier on a smartphone (IMHO).

3. Reading books. Today DH and I went out shopping. He was in a slow line at the store so I went back to the car and opened up a Kindle book on my phone and read.

4. Flashlight.

5. Compass

6. Level

7. Sync my Fitbit through Bluetooth on it.

8. Camera - I even have a new lens to make the camera better.

olloclip macro, telephoto, wide angle, fish-eye, and polarizing iPhone photo lenses

Yes, I have a "real" camera but I've found with this phone that it handles about 99% of my photo needs.

9. Upload photos and posts to Facebook (and read Facebook)

10. Keep recipes on Cook'n, my recipe program.

11. Look up calories and WW points for restaurants while I'm at the restaurant or if we decide while out to go somewhere.

12. Calculate WW points for food I look at in the grocery store.

13. Read the newspaper

14. Listen to music

15. Watch videos

16. Check the weather

17. Find my way using the map and GPS

18. Check the stock market

19. Buy things at auction on World of Warcraft

20. Provide my authenticator for my World of Warcraft account

21. Use Skype

22. Record what I eat on MyFitnessPal

23. Play games.

24. Use the calculator

25. Use it as a remote for my TV.

26. Take notes

27. Record and look up reminders

28. Use Twitter

29. Read this forum.

30. Make deposits to my bank

Hmm...need to go get some more apps....

 

[Calico]

I've had an iPhone for 4 yrs. I currently have an iPhone 5. I have an AT&T unlimited data plan from way back. I never actually speak on the phone. It is a small computer and internet connection in my pocket. I use the camera feature the most. Facebook. Traffic maps. Etc. I don't wear a watch anymore. I just check the time on my phone. Wouldn't leave home without it. If you can't afford it . . . well that is one thing. But just to resist the technology for the sake of resisting. I never understood that.

If everyone had dial phones and you wanted to walk over to their house and talk face to face . . . would you resist getting a phone?

I can easily afford a smartphone. I just don't want one. I am connected to computers at work, and at home I live on the laptop or tablet. The only time I am not connected is when I am out and about, and I LIKE that. I LIKE not being reachable and not being connected at times.

Another (huge) reason for me not to get a smartphone is because without one, my workplace cannot expect me to work 24/7. The day they try to give me a smartphone is the day I hang it up.

To each their own. I don't criticize folks who feel the need for a smartphone (which basically includes 99% of the people I know). Doesn't mean I have to join them.

 

[REWahoo]

I have the smart phone equivalent of your flip phone, Calico--the HTC One with Virgin Mobile.

DW feels your pain.

She had the Virgin Mobile HTC One for a year - actually she had three, as they kept malfunctioning. For mental health reasons - to protect her sanity and mine - I replaced it with a Samsung Galaxy 3 for Christmas. Now she's a happy phoner.

 

[Calico]

I have the smart phone equivalent of your flip phone, Calico--the HTC One with Virgin Mobile. It was the last 3G smart phone sold as I apparently have Sucker written on my forehead, so the data is slow and awful and the sound is even worse. But it is unlimited data and everything else at $35/month which should make me feel better about it, but frugality is sometimes overrated. And the camera is terrible too! How I let myself be talked into this at Best Buy is beyond me. It replaced my ATT go phone or whatever that was called, prepaid minutes plan, that stopped holding a charge.

Meanwhile, DH is on his second iPhone with Verizon.

Hmmmm....sounds like you might need to buy yourself a nice smartphone as a birthday present for yourself this year. Heck, as a late Christmas present to yourself. It sounds like in this case frugality is not worth it! I believe in frugality when possible, but not when it is painful. As stated in my other posts, my reasons for having a "dumb" phone are not cost-related, they are lifestyle related.

 

[audreyh1]

I think it just depends on how you would use it (or if you would). Things I use my iPhone for (and DH uses his Android phone similarly):

1. As our phone. We have no landline so a good phone is important to us.

2. For texting. Yes, that can be done on a "regular" (aka dumb) phone but it is easier on a smartphone (IMHO).

3. Reading books. Today DH and I went out shopping. He was in a slow line at the store so I went back to the car and opened up a Kindle book on my phone and read.

4. Flashlight.

5. Compass

6. Level

7. Sync my Fitbit through Bluetooth on it.

8. Camera - I even have a new lens to make the camera better.

olloclip macro, telephoto, wide angle, fish-eye, and polarizing iPhone photo lenses

Yes, I have a "real" camera but I've found with this phone that it handles about 99% of my photo needs.

9. Upload photos and posts to Facebook (and read Facebook)

10. Keep recipes on Cook'n, my recipe program.

11. Look up calories and WW points for restaurants while I'm at the restaurant or if we decide while out to go somewhere.

12. Calculate WW points for food I look at in the grocery store.

13. Read the newspaper

14. Listen to music

15. Watch videos

16. Check the weather

17. Find my way using the map and GPS

18. Check the stock market

19. Buy things at auction on World of Warcraft

20. Provide my authenticator for my World of Warcraft account

21. Use Skype

22. Record what I eat on MyFitnessPal

23. Play games.

24. Use the calculator

25. Use it as a remote for my TV.

26. Take notes

27. Record and look up reminders

28. Use Twitter

29. Read this forum.

30. Make deposits to my bank

Hmm...need to go get some more apps....

How about to check the time?

 

[NoiseBoy]

I took the plunge 15 months ago because I wanted to be connected while on vacation in DC, but I didn't want to lug a laptop around all day. To keep the cost down I went with Virgin Mobile (Sprint Network) and a $200 3G phone. Since my "dumb" phone was with Sprint I knew what their coverage was like in my home area. At this point I am money ahead versus going with a 2 year contract on Verizon/ATT/Sprint. I pay $49 with fees and taxes for 1200 minutes, unlimited texts, and 2GB of data.


As far as being connected I will say that I will never go back. For instance, the next time I visit my parents I will pull up my sister's latest Facebook post with pictures of Christmas in Cali so that my parents can see their grand children (they are not connected and there are no open WiFi routers near by.)


I will say that I am shopping for a faster phone and network because Sprint has not managed to bring 4G to town. As of now I'm am planning to go with a 500Mb plan with T-Mobile because I want to get a GSM phone. I am interested in hearing if anyone has had a really negative experience with T-Mobile. Virgin's service in the major cities that I have visited has been fine, by the way. I probably would stay with them, and not get a GSM phone, if they had 4G where I live.

 

[Katsmeow]

How about to check the time?

I usually check my Fitbit Force for that, but yes I've done that. I've also used it as an alarm clock. And, I forgot to mention that I use it to take pics of receipts which I attached to Quicken on my phone. Also, I've used to take pics of a possible product at a store and then bring it home and research it.

 

[audreyh1]

I usually check my Fitbit Force for that, but yes I've done that. I've also used it as an alarm clock. And, I forgot to mention that I use it to take pics of receipts which I attached to Quicken on my phone. Also, I've used to take pics of a possible product at a store and then bring it home and research it.

That's a good idea about taking pictures of receipts!

Definitely - alarm clock. DH and I - he uses his iPhone, I use my iPad.

He gets shipping/delivery notifications from Amazon and sets various other alarms.

 

[Cassie]

I finally came into the 21st century 3 years ago when I bought an iPhone 3G because it was a free upgrade. my data plan is 200MB, 200 texts and 450+ minutes. I use it for texting, taking pictures, & occasionally talking. I don't upgrade every time a new version comes out. I never let my office know my number, I always gave my land line, I didn't want to be accessible 24/7, & managed to never get an agency Blackberry. I've save every phone I've had plus the one my Mom had. I'm trying to embrace technology.....and my iPad is my BFF!

 

[retiredatfifty]

Having each had water incidents with our Pantech "big number" flip phones we got the last time we renewed our 2 year ATT plan ... my wife & I now both carry no-frills ATT go-phones, just swapped the Sim cards that came with them for our plan Sim cards. I spend a lot of time boating & fishing, so not sure a pricey phone wouldbe right for me anyway. Accidents do happen. We have a 400 min per month ATT shared family plan that rolls over minutes. 19 y/o daughter has a fancy smart phone she wanted for her birthday a couple years ago with a couple gigs of data & 200 texts per month. Wife & I hardly ever text & daughter doesn't text often. I don't like texting & I hate when people text me ('cause it costs 20 cents to view it). Daughter uses her data some ... but not a lot ... and uses her phone on WiFi more often. Total for all is about $108 per month including all taxes, fees, etc. We never use up all of our minutes, although we seem to talk on the phone a lot. Nights & weekends don't count against minutes, nor do calls to other ATT cell phone users. (We also have a landline in the house that comes as part of our cableTV/internet package. We use that some.)

Wife and I have agreed smart phones might be a nice little luxury for us ... but one we can live without considering the total costs. Just not worth it. Maybe in the future if prices come down no no-contract smart phones - which they seem to be starting to.

We usually take one of our bargain-basement laptops with us on trips.

 

[JakeBrake]

I support three AT&T "freebie" flip phones on the voice family plan. Pay as you go data is the default option. If someone pushed the wrong buttons the phones would be off to the internet/data races. Also, I was receiving a large amount of data spam from unknown sources. I would be charged outrageous prices because I don't have a data plan. So, I blocked data from the three phones. I haven't missed it yet.

Although I will admit that now that I am now eligible for new replacement "free" dumb phones or reduced price smartphones I have been checking online with AT&T to see what is available.

I have discovered that if one of the dumb phones breaks before I am eligible for a "free" replacement, I can buy an identical phone on ebay at very low cost and install my existing SIM card and I'm good to go. I also discovered that if I lost one of my phones, AT&T will replace the SIM card for free and I can either buy one of their phones which are definitely not free or I can buy another phone on ebay.