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Cutting Back on Communication
We've cancelled the TV; we never had it in Hollywood, but when we came to Oregon it was a good deal with our phone and internet so we had it installed. We haven't watched it for months, so we cancelled it. Now I'm thinking of also cancelling my cell phone and (*gasp*) internet service.
I hate my cell phone. I don't like being constantly leashed that way, I never answer the damn thing anyway (some of you can confirm that), and I'd rather put $50-70 a month into something else I'll enjoy. OTOH K is right and it's harder to live without a cell phone now because there aren't pay phones anymore. I'm still debating that one. What do y'all think? I just feel like we were happier and better adjusted when you called someone's house, and if they weren't there, you left a message and no hard feelings. On the rare occasions I go out with no cell phone, I feel so free and peaceful. So hm.
And on the internet... well, I spend too much time on it. If I had no internet access, that's hours a day I'd be doing other things that benefit my life more - gardening, writing, reading, spending time with people, going to the park, etc. There are eighty trillion coffee shops where I can still check email and internet a couple times a week, but I don't love paying money for technology that doesn't really enrich my life.
K thinks I'm crazy. What do y'all think?
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I understand totally.
TV - definately ditchable.
Cell phone - maybe get a prepaid for emergencies only? Don't give it out, except, like, to K, of course.
Internet - well, as long as you could get to a coffee shop, that might work. Hard addiction to break, though.
Good luck!
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Cancel your cell phone and get a prepaid; that way you have it when you need it, but you don't use it constantly. The internet - I couldn't live without it, and not just for stripperweb and email. I mean, a) I need to check my email several times a day, not a week (I think you are probably underestimating how much you need it) and b) I require it for research and stuff. Is there a neighbour's wireless connection you can surf off of?
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I hadn't thought of the prepaid! That's a great idea. I'll look into that.
We had shit luck getting onto the neighbors' wireless when we moved here, so no, I wouldn't count on it. There really are countless coffee shops and pubs with free wireless around here though. I'm thinking two or three times a week I can just go to the coffee shop. That's the one K is resisting though, so we might have to keep the internet; it's his house too, after all. Maybe I just need more self-control.
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You don't sound crazy at all. Liberation from technology can be freeing. It's kind of funny how technology that is designed to bring people closer together can actually have the opposite effect-yanno?
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You could keep the internet and use it for phone. You could also get a wireless skype phone and pay fractions of pennies for talking to anyone, anywhere. You can use the phone where ever there is wifi. That would cut down on cost and com but still leave you with options.
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I ditched my cell phone a couple of years ago and I haven't missed it much. I have been thinking about a prepaid though for emergencies, and that odd time when I'd like to make a call. I never answered mine before either.
I think the "glom a signal" when you need it for the internet could work for you too. It's not like you'd be totally giving it up.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jenny
Cancel your cell phone and get a prepaid;
Works like a charm. I did it for a year before I had to switch back due to my job.
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We're ditching our TV at the end of this month. When we moved in here they offered us a trial cable package in addition to our internet for a few extra dollars so we thought we'd try it before it reset to the regular rate in 6 months. It was awesome at first. I haven't had a TV in a decade and we started watching the Food Network, IFC, and Sundance a lot. Our watching has really greatly tapered off over the past few months to hardly watching it now. The novelty is lost.
I use a phone two or three times a month now but its because I use email constantly. I don't think I could give up use of the internet. Its a double edged sword - a wealth of information and a black hole of lost time. I would never give up my phone either though. Its a safety issue for me, especially when driving home from a club alone.
Ditching myspace and facebook was quite liberating though. I did not need or have time for random old friends and relatives following every aspect of my life on there. Those sites are just creepy to me these days. I do have one now that is virtually blank and private that I use for email.
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I recently cancelled internet at my house. I have an iPhone so I pick up some wifi to check email depending on where I am. I also take my computer to my boyfriend's to use internet a couple times a week. Thats why I'll post a lot for a few days and disappear for a week!
Now I garden, read, clean, and generally get a lot more done. I really am happy with the decision to cancel TV and internet, especially in what is shaping up to be a gorgeous Portland summer.
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I think about doing something like that alot. I am not sure how it would work out though. I could live with out TV...not too many problems there. I need my cell right now though so I can get calls from Mr. J in Iraq. I thought about maybe getting rid of it when he gets home though. The internet would be the hardest to give up. I pretty much do most of my banking and shopping online. I also use it for research for school.
I'd like to give up these things one day. I really think it would make me happier.
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I never use my phone. I hate talking on it and I hate people expecting me to stop everything I'm doing to answer their call. I refuse to listen to my messages, thats seriously something that can send me into a suicidal state. Seriously.
I think having a pre paid phone for emergencies is really important though. Especially being a dancer. What if someone was following you home one night, you could even call for help.
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I know what you mean !
I haven't had TV in my home since I was 19. I have the cheap netflix plan and watch movies.
I'm getting ready to cancel my home phone ( yeah - $50 a month savings ).
Now .... net ....... um couldn't live without that , so I greatly admire your self control if you can. I use it heavily for my day job though too.
I REALLY KNOW what you mean about wishing you could go back to the time when there were not cell phones. The technology we deal with has changed out day to day lives tremendously and I don't think it's increased our quality of life . I was just talking to a friend about this the other day. The end of the debate came when we realized that no matter how much we would like to not have the net and cell phones around so much, that the world currently doesn't work that way.
That said ..... I'm like you that way with my cell. If I'm at a restaraunt enjoying a meal ... it's off. If I'm at a coffee shop enjoying coffee ... it's off or on low volume for screening. Hiking .... off . Let your tech. toys increase your quality of life and not decrease it . Now .... if only I get the people around to also turn their phones off when we are out and about.
With your cell , you and K could look into a family plan - might save a little between the two of you.
With the net , some companies can pause service do you won't have to pay a reconnect fee. You could pause it for a month and see how you do.
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I would wither away and die! These little devices do require self control though.
Tivo changed my life. I never watch live TV and choose what I do watch.
Good Luck!
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DON'T LEAVE UUUSSSSS!!!! :'(
But I support all the other things. Particularly the cable! The best shows you can always get on DVD now - a much better way of watching, IMHO. The cell phone, well, safety is a bit of a concern, but maybe cutting back service to a bare minimum, i.e. no texting, cameran, web browsing, etc?
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I'd suggest hosing your phone/internet and getting a verizon service, see if you can find a e815 (you can get internet on this that uses your minutes, is unknown to verizon, and is able to work flawlessly)
Or just get a cellphone that allows you to tether and get internet off it. (No it's not more expensive if you choose the phone with the tethering built into it. :D There are ways.)
I have a few e815s that are hacked since there is just no other phone like it, but it's great, you use the plan on the phone, or you use internet. When on the internet you use minutes unless it's nights then it's free :D
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It took me a long time to get a cell phone and once I finally got one I hated it. I don't like people being able to reach me wherever I am. I accidentally washed it in the laundry a few months ago and broke it, I have yet to get a new one. Oh well.
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Just the thought of cutting off those services has me breaking out in a cold sweat and feeling panicky. :scared:
I'd sooner cut off my water or sell my car. I guess I'm pretty pathetic, but I rely on the internet and my cell phone to earn a living.
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I'm addicted to the internet.
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K is putting his foot down on cancelling the internet, so I guess we won't be doing that. It's his house too, and he doesn't put his foot down very often, so I guess he has the right. I'm going to look into cancelling my cell though, and getting a prepaid for emergencies. I like that idea. Thanks!
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The prepaid is a great idea! Also, it would be a lot harder to not have cell AND internet... going cold turkey vs. tapering off, and all. :)
(msg me your new #!)
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Also, if it's a consideration, you might want to switch to the smallest plan possible w/ your provider, that way you can keep your number.
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I have the smallest plan already, and it's about $50 a month. I'd just rather have that fifty bucks for clothes or a night out or something else I'll enjoy, preferably something that isn't going to give me a brain tumor.
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I'm hearing you on the tv. Here in Australia we have Pay TV (aka cable) and Free2Air. I've only ever had free2air unless I was at my father's place or someone else's place that had PayTV... otherwise, I learnt that lesson about PayTV (aka cable) a looooooong time ago.
When I was living at home Dad had PayTV and I lost count of the times when I would be flipping thru the tv channels looking for something to watch of interest... and nothing... even with the extra channels. Now? I just have one tv .. and a VCR.. and that's all I need. I don't actually spend a lot of time 'watching' it anyway.
As for internet, just downgrade your plan. That's what I'm about to do in the next billing period... this way when I reach my limit (and the speed gets limited yet it is still use-able for the basics)... it FORCES me to go do other tasks.
In re mobile phone: I've never EVER been on a plan and hope to never ever have to be on one... pre-paid is always the way to go. Even better, here in Australia, Vodafone offers a 365 day plan... so I only have to re-charge once every year to keep that number active (it's my personal phone so I don't use it nearly as often as my work one).
My work one is costing me $50 per month however it is on a plan where I get $300 worth of credit for that period and I do use it.. private party work makes sure of it! :laughing:
I even got rid of my voicemail on my work phone as it cost me to check it.. so if the call is important.. ring back another time or txt me.