General Discussion

Carroll

(16 posts)

133. when I buy shoes

Sat Aug 11, 2012, 12:34 PM

Aug 2012

For emergencies (911 calls) any cell phone with a battery will reach 911 even if it has no minutes or plan. There are millions in the world: find one put in glove box.
For more casual emergencies/convenience, try to find one with big buttons and no features. Do you really need email or texting or internet connection? You might pay handsomely for those features and find you can not figure them out. DO NOT rely on reading the manual to master it. 21st century manuals are largely worthless.
As for minutes vs. a plan -- if you buy small amounts for very occasional use, carefully compare options. It may cost more (.10/minute) to have the minutes last longer (say 3 months) compared to .03/minute for 30-day minutes. If you will have minutes left over in 3 months anyway, then it is cheaper at .10/minute.
The forfeiting of unused minutes is like buying a pair of shoes and having to return them in six months even you've only worn them twice. Imelia Marcos would feint!

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I ALWAYS come to DU for advice, and I need some now. Tired of my nephews and [View all] CatWoman Aug 2012 OP

I would think one of the by the minute Sherman A1 Aug 2012 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author CatWoman Aug 2012 #6

Yes, enjoy every sandwich taterguy Aug 2012 #2

wtf? CatWoman Aug 2012 #7

Warren Zevon said that DiverDave Aug 2012 #14

My dear CatWoman... CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2012 #3

I have a Droid and I get mad at it sometimes goclark Aug 2012 #84

There are definitely more options than Blackberries and iPhones. GObamaGO Aug 2012 #85

There are a lot of "main types" of cell phones out there Whoa_Nelly Aug 2012 #134

android phones barbtries Aug 2012 #138

For $100.00/month plans those are the two options Motown_Johnny Aug 2012 #142

Yes, there are far more inexpensive plans and phones available GObamaGO Aug 2012 #146

There's a "Go Phone" silverweb Aug 2012 #4

I love my iPhone. livvy Aug 2012 #5

did you keep your land land number? CatWoman Aug 2012 #8

Yes, so now I have two contact numbers...land and cell. livvy Aug 2012 #131

I am in the same boat but use the land line as more of a business phone Motown_Johnny Aug 2012 #143

I held off for a while, but now Love my iPhone fascisthunter Aug 2012 #9

what's the difference between the two? CatWoman Aug 2012 #10

simplicity... with a small cell phone, you need to know that each button has multiple functions fascisthunter Aug 2012 #22

I do like my iphone, but I have been told by people who have used both Incitatus Aug 2012 #11

I have an IPhone...my daughter has the Galaxy Skyrocket Horse with no Name Aug 2012 #56

I never bonded with the iPhone. Hated it. WillowTree Aug 2012 #112

Until my car broke down on the highway, HockeyMom Aug 2012 #12

see, that's where my head is CatWoman Aug 2012 #15

LG Cosmos2 ChazII Aug 2012 #106

I resisted assimilation until recently.... mike_c Aug 2012 #13

Whatever you do, don't sign a contract. Chemisse Aug 2012 #16

Tell Your Nieces... To Get Off Of Your Lawn... WillyT Aug 2012 #17

LOL CatWoman Aug 2012 #19

T-mobile has a pay-as-you-go prepaid plan where you can buy a bucket of 1000 minutes for $100. gkhouston Aug 2012 #18

Do you lose the minutes Politicalboi Aug 2012 #27

Yes. How long they last depends on how many minutes you buy. gkhouston Aug 2012 #40

Let me add: apparently minutes roll over if you renew before they expire. gkhouston Aug 2012 #42

Or $10 every 90 days = about $3.33 a month. moondust Aug 2012 #30

I inherited my late mother's Jitterbug phone. It's cheap and it's just a phone. scarletwoman Aug 2012 #20

they are such smart asses CatWoman Aug 2012 #21

Then she'll just have to get this... gkhouston Aug 2012 #25

RAR CatWoman Aug 2012 #33

Virgin mobile's prepaid phones nobodyspecial Aug 2012 #81

Ah, the "gerry" (geriatric) phone. :) eppur_se_muova Aug 2012 #110

Net10 GoCubsGo Aug 2012 #23

I've had a Net10 phone for several years Rhythm Aug 2012 #137

I've had one for 18 years. I got it for security because I did a fair amount of virgogal Aug 2012 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author AtomicKitten Aug 2012 #26

Do not sign a contract, get a prepaid phone and you will save big money Bjorn Against Aug 2012 #28

+ 1000 n/t sendero Aug 2012 #32

+1. When my husband and I decided to get cell phones, we opted for a prepaid no-contract plan gkhouston Aug 2012 #43

yup definitely depends how much you will use it. if you are only using it ejpoeta Aug 2012 #46

You can get an unlimited minutes data and text prepaid plan for less than the contracts Bjorn Against Aug 2012 #54

our contract with verizon was up in january. we have been waiting ejpoeta Aug 2012 #75

Even if you do use it a lot the prepaids are way cheaper Bjorn Against Aug 2012 #49

if you just want a plain phone check ebay. we got texting phones for $30ea ejpoeta Aug 2012 #77

Any charged cellphone will call 911. Bolo Boffin Aug 2012 #29

Go ahead and get an iPhone and never look back. aikoaiko Aug 2012 #31

are you a borg? CatWoman Aug 2012 #38

We are borg. aikoaiko Aug 2012 #41

Go ahead and get an iPhone and never look back. NYC_SKP Aug 2012 #45

Sears sells the jitterbug phones... grasswire Aug 2012 #34

I finally got a tracfone many years ago just for safety elfin Aug 2012 #35

That's what we use here, TracFone. Works great and sooo cheap. n/t RKP5637 Aug 2012 #104

Tracfone here too. Been using it for years. hobbit709 Aug 2012 #120

Well I am a senior citizen. When I worked I usually got off at 9:00 at night. I live in a rural southernyankeebelle Aug 2012 #36

If you have AAA ohheckyeah Aug 2012 #37

Get a smartphone. lumberjack_jeff Aug 2012 #39

there are a lot of options. it depends on how much you will use it. ejpoeta Aug 2012 #44

Go prepaid. My service is costing about $40 / YEAR (just talk and text, no Internet) progree Aug 2012 #47

Spend some very serious time with them talking about walking 5 miles to school in the snow, barefoot HopeHoops Aug 2012 #48

My father used to tell us stories like that CatWoman Aug 2012 #52

Oh, and don't forget the mustard sandwiches (no joke, my late FIL took those). HopeHoops Aug 2012 #57

Funny you should mention mustard sandwiches. I used to eat them as a kid. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #71

They had no other options. They were in destitute poverty. And no, they didn't get sugar. HopeHoops Aug 2012 #74

Wow. What a touch row to hoe (as the old saying goes). But sounds like he was well loved & liked. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #78

He was a good man. He was a good man. And he gave me a wonderful daughter as my wife. HopeHoops Aug 2012 #82

Sounds like Ann Romney describing her life with Mitt in the college days progree Aug 2012 #55

Poor baby. Maybe she'd like to come over for some mac&cheese some night. Need a Miller Lite? HopeHoops Aug 2012 #58

Five miles to and from school...and UPHILL BOTH WAYS!!! MADem Aug 2012 #121

Yeah, I forgot the "uphill both ways" part - that's my mom's line. HopeHoops Aug 2012 #130

Metro PCS seanpencil Aug 2012 #50

I recently broke down and got one Oilwellian Aug 2012 #51

ty OW CatWoman Aug 2012 #53

I have used Sprint, Verizon, and ATT Horse with no Name Aug 2012 #59

There are more options than Blackberries and iPhones GObamaGO Aug 2012 #60

I'm in my 60's and use a tracfone LG fiip phone. SmileyRose Aug 2012 #61

TRACFONE. Or NET10. They are prepaid, work great, and are cheeeeeeeep! Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #62

AARP backs Consumer Cellular--I'll be switching to them in a month panader0 Aug 2012 #63

LOL CatWoman Aug 2012 #67

You can take mine Shankapotomus Aug 2012 #64

For emergencies, get the pay-as-you-go phone... richmwill Aug 2012 #65

I advise: Do not enter into a time contract. Do not buy an expensive phone. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #66

Not to be pedantic GObamaGO Aug 2012 #88

Yeah, I was on shakey ground with that. But I was trying to 'splain what it was.... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #92

Yep GObamaGO Aug 2012 #97

The big phone companies suck you into the 2 year contracts with the fancy phones. backscatter712 Aug 2012 #132

Here's a dumb ? I've wanted to ask for a good while - ebayfool Aug 2012 #139

My suggestion: I love y0u NOW, I loved you BEFORE, and will love you FOREVER. Any questions?!1 n/t UTUSN Aug 2012 #68

you are now and always have been just so sweet CatWoman Aug 2012 #69

Credo we have it and they only donate money to progressive causes DonRedwood Aug 2012 #70

I have a GO phone and only paid around $100 for awhole year Raine Aug 2012 #72

Hold that line! I don't have one either Hamlette Aug 2012 #73

I use an AT&T Go Phone. Jamastiene Aug 2012 #76

TracFone is great. Mine cost all of $20 with lifetime double minutes and I RKP5637 Aug 2012 #79

Being called Auntie could piss me off, being called Dinosaur, not so much. HereSince1628 Aug 2012 #80

I was the same way but finally got one ThomThom Aug 2012 #83

Uncle Dinosaur checking in. JohnnyLib2 Aug 2012 #86

Do you really need another bill? mockmonkey Aug 2012 #87

Buy a Samsung "pay as you go phone" at Target. I've seen them for low as $10 Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #89

I dear Catwoman am a Luddite like you tech3149 Aug 2012 #90

Yep, Western Electric phones were designed and manufactured to last forever. They are RKP5637 Aug 2012 #109

I'm thoroughly addicted to my Android phone. My mom and dad are Luddites. backscatter712 Aug 2012 #91

I'm with you vanlassie Aug 2012 #115

I have one because my son insisted JitterbugPerfume Aug 2012 #93

for phone service they are all a bitch to deal with 2pooped2pop Aug 2012 #94

CREDO is a liberal phone service upi402 Aug 2012 #95

Yup. Here's an email from Credo that arrived yesterday... Bozita Aug 2012 #99

I support all their efforts upi402 Aug 2012 #100

Thanks for the info. Working for Change used to do something like that. eppur_se_muova Aug 2012 #111

This is them upi402 Aug 2012 #113

Whatever you do, once you start checking DU on your smartphone Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #96

I think Auntie Dinosaur is an awesome nickname... luvspeas Aug 2012 #98

iPhone, with T-Mobile minutes -- snot Aug 2012 #101

Auntie Dinosaur. haha that's cute. Drunken Irishman Aug 2012 #102

A smartphone (Android, iPhone, etc) might not be a bad idea Trekologer Aug 2012 #103

Old school, get it DainBramaged Aug 2012 #119

I Often Carry My Phone in the OFF State AndyTiedye Aug 2012 #105

Explain to them the vaue of a hard days work. raouldukelives Aug 2012 #107

Another idea: The world's simplest phone, the John's Phone. backscatter712 Aug 2012 #108

LOVE my Droid 3 obamanut2012 Aug 2012 #114

I have a pay=as-you=go emilyg Aug 2012 #116

I'm an old dinosaur, myself. I've had a tracfone for years! MADem Aug 2012 #117

Don't listen to anyone telling you about IPhone or any smart/browser phone with high cost DainBramaged Aug 2012 #118

Thanks for asking that question cali Aug 2012 #122

So, nobody had "emergencies" before cell-phones? I had "On-Star" installed in my car. Cheaper! WinkyDink Aug 2012 #123

On-Star is useless if you have an emergency on a hiking trail taterguy Aug 2012 #125

Oh, yes, there's a common scenario. It's probably useless if you're attacked by a shark, too. WinkyDink Aug 2012 #127

Hikers needing assistance is actually quite common. taterguy Aug 2012 #129

What if you accidentally lock your keys in the car? Bozita Aug 2012 #144

Well there are these newfangled contraptions MattBaggins Aug 2012 #124

my suggestion is youve gotten along fine without one. Warren Stupidity Aug 2012 #126

Haven't read other responses JustAnotherGen Aug 2012 #128

when I buy shoes Carroll Aug 2012 #133

I use Straighttalk dsc Aug 2012 #135

Samsung Infuse Octafish Aug 2012 #136

I only have a cell phone in case of emergency. RebelOne Aug 2012 #140

Most everyone likes their phone, if not they would get one they do like. Motown_Johnny Aug 2012 #141

I need to bookmark this thread. I don't have one either and Michael says its time I joined the fun Rowdyboy Aug 2012 #145