I have a niece that her and her husband only have cell phones. Yet when they're both out (not together) and have their children being babysat, now what? What if that person has to make an emergency call (for whatever reason)and they don't have a cell phone? I think that the base phone at home is necessary. Just take basic local calling.
By LRP from LWL, MA
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We're actually planning to give up our home phone next month, but will have 1 extra cell phone (on the "family" plan) that will strictly be for the house, specifically to address this type of scenario. It's cheaper to pay the $10/mo for the cell as opposed to phone service (plus all the various taxes).
I also worry about phone service during an earthquake - so I keep my old non-electric phone - & I use the caller id all the time, too.
You could also get a relatively cheap "pay-as-you-go" phone and load it with 30 min of call time.. usually enough time to get PD,EMS,or FD there.
Seems like they haven't thought out all the scenerios that happen when one is raising kids. Unfortunate as it may be, there always seem to be emergencies and a home phone is more of a necessity than a luxury. As a parent, I'd feel safer with some type of phone around when my cell is with me.
I fretted a while until I concluded that, as I age, the stationery land-line made much more sense AND it's much cheaper than paying for minutes. I got into REAL TROUBLE the last time I had a cell phone.
God bless you. : )
I think the home phone is the only necessary phone unless your work demands you keep a cell phone. It's cheap...a lot cheaper than a cell bill. If they are trying to save money I say keep the home phone and only have prepaid phones for extreme emergencies.
I got rid of my home phone about a year ago when both my husband and my job were paying for our cell phones. I don't think I could go back to a "land line" anymore. We now pay for the cell phones but the convenience is worth it. We don't have cable and have all long distance family members. I also don't feel like I HAVE to pick up the phone just because someone calls me. If I am busy or it is a business, I can just call them back later. Plus, I can't count the times that I have called my husband at the store because I forgot to add something important to the list.
I can honestly say that I have never had a baby sitter (in the last 5 years) that didn't have a cell phone. They are standard issue anymore. If, for some reason, I had someone watching the kids that didn't have this option, I would simply leave my phone with them. I'd probably be going out with my husband anyway.
I imagine that home phones are going the way of the 8 track and the VCR. Hopefully, that will mean that cell phones will just become more and more affordable and useful.
Jess
We just got a home line after not having one for 3 years. What kept happening was neighbors or my husband would try to reach me and my cell would be dead, or I wouldn't hear it. I much prefer to have a landline, especially in an emergency. That being said, in the 5 days we have had it in, I have already had 6 telemarketing calls!
I have put my name on the donotcall.gov registry list, but it takes 30 days.
But still I am pleased and we got a great deal from ATT. No set up fees and 25 bucks a month for a year with all the features!
Peace.
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