So in a moment of weakness I agreed to a two-year cellular phone contract with a special offer. Free phone, $30.00/month. I don't like cell phones at all, but maybe it's their users I disapprove of:
"HI! I'M WALKING DOWN THE STREET SOUNDING SCHIZOPHRENIC, LIKE I TALK TO MYSELF!"
"I HAVE TO SHOUT OUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND TELL YOU ABOUT MY SISTER'S GAMBLING PROBLEM AND YEAST INFECTION IN FRONT OF PEOPLE ON A CROWDED BUS!"
"I AM TOO CHEAP FOR A HANDSFREE OPTION SO I WILL CRADLE MY PHONE WITH ONE HAND AND HOLD MY CIGARETTE WITH ANOTHER WHILE I KNOCK DOWN A MOTORCYCLIST AS I CLUMSILY MAKE TOO WIDE A TURN IN A VEHICLE TOO LARGE FOR ME TO COMPETENTLY CONTROL!"
"I'M HAVING A FATHER'S DAY DINNER OUT WITH MY FAMILY -- LET ME INTERRUPT THE FESTIVITIES TO FIELD THIS VERY IMPORTANT BUSINESS CALL."
I'm pretty sure I can use a cellphone without turning into one of those idjits... er, fine upstanding citizens.
But it's not going to save me any money! One guy at the motorcycle service shop sneered at me because I couldn't name a number where I'd be reached during the day -- I wanted to go shopping and conduct errands and taking the bus hither and thither would be too long. Two middle-aged men already mock me for not having a phone. I figure now that I have my own wheels I should have a phone so I can call someone in case of emergency. But then I'd need a pocket phone book in my purse too. Or recruiters can talk to me when I'm running errands and I have a better shot of getting jobs.
I have a trial period of thirty days. I get thirty whole minutes in those thirty days. I dunno... Send it back?
My challenge for July: (feel free to participate here)
Find thirty-one ways to cut $30.00 of expenditures.
Entertainment expenses have gone up: a DVD or video at our rental place of choice is now $4.00, but we can have it for a week. Wednesdays are two-for-one days though.
Say no to cell phone?
June 30th, 2006 at 03:21 pm
June 30th, 2006 at 05:00 pm 1151683201
June 30th, 2006 at 05:07 pm 1151683650
July 3rd, 2006 at 01:24 am 1151886285