Everybody’s Talkin’ At Me
Here’s a situation I’m just not happy with: our cell phone/land line/Internet charges.
Because we have a business and because I simply cannot hear using a cell phone (I’m deaf in one ear, which complicates things considerably), we have a line line. In fact, we currently have two land lines. Plus Call Notes (AT&T’s answering service) on both lines. We share one cell phone, with 450 minutes per month plus 5000 weekend and anytime minutes. We don’t come anywhere close to using our 450 minutes. NO WHERE close. And we never text, although I noticed that on my most recent bill, we got charged for six such messages.
Our land lines, cell phone, and Internet fees are all bundled with AT&T. The taxes, surcharges and other “special fees” alone add up to $33/month! (Of all the fees I resent, I resent the special ones the most.)
We don’t make many long distance calls. But since I can’t hear on the cell, I usually pick up the land line to make them. And it’s usually in a quasi-emergency situation, like when I need to call my out-of-town sister over my mother’s hospitalization. It does add up. What I need to do (I guess) is call my person and then ask them to call me back, using their cell phone minutes and free long distance. Then I would pick up my land line and be able to hear. That’s the best plan I can come up with at the moment, although Skype would also work, I’m sure.
I’m voting for immediately losing one of our land lines, and relying on Caller ID to notify us of calls we need to return. Additionally, I’m voting to ditch AT&T CallNotes and go back to a phone with an answering machine component. CallNotes costs WAY too much money, and yes, it we dump it we won’t be able to call in remotely to hear our messages. But if we carry a cell phone, why is that so important?
As a Late Boomer, I feel like I need to get a handle on some of these ridiculous expenses. None of my adult kids have land lines, and I envy their freedom. I doubt if that will ever completely work for us, but we need to know some alternatives that are working for others.
What are you doing to keep your telephone/Internet charges under control? How low can we go, dollar-wise, and still enjoy the services we need?
Katy,
We have recently been dealing with this same situation. We live in the boonies - I mean the cell phone just started working at our house about two months ago. Consequently we have satellite internet - let’s say expensive. And we have to have a land line. At this point in time, I may be able to substitute cell internet card, but that really doesn’t save me much because my cell carrier doesn’t have a bundle that includes combining these two services. Although we both have jobs, we often work from home and spend significant time on the internet, so we need good wervice. It’s a catch 22 situation. I am frustrated. I suppose we could sell our house and move where the cell service is better and get rid of the land line, but right now I love my house…
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Financial Planning on 10/02/08 at 10:46 PM
I really feel your pain about all the telephone confusion! I have a cell phone now, but I only use it when I have to. Have you tried to find a pay phone out on the road somewhere lately? Impossible. We have so many bills connected to internet services, cell phones for my husband and myself, and of course, the land lines and they all drive me crazy some days! I think people these days communicate way too much, but that is just the way it is. Surely as technology increases even more, our bills will go down hopefully.
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 12/28/08 at 04:24 PM
The problem lies everywhere. How the cell phones telephones are showing such a big amount at the end of the month. Though I am using it very carefully, only for important occasions still the escalating price is threatening. Landline is essential to get connection for broadband, and one cell phone is a must. I decided to eliminate the remaining phones from the house in order to cut the expenses.
Regards, Bob Richardson
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landscape architect on 01/22/09 at 02:00 AM
Thanks for sharing such experience,letting us know what is your past situation.Hopefully you can find techniques to decrease your bills in the future.Enjoy the way of living.
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my cellphone is my communication, telephones, landlines whatever it is very important to have it. Anytime
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/06/09 at 10:45 PM
I’m preeti. my dob 7th Sept 1980.I’m not happy with my husband,will i have one more marriage in future?
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I understand your thoughts, and the “not hearing”!
I have some hearing damage, due to “concussion explosions, and some age!Sometimes, it sounds as if they are talking to me, and it sounds like an echo!
Sometimes, I think it’s “selective hearing”, people tend to repeat their same issues with life, and do nothing to improve their situations, and I have a “hard time hearing the constant complaints”!iphone 3g case
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I am voting to ditch AT&T CallNotes and go back to a phone with an answering machine component.
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