Do you remember some of the “essential” technology from the past that you no longer use: VCRs, cassette tapes, Walkmen? Today’s home phone may soon fall into that category. Cutting your landline may be a great way for you to save money on an older technology that you no longer use and therefore, a way for you to find money that you can give to charities!
Two of our Community Purse members, Jenny King and Amy Kamins, decided to say “goodbye” to their traditional home phone. Both of them were tired of receiving robocalls at dinner, and they no longer wanted to have the expense of a landline plus the cost of cell phone service.
Here is what they share about the experience:
Jenny King dropped her landline when she realized she was not really using her home phone and she questioned whether she needed the service.
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Pros:
- No more call interruptions during dinner
- The house is much quieter
- We saved $396 annually
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Cons:
- Requires having the cell phone nearby, especially when you go to bed
- Having the cell phone around brings more distraction
- Reception is not always as good as our landline
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Amy Kamins cut her landline because she didn’t want to pay $45 a month to be annoyed by political calls and telemarketers.
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Pros:
- Savings of $600 a year
- We enjoy quiet dinners and a quiet house
- I find it very freeing
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Cons:
- Some people from our past may not have our cell number, despite our efforts to contact everyone
- I cannot use my landline to find my cell phone when it is misplaced
- I have to keep my cell phone charged
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Consider this one last thing before you cut your landline. When you dial 911 in an emergency, your landline will connect directly to your police department. Depending on your cell tower location, your cell phone may be directed to a nearby police station and they will direct your call to your police department. I called our Lincolnshire police department to find out what happens with a 911 call from my cell phone and they recommended I do a test call. I was happy to discover that from my house and cell phone, I connect directly to my local police department.
“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” John Wesley