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I did not think of ditching my landline until I bumped into several families in the MS Gulf Coast who seem to get along fine without a landline. It amazed me. The idea of life without a landline.
My telecommunications bill was rarely less than $250 a month. Often it ran more if we got out of sync with our regular use. I was saving so much money with A T & T's bundling, that it had not occurred to me to re-evaluate our use.
Since our first bundling, our patterns of use had indeed changed. Each family member now has a cell phone of their own. We all have voice mail, long distance and other goodies on our cell phones.
Its just more effective for most people to reach us via our cell phones. We had actually left a general message on our landline voice mail (which we were paying for:-) -to not leave messages but call our cell phones. You would think at the time I did that, that it would have occurred to me we could actually operate efficiently without a landline...
We were receiving a very good discount on A T & T's top level Broadband for 4 computers. We received a whopping $5 discount for bundling with A T & Ts Cellular service. We recieved $10 discount on satellite TV service by bundling with A T & T. We received about $50 in discounts for the landline packages we were no longer using.
With the 4 cell phones, we rarely use our landline, although telemarketers seem to enjoy me having a landline. I discussed the idea of unbundling with the family, because it was a radical idea for me. It was downright scary--thinking of not having a landline.
$ and cents? I went radical and took off all the stuff I don't use, such as landline call waiting, voicemail.... I am losing $5 cellular credit, about a $20 Internet credit, and a $10 Satellite credit. The other landline credits do not matter, if I am not using the service. I saved more by unbundling.
Without the internet credit, A T & Ts broadband was no longer competitive. So I investigated other services. The family is very pleased with the much quicker cable/wireless service. After the trial period with cable, it will be slightly higher than A T & Ts Broadband, but, we are happier with the service and we will still be saving from the overall unbundling of the whole package.
Bundling worked well for me at one time. It was after each family had a cell phone that bundling ceased to be as effective. So, I encourage you to re-examine how you use your services. Analyze this for yourself. Do not rely on a telecommunications employee to analyze it for you.
If you have found an effective way to handle your telecommunications, I would like to hear about it.
Suzi lives in the gorgeous and metamorphising Mississippi Gulf Coast. She began writing as a pre-teen often seeking the canyons of her home town, Borger, TX for solitude and Inspiration. Suzi is a graduate of University of Texas at Pan American, Edinburg, TX. She is married and both gifted and 50% responsible for bringing two interesting, opinion filled, intelligent and talented individuals into our world. Suzi also promises that any situations highlighted in her writing will protect the identity of people and companies, unless complimentary. Suzi believes there is no accident and that treasure can be evoked from the ordinary and mundane. She invites "Googling" her name for more information.
Suzi, I agree with you about analyzing our telecommunication services for ourselves. Afterall, the employees work for the company and it's their paycheck they have the most interest in, not saving us money.
Just this week, I called the cable company and reviewed my services. Someone had added HBO and Cinemax to my account under a promotion that I knew nothing about. I was livid! That employee no doubt received a bonus of some sort. I was given a credit. I believe I have the rate for my needs but my cellular services aren't included.
Like you, I have gone without a land line, if nothing but to prove to myself I could do it but to save, I have one again.
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