So, while doing my daily jog through NPR last week, I noticed an article titled: The Daredevils Without Landlines – And Why Health Experts Are Tracking Them. I immediately clicked over, thinking, “Ah crap, am I microwaving my brain by only using my cellphone? Am I a guinea pig for the long term effects without even knowing it?!” Turns out, no, my friends, no. The entire premise of the article has to do with the CDC {Center for Disease Control} identifying the “type” of people that only have a cellphone. I don’t think they give a rat’s keister about any cancer-causing waves leaking into our ear while we chat.
The CDC realized awhile back that their phone interview surveys, which they conduct to track public health, were missing an entire demographic: cellphone-only users. They wanted to categorically define the type of health choices cellphone-only users make, and see if they differ from people hanging on to their landline. Turns out, cellphone-only users are more likely to drink and smoke than their landline counterparts. They are more likely to be lower income as well. Those characteristics surprised me. I am not sure I can see the correlation between drinking and smoking and having a landline, but apparently there is one {according to the data, anyway}.
We still have a landline. I don’t really use it all that much, but I don’t like being tied to my cellphone while I am home either–plus I am not ready to pay for a cellphone plan with more minutes.
The article left me wondering what is the norm? Are the majority of people holding onto their landlines, or are people moving away from them and going to cellphone-only?
So, here’s an unofficial survey: do you have a landline or are you a cellphone-only household? If you are a cellphone-only kind of person are you out smokin’ and boozin’ it up regularly? Ha! Kidding!
~Mavis
Melanie says
I have a cell phone only. Just me living in a 30 ft class A RV. Don’t smoke or drink. Some days I think I mite start though. Does that count ??
Brooke says
I haven’t had a landline in about 10 years. I use a Republic Wireless android phone with unlimited talk and text over cell or WiFi and unlimited data on any WiFi. My cell bill, with tax, is $11.67 a month. A landline would just be a waste of money. And I don’t smoke or drink 🙂
Amy says
We are a cell phone only household. My husband is tied to his work cellphone, not by choice but he has to be on call in case of an emergency. I just don’t use my phone much, so have a small plan. We just got a cheap prepaid phone for my daughter. It works for us, and I consider us pretty healthy and active… no smoking, no cable tv, shoveling out the barn, hunting and canning type of family.
Rachel says
So weird- you’d think it would be easier to smoke and drink with a landline- so hard to hold the cell phone with just your shoulder!
But seriously – we have cell phones only, no landline. The only tiny thing I miss is the idea that people could call “our” home to talk to “us” – you know? Instead of calling me or my husband. My kids are too young for cell phones so they don’t have the experience of the home phone ringing and running to answer it…but since the last landline we had was only called by telemarketers, it’s no great loss.
Reasons why we choose not to have a landline: 1. we don’t have cable TV, only internet service- had we two of the three “triple play” services, we would probably add the third since it’s somehow cheaper. But since we only want internet, it’s not worth the cost of adding a landline. 2. We have moved a bunch of times in the past 10 years, and keeping our cell phone numbers is very helpful. 3. See above- the last landline voicemail we had was FILLED with telemarketer hang ups and the occasionally message from my great aunt Rosie- by the time I erased all 27 messages from telemarketers and called her back, she was pissed it took so long!
And btw we don’t smoke or drink. At all.
Laine says
We got rid of our landline nearly 10 years ago. It was costing us nearly 35 bucks a month and we didn’t have long distance on that line and after my husband retired from active duty service, we simply didn’t need a landline anymore. There was an issue about the charges on the bill that never seemed to get rectified, so canking the line was just logical.
As far as the boozing and smoking thing…not so much here. Hub will have a beer now and then during a sporting event (only at home), but neither of us smoke and I don’t drink at all.
So I’m not sure what the CDC is trying to get at with their ‘data’ but it doesn’t really apply to my household.
KAte says
Same.
Our landline was costing us nearly $40 a month. And since at the time my job was on-call (so I got more jobs by answering my phone quickly at all times) so I needed a cell phone. By the time we paid for cell phones there didn’t seem to be much reason to pay for a landline too. Plus after moving a bunch of times it got really old to keep giving everyone our ‘new’ number. It was so much easier to stick with the same cell numbers.
We did consider the whole, ‘in an emergency’ situation, but with landlines having gone mostly digital by now it’s no great advantage, they can get overwhelmed just as badly as a cell network.
My parents have held onto their landline, but they mostly ignore it since it’s all telemarketer calls at this point.
It seems to me the trend is older people are keeping landlines at a higher rate. So maybe the cell phone users are more likely to smoke or drink just because they tend to be younger?
Lorie ~ Ferndale Lane says
We have cell phones and a landline. I am actually thinking of getting rid of my cell phone! Lol. I love having the landline for emergencies, the address connection to 911 and also makes me feel nostalgic. Last year we had a small tornado go through and during the 6 hour power outage my cellphone died (I kept checking the radar to see what it looked like out there and if it was safe to come out of hiding) all I had was the landline to use to call my husband out of town.
Carla says
Cell phone only. Landlines are expensive. We even got my 89 yo mom a “wireless” landline, which is really a stationery cell phone due to the cost difference.
ashley says
I’m guessing it’s an age thing. Young adults are more likely to not have a land line, and they’re still in the drinking/smoking age before they start families (think college). Obviously that’s a generalization though.
I’m 30 and haven’t had a land line since I left home at 18. Not a smoker, but I do enjoy adult beverages. And our income isn’t exactly spectacular (enough to have 3 kids and pay all our bills and put some in savings though). So I guess I might be contributing to their findings! Maybe if I put in a land line our income will go up, lol.
pamela sheppard says
I’m not sure about the age thing. My dad is 82 and doesn’t have a landline. He hasn’t had one for about 5 years. He has 2 cell phones. A regular contract one and a pre-paid one. Not sure why that is though!
Beth says
I got rid of my landline a while ago too…the only folks that called were sales people and why pay for that. I don’t smoke and other than the occasional wine with cooking or friends that would be it. My hubby doesn’t smoke or drink.
Heather H says
Wow, I feel out-numbered! We’re a family downsized to 8 people now 🙁 We use a landline with an answering machine. Our service is pretty cheap, as it’s through our internet company and we don’t have cable tv service. We own one cell phone. Yikes! No drinking or smoking. I have been overdosing on the homemade eggnog lattes lately though 🙂
Tisha says
We still have a landline. I admit that I like redundancy of services. I have lived in the same house for over 10 years and will likely be here for quite a while longer so having the same number works, if people are calling the kids, I can monitor that easier, too. I also would not want to have my cell phone with me at all times to know if someone is calling. I have a prepaid cell phone that I pay $20 every 3 months on for emergencies when I am out and about. Unfortunately, when that phone dies, that plan will no longer be available but I am hoping it holds out another couple of years.
Joan says
I finally made the decision to get rid of my land line a year ago when I just realized I had not been using it for a year and avoided answering it because the only people who called it were telemarketers. By that time all friends and family members were calling me on my cell phone (free long distance). It saves me money, Plus I was told by someone to keep my old plug in phone. If there is ever an emergency and you need to call 9-1-1 sans a cell phone even without home landline you can still use it for a 9-1-1 call. I must admit I’ve been a bit busy and have not gotten around to the drinking smoking and partying part. I’ll put that on my to do list for 2016.
Monica says
We have not had a landline for about 8 years. It was pretty pointless when we did have one. The only people who called the landline were telemarketers, most of the time, and occasionally a family member……..when they tried to call my cell and I did not pick up.
I do smoke and drink, but am not low income.
Jane A says
That’s really funny because the CDC survey people called me on my cell phone yesterday! We are cell only. For 2 years before we ditched our landlines we used magicjack to reduce costs, but when we moved we just decided to go cellphone only. I don’t miss the landline. . . . and my only addiction is carmel macchiatos 🙂
TrayceeBee says
I have waivered back and forth about whether or not to get rid of our landline. So far we haven’t. I like having it in case of power outage (not sure I want to trudge out to the car to charge my cell if there is no power and a raging storm going on!).
I too think it’s a weird correlation between cell phone and drinking/smoking. Doesn’t seem like it would be the case….
amy says
cellphone only family of 5. non-smoking. wine once a week(ish). also no cable – only netflix and broadcast tv.
Andrea says
I am cell phone only. It made no sense to have a landline when no one was there to use it most of the time. I have a pre-paid cell plan with unlimited talk/ text. And I don’t smoke or drink.
Crystal says
I haven’t had a landline in well over 10 years. I ditched it during my college years when I got my first cellphone. I was rarely ever home so there was no reason to have a landline. I’m in my mid 30’s now. My husband is still in school working on his PhD, so we definitely are considered low income until he graduates and gets a full time job. We both drink and he smokes. I only know one person my age with a landline. I think people my age and younger are mostly landline free and that’s why the statistics skew towards drinkers, smokers, and those with low incomes.
Kris says
Sounds like we are in the minority. We have a land line and a rarely used prepaid cellphone. The best number to reach me is the land line. My daughter is 10 and the hardest thing for her is that she has to call parents cell phone to talk to her friends. If parents are out of town, then she can’t talk to them. We don’t smoke, but enjoy adult beverages periodically.
Julie says
We have basically the same phone situation. I am at home most of the time and do not want to carry a phone with me all day. The pre-paid cell phone is for emergencies and convenience. My son hates having to call his friend’s mom or his friend’s dad when he really just wants to talk to his friend.
My husband does have a cell phone as he travels frequently and has a side business where he needs to be accessible.
We’re non-smokers, but we do enjoy wine with dinner most nights.
Stephanie B says
We still have a landline. Hubbie’s work pays for his cell, I add $10 a month for my pay as you go phone. I’d say my phone calls are half home phone, half cell. We don’t smoke or drink, and we’re not low income. Our cell signal is not very reliable in our neighborhood, but even if it was, I’d still keep the landline.
BeckyM says
I’m a 37 year old dinosaur that uses a landline 99% of the time. We have a rarely used tracfone to use when traveling. I LOVE that people aren’t able to get in touch with me all of the time! 🙂 The can leave a message on my ancient answering machine. 😉
Jan says
The UK may be different, we have a landline but really only because it is in a package with our broadband, tv and mobile (cell) provider. Our son and daughter come into the younger age bracket (obviously!) and both have landlines as well as mobiles. We all drink but only half of us smoke.
Lana says
We ditched the land line about a year ago. No one we wanted to talk to ever called that phone and I am so glad to have peace! It also saves us $37 a month. We are not lower income. We do not smoke but we do drink an occasional glass of wine or hard cider.
I saw a bunch of Swagbucks surveys on that subject in the last few months but it had to do with the presidential election. I am so glad we will not be getting all those calls!
Heather says
Our home phone of 29 years is my husband’s business line, so we write it off as a business expense. We never answer the landline unless we’ve heard a cell phone ring that we missed. We have three cellphones, but we also cover a lot of miles in a day. We don’t smoke, but I enjoy an adult beverage. Child with a cell phone, but she helps her dad, so roadside assistance might be needed while feeding the cows.
Marsha M says
No land line here! I don’t consider us low income but I believe we would be classified as that. However no drinking or smoking in this household so I guess they didn’t survey us!
Our decision to not have a landline phone was probably mostly financial and not seeing a real need for one. The only reason I have considered adding one is because I have kids and land lines can be better in emergency situations to call 911.
Chris says
Viva la landline!!! We are a landline and 4 cell phone family. I despise owning a cell phone! The landline has great clarity, no rays zapping my brain, and no worries about cracking the screen or losing it. Yes, the convenience of texting my teenagers is wonderful, but the trade-off not so much. The hubby & I will keep our “dumb” phones until they die. The idea of paying for data when we don’t want it makes me crazy. The teens have smartphones. We live in the suburbs of Chicago where EVERYONE texts and no one talks.
Lynn says
Cell phones only. Dropped our landline because it was loaded with taxes, fees, and who knows what. No drinking or smoking here.
Donna says
I may be a dinosaur, but I use a landline exclusively at home, and always keep one non-wireless phone in my home, too. When the power is out and cell towers are down (it happens!!) then I can still use my landline, as the phone lines carry power independent of the power lines. Of course, I realize I won’t be able to reach many of my friends and family who only have cell phones, but I CAN MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS!
Ashleah says
I had a landline at the first place I lived after college, but after that it didn’t seem necessary. Nobody ever called me on it, and I ended up opting to not have cable after that, too.
So I’m cell-phone only, I use Hulu and Netflix and a digital antennae for entertainment. I drink socially, usually one or two Cuba Libres (rum & coke with lime) if I’m going to a party. Sometimes I’ll do a few glasses of wine instead. But otherwise, I don’t drink. I don’t smoke.
Daniel says
Land line at the house, and also of course, each family member has a cellphone. Non drinking, non smoking household…….
Karen says
We are a cell phone only household. I don’t allow my daughter to have her own but there is a spare one that is active on my nightstand should she ever need one…. long story. We don’t smoke and only drink occasionally. I don’t we are low income but I could be wrong…. isn’t like 90 % of the country low income now? I prefer my cell because it does more than just make calls. 🙂
Tracy L. says
We do have a landline and each of us has a cellphone (4 adults). It is part of my “bundle”. I have considered dropping it, but I too worry about 911 service etc. We have had our home number for 26+ yrs. and that’s the number I put on everything. Our daughter is disabled and we have a lot of doctor/therapy offices calling and they leave messages. We were robbed in April, and while on the phone (cell-I was worried the people were still inside my house), I couldn’t remember my address and started giving them my old address!! While I would like to reduce our overall budget, I’m leary about taking away the landline. But, maybe it’s cause I’m “old school”.
I’m 50 yrs old and we are non-smokers, but do enjoy an occasional glass of wine. We are not low income.
vicki says
We have a landline, my husband husband has a cellphone and so do I. I’m torn on what to do about the landline. I keep saying I am going to get rid of it. Like others we keep it because of emergencies.
Lise says
We haven’t had a landline for almost 10 years. No one but telemarketers ever called us on it anyway. So when we downsized our house when we moved states, we just never hooked it up at the new place. We got rid of our TV at the same time cause we never watched it. (Note.com; we recently bought a small TV last year so we could watch movies together at home.) Hubz and I each have a cell phone, with the same numbers we’ve had for more than 10 years. Since we are so “mobile” in our lifestyle, it’s just easier for us. Same reason we ditched our desktop computers in favor of more mobile laptops/tablets. We do drink, but not much. Maybe only one or two drinks a week. We don’t smoke (me never, Hubz quit a few years ago). Our current home doesn’t even have a landline phone hookup. That may soon be a problem, cause we only want internet, no cable or landline, and want to switch off Comcast to go with the local phone company. We’ll have to see if they can rehook up lines to get internet service thru them (there USED to be a landline in this house and we *think* we know where it was located). Crazy, huh?
Cyndi says
I’ve thought about getting rid of my landline in the past, but I have decide to keep it and use is as my “business/message” line. Only my friends and family have my cell phone, and all the doctors, telemarketers, and whoever else calls on my land line and leaves a message.
Also if you need a Lifeline for the elderly or infirm, as we do since my mother has come to live with us, they require a land line for communications.
Holly says
I bet age is the factor. I bet younger people are more likely to be cell phone-only AND smoke & drink.
Dena says
My family has a home landline & two cell phones. We maintain the landline because here in a valley near Gig Harbor, WA, our cell phone company only have 1, sometimes 2 bars of connection, out on our deck; all other cell phone companies can’t get a signal in our ‘valley’. So the home landline is our main communication @ home, the cell phones when we ‘climb out of the valley’ & are on the go. This is similar to when the TV’s went to cable instead of antenna. I actually called FCC back east & said this was going to force us to pay for watching TV. The guy in FCC asked if we could just raise our antenna higher in the air to catch the signal from Seattle or Tacoma. I told him that the height would interfere with the FAA flight patterns for airplanes because we didn’t live in flat Kansas, but in western WA, where there were hills & valleys! The same thing apparently goes for cell phone signals.
Maria says
Landline was $40 a month and the only time it rang was someone trying to sell us something. Kicked that to the curb. Cell phone only for 5+ years. Hear that sound? It’s the $480 in my pocket each year by having a cell phone only. We are 58 year old grand parents. Don’t drink don’t swear don’t rat my hair. Work hard on a farm
Tammy says
We do not smoke or drink and we have a landline only. We do have a cell phone – one minutes only phone on which we load 1000 minutes PER YEAR. We use it on an as-needed basis, which obviously is very rarely. Most of the time it is off (or the battery is dead…not so useful in an emergency…LOL) so I never give that number out.
Mary Ann says
I run our business from home, so I have a land line with an 888 # attached AND a separate FAX line, but no private land line. We each have our own cell phone and I resent that. I hate being attached to the phone all the time!
Barb says
Landline here. No drinking or smoking on the cell phones.
Sara says
We got rid of the land line two years ago, we never used it. Don’t smoke!
Katie W says
My husband and I don’t have a landline. It doesn’t make financial sense to have one. We each have a cell phone, but don’t talk much so we don’t need a ton of minutes, and we use wifi as much as we can, so we get a lot out of our small data plans. However, if we lived out in an area with unreliable cell service, I’d have a landline so I could call 911 if need be. My parents still have a landline, and I’m not sure why. I only ever call it if neither answer their cell phones and I know one of them is bound to be home, and this happens rarely.
Katie W says
I should also add that we drink occasionally, but we don’t smoke, and I wouldn’t consider us poor by any means 😛
Athena says
Pretty much everyone I know is cell phone only. My parents and I believe even my grandparents have made the switch. It’s just so much easier. Why pay for a landline when you can pay $30 a month for unlimited calls on a cell and take it with you wherever you go?
Moira Sutherland says
We live in the UK both my daughters have land lines with no phone attached they do not know their number. The land line is required for the broadband and TV. Both use cell phones. My husband and I also only use our cell phone as we are retired and always on the move, we also use mobile broadband
CathyB says
We have a landline and also cell phones. I tried to go cell phone only for a while but ended up restarting the landline because we live in a spot that gets poor cell reception. It was so frustrating to try and schedule appointments and such and have my calls constantly dropped!
The other factor was that our two kids were reaching an age where they were old enough to stay home when we went out, but we wanted to take our cells with us. We did have an extra cell to leave at home with them, but since it was rarely used it always seemed to be dead when we wanted it, or the kids would leave it downstairs and not hear it ring.
I admit that I also like the fact that a land line rings all over the house and I don’t have to carry it with me to hear it. Also I like that it has called ID so I can know if it is a sales call versus my kids school, whereas my cell phone usually just gives me “caller unknown” for both. And since it seems like telemarketers call my cell phone as well as land line, I like having a land line number to put on all those forms that I suspect are going to end up on telemarketer lists.
The best part is that the land line is included free with our internet package.
I am mid 40’s, rarely drink, don’t smoke.
Marcia says
We have a landline but are about to get rid of it. It is too expensive. We bundled it with cable internet, and last month it was $30 for the service and $39!! for 9 long distance phone calls.
pamela sheppard says
I have a landline and a pre-paid cell phone. Instead of getting rid of my landline I got rid of my cell phone contract. I seldom talk to anyone on either line so I made that choice. I still save quite a bit of money per year. I was paying over $50 per month for the cell phone and now it’s about $10.
Jen Y says
We’re a landline only family…so what does that mean?! 😉
We live in the rural midwest where the best internet service is through a landline. We don’t want to pay for two phones so we do without a cell phone…honestly I don’t want to be available 24 hrs a day.
I would say many people drop their landline because they are poor….it’s cheaper to have a loadable cell phone with no plan & just use it sparingly. I grew up in poverty so know a lot of poor people & that’s one of the main reasons they don’t keep a landline, they cannot keep up the monthly payment. I also think poverty leads to more smoking & drinking, you feel hopeless & look for escapes that become addictions….that keep you in poverty… a terrible cycle. Also, the government has started giving free cell phones to the poor. Why pay for a landline when you can get a free cell from the government? Then load it with minutes when you have some cash.
I’m sure the poor isn’t the only group though, young people on their own, started with a phone through their parents & eventually kept it. Then young families like my son & daughter-in-law who are far from poverty but live with no landline because they don’t need it with two smart phones.
Lisa L says
My husband and I both have cell phones, and we do have a landline at home. He rarely uses the landline. I prefer to use the landline when I’m home as I really don’t like cellphones that much. No smoking and only a bit of boozing!
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
Interesting. I haven’t had a land line in about 10 years and for the three to five years prior, I rarely used it. I rarely drink and I’ve never smoked.
THe only thing that concerns me (though not enough to actually get a land line again) about not having a home phone is during an emergency situation. There are steps to make a call on a cell phone; swipe, password, click, dial… I don’t have kids but am curious how kids learn to dial 911 or grandma when there are so many different kinds of cell phones.
That said, I can’t really imagine justifying getting a landline again. Heck, I’m this close to cancelling cable and just using internet.
KK @preppycrocodile
Lana says
Had to comment and say that our 1 and 3 year old grandchildren get our daughter’s iPhone and call me without her knowledge on a regular basis. It is crazy how children just seem to know these things now.
Ellen in Clackamas says
Well, Rats…they never called me to ask!! No landline for me–I could get it bundled with my cable but then I’d have to buy a phone! So cell only, quit smoking 20 years ago but could go for a Hot Toddy if someone was making one.
Renae says
We hold on to our landline only because our cable provider kind of forces us to in order to bundle our phone/internet/cable. If we lose the landline our bill actually goes up, what a racket. We don’t smoke and do drink a little. We don’t answer our landline though, if that makes a different. People who know us…call our cellphones.
M. says
I hate wasting time on the phone and don’t want to be available 24/7. I’m also thrifty. We have a landline (less than $25.00 a month) and a prepaid cell phone for emergencies on the road.
I get annoyed when I get calls from cell phone users and the connection is lousy or cuts out altogether. Grrrrrr.
Linda says
We have a landline with the same number for 40 years. Have one cellphone and don’t smoke. Will keep landline and cell
Kathy N says
We are cellphone plus magic jack. With small kids we wanted to have access to an old school phone in case of emergency. Imagine having to hunt for your cell phone in a crisis. Also you can register your cell phone with Smart 911, to help emergency crew locate you and get medical info and other family contacts. Check it out.
Melanie says
I just turned 40 and I haven’t had a landline in 19 years since I got my first cell phone ! I was pregnant with my first child and my husband didn’t want me driving 30 minutes to work without one. I still have the same phone number too!
Lisa Millar says
Wow – we are in the tiny percent that own a landline and NO mobile (cell) phones!!
Our landline/internet is bundled and its enough for our lifestyle.
We really like to be free when we leave the house and not be bothered by phone calls. (haha – my husband and I talk to each other lol)
When we travel we have used internet cafe’s to keep in touch, but its all we have needed.
I think one of my pet hates these days is not being able to converse or spend time with people without having to be interrupted multiple times while they get on their phones for whatever reason. Drives me batty but that seems to be the normal now.
No smoking, drinks on rare occasions. 🙂
Lace Faerie says
We’ve been without a landline for over 15 years. When the kids were still at home, they’d all yell ‘not it!’ when the house phone rang, annoyed me to no end. When they started driving, they each got a phone. Not one in three ever added land lines to their homes.
When my father moved across the street after my mother died 7 years ago, he opted to just have a cell phone, too. Although he doesn’t have a smartphone, the whole family texts him on his iPad. Which I turned up to highest volume and most annoying Alarm! Alarm! incoming text tone. He can’t figure out how to change it. Heeheehee but he’s hard of hearing. It’s easier to carry on a text convo than repeat myself endlessly over his old flip phone.
We might have a couple of drinks a week, don’t smoke anything, never have. We are a one income home and are frugal but not low income. No cable tv, share Netflix and Hulu+ accounts with family members. Really irritates me that I only have one internet provider option and it costs us almost $90/mo. I console my wallet by reminding myself that it’s our video phone connection with distant family, our tv and movie source in addition to my iPad addiction (my hubby’s words).
Pam says
We do not have a land line and we do not drink or smoke. Where do they come up with some of these surveys anyway?!
Jen g says
We dropped the landline as soon as we moved to a place with a decent cell signal at home–that was about six years ago. Haven’t missed the home phone one bit.
Libby says
We have no landline, just two cell phones. And yes we are smokin’ drunks! J/k
We had a landline and the only people to ever call were telemarketers and my grandma. My grandma still calls everyday but she calls my cell now which I can put on silent so it doesn’t wake the babies. In fact, I think we still pay for the landline because it was cheaper to have an Internet package with a landline than without. We don’t have any phone plugged in it though.
Conni says
We are in our late sixties and live in a mountainous area with spotty cell service. So….we have a landline, through which we also get our wifi signal, and two prepaid cell phones which we use as ‘phone booths’ when away from home.
Angela D. says
Mavis, my family still has a landline. We are in a rural “deadzone” with all the major carriers. If I slide my car off the edge of our icy country road only a mile from my house, I’d have to walk home!
I use my cell phone to: find my family if we split up in a store or to call home to ask if I should bring milk or bread. Thank goodness our internet connection is good!
*a sidenote: we have iPhone 5’s or newer, only looking for our carrier’s tower. When we first moved out to the country, I had an obsolete phone. When I complained about not getting a signal, my carrier representative took my phone and very quickly changed a setting to tell the phone to look for any nearby tower, not just my carrier. Would we benefit from more expensive phones that are not specific to any one carrier?
Joanna says
I’m a in-my-home nanny, and the city I live in requires you to have a corded landline (not through an internet provider) to be a certified child care provider. Even if I wasn’t a nanny, though, I’d still have a non-internet landline. I like having communication lines open when there is an emergency, power outage, etc. Plus the connection is better.
I do have a cell phone, but when I’m home it stays in my purse. I dislike talking on a cell phone. My best friend calls exclusively from her cell, with the speaker, and it drives me nuts! It’s so hard to hear and understand her. I’m only 47, so not even that old and crotchety! 😀
Tracie H says
We still have a landline along with all of our cell phones. (Husband needs the landline for work). We don’t smoke, but do like our Scotch and wine occasionally. 😉
sclindah says
We are not big phone users but since I run a business from my home, instead of getting completely rid of our land line a couple of years ago, we switched to Ooma (VOIP) and have the same number and it works flawlessly. Instead of paying $80 a month we now pay $4. Plus we switched to ting for our cell phones and pay about $40 for two cell phones, thus we have cut our phone bill way down. I wish we could find good deals for internet. We’re looking into options to cut our satellite as well, any great ideas?
Anita says
No landline here, cellphones only for the last 10 years(ish). No cable TV either. We do not drink or smoke and are not low income.
Jules says
What a fascinating survey. We haven’t had a landline for a few years because it got too expensive, even bundled. We got rid of cable also and went with Amazon Prime.
BUT we are looking at getting a landline again actually! This fall, my husband had an accident and trying to get through to 911 from where we live – at the bottom of a hill – was almost impossible. The 911 operator could not hear me and told me to go find a landline. I had to run to my neighbors house – 2 of them, b/c one didn’t have a landline either! – in order to get the call through. Too much stress at a traumatic time!
For now we have our cellphones, none of my 5 children have one though (although the teenagers want one!) and we don’t smoke. The wine in our refrigerator is mostly for cooking too 😉
Dana says
As one that worked for the local phone company for a few years, please allow me to clear something up, . . .
If you have. home phone that operates through your cable or Vonage, or whatever. YOU DO NOT HAVE A LANDLINE.
A landline runs through phone lines, underground or on telephone poles. The technology has not changed much over the years,
The basic advantage to a landline is that if necessary, one can pick up their landline, dial 9-1-1 and never say a word and the police will come to your house. If you are hiding in a closet while criminals are robbing your home, or you’re having a heart attack and can’t speak, or a stroke, or whatever, this is a huge life saving advantage.
The same does NOT apply to cellphones. Everyone thinks they can track your location because of GPS but it just does not work that way.
Also, a landline, – just a basic dial tone -, should cost under $20 a month. When you set one up, make sure to say, ‘Just a dial tone.’
If you have children, it’s a real disservice to their health and wellbeing to not have a landline.
Sarah Stauffer says
Such good questions! I don’t smoke or drink. I have never really thought of it, but I haven’t had a land line since I moved out of my parents house 12 years ago.
Mindy says
Landline, no cellphone. Boom.