I was just reading a post in Gardening about cell phones. When I talked to my Cardiologist the other day he suggested I carry a cell phone most of the time now, when I go out walking with Oliver, etc. because a few new problems have popped up. I don't have one, but DH has so I guess I should get one of my own. So now I have the problem of deciding what I want. My DD told me not to bother getting a plan, that she gets a card fromo Walmart which is good for so many minutes, and then she just buys a new card. Do any of you do that, or do you have a plan????
Gran, Why can't you just carry your DH's phone with you; when you are not with him? It would save you any additional cost on any kind of "cell" , those PrePay phones cost too, and you have to remember to buy the new card to 're-charge' them. Aren't the two of you usually together anyway? (If you needed help you could call 911, and have them call him later. on your home phone. Just wondering why this wouldn't work?
We have Verizon formerly Alltel and we love them! We have a plan and it's fairly reasonable almost $70 for the 2 phones. We have no land line any longer for almost 2 years now ..... this is the way to go as far as we're concerned!
I thought about that singleblossom, but sometimes when I go in shopping he stays in the car. Also he isn't always on the ball with keeping it charged. He seems to have a lot of trouble with his too, so I think it would be better if I have my own. Still have to think about it more.
We also have Verizon which was formerly Alltel. We have a plan which is our 2 phones and DS's because neither us nor them have landlines anymore. It is going on 4 years without landlines for us. DS has a track phone for when DIL goes to school and is on the road alot.
Pat ~ WC WI
I use at&t cell phone plan. I use the 59/mo plan which allows you something like 900 min per mo which I don't always need but if I cut back to the step down plan to 450 min/mo, it seems like I always use the 450 min all up before the end of the month and then they get you for going over the minuets of that plan. So I stick w/ the 900 plan and have about 3000 rollover min. right now! lol!! I just don't like their internet svc. I might change my net over to verizon when my contract is up in a few mos. I don't have a landline and haven't for about 8 yrs now! Don't ever plan to get one, especially here cause Frontier owns our phone lines in this neck of the woods and there is no choice as far as landlines go. Can't get Verizon, At&t, or anyone other than just them. We have figured out if there is nothing we can really do about it around here. It's not really right but what can you do?
- Marg, Lanc.Co., PA
I have the over 65 plan that Verizon has. Carry it with me for emergencies and that's about it, once in a great while I might use it.
I have a Tracfone. I spend $20.00 every two months to add 60 minutes. For an extra $10.00 you can extend the time for 6 months. The only time I have ever used the 60 minutes up was when my brother was in the hospital after he had a stroke. I use mine very seldom and usually do not have it turned on unless we are away from home for a few days.
Gran I would think the best way to go is add a phone to DH's service and share his minutes if he doesn't use them up every month. I have a tracfone which I renew once a year for $129. When I renewed about a year ago I got a new phone for free and everytime I renew I get double the minutes with it. The best way to get minutes and phone deals is to go on line and order.
Sorry more things have developed. Please take care of yourself.
Albertagran I used to use a cell phone using the cards. The reason I first got it was because I lived across from my Mom and she always complained if she needed me she couldn't get me with the computer on. So I got a cell phone with the calling card. It was AT&T and worked fine so she could call me when the computer was on. Then last spring the local phone company and me went to war and I told them I had a cell phone and didn't need their service so turn off my phone and internet service. I then got internet through satelite and went to a regular plan with AT&T. I did get the 450 minute plane and the first month I almost run our out of minutes because it was when my Mom got really bad and had more phone calls then usual. I called AT&T when I had 6 minutes left to last me a week. I told them the situtation and they gave me another 300 minutes I could use and roll over what I didn't use. Now I have somewhere near 700 roll over minutes. But here when I started using the cell phone all the time I found out that if I get far off the main highway which I'm prone to do from time to time I had no signal. But I do live near the main highway so have good service here at home which is the main thing for me anyway. But if you aren't going to use the phone much I would go with the phones with the calling card. When you run low on minutes all you have to do is call them and add more money using your debit card or a credit card.
I wouldn't be using it much at all Steve, just for (heaven forbid) an emergency or for DH to come pick me up or something like that. I think I will try it with the card, and if it not good I will go into a plan. I really want it for when I take Oliver for a walk, because I have a heart problem and am I afraid I will get too far from home to make it back without problems, and I wouldn't want to have to knock on someone's door.
I was laughing when you were talking about the signal, because at the lake we can't answer or phone from the cabin but we have to walk out a way on the road behind the cabin, there is one special spot that the signal comes in good.
Now I have another REAL problem, what color phone should I get?????? decisions, decisions....
Gran, I have a tracfone and love the secure feeling it gives you. I just get the card when I need it to keep up the airtime and minutes. My one daughter had a plan but figured out it was getting too expensive for her so she went to one like the tracfone because she has a heart problem and you never know.
Albertagran, the companies like at&t, verizon and such have calling card plans which might work out better than a trac phone for you. Tell your family about wanting to get a new cell phone and I bet someone has one lying around in a desk drawer that they're not using and would gladly give it to you.
Another thought is to talk to your family and see if they can add you into their family plan and you pay for your line and minutes to help out in the bill. Imo, that is another good option.
How about all those situations folks get into on those judge shows like Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown and such. All those stories where somebody's girlfriend ran up the cell phone bill on them to $2,000 or something like that and then they have to take them to court over a cell phone bill! lol!
I have a story to tell you Margba. When we all went to Hawaii last year, DH and I and DD and SIL went to Maui, but my other DD and her husband and the two boys went to Oahu because of the football game - Pineapple Bowl I think. Anyway my GS (the FB player) took his cell phone with him and for the two weeks he was busy texting all his friends. When we got back DD got her phone bill and all the texting was $1200.00. Well the you know what hit the fan. Although money is no problem to them they made him go and get a job at the supermarket close to them first packing bags of groceries and then he got "promoted" to the meat department because he is a big guy and could really cart meat around. He didn't know that the plan he had on his phone didn't cover if he was out of the country, but he sure learned fast. He worked pretty hard to pay off his bill, but he did it, and I admired my DD and SIL for making him do that.
You are right I am going to talk to Francine to see if she doesn't have a cell phone laying in a drawer. I bet she does, and I never thought of that.
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