Is There Reason to Hang on to Your Landline?

   By drodriguez  Mar 02, 2012
41

As cell phones have now become a way of life, many of us are canceling our landline service in an effort to save money. A recent Bankrate report discusses how popular it has become for us to opt out of landline service and rely solely on cell phones.

A National Center for Health Statistics study recently reported that more than 26 percent of Americans go without a landline telephone in their homes and instead use cell service only.

As we all tighten our belts and whittle our monthly budgets down to what’s necessary, the question of whether we should continue paying for a landline service often comes up.

A lot of us are paying for landline service as part of a TV, internet, phone package and think we are saving money this way. But you may not actually be saving as much as you think. Tech analyst Jeff Kagan estimates that we could save anywhere from $180 to $480 a year just by getting rid of the extra cost of a landline.

But even with the savings, some feel that hanging on to a landline service is a safer way to go in case of an emergency or disaster and cell phone towers are not working.

What do you think? Do you still have a landline in your home?

Would you ever consider canceling your landline service and relying solely on cell service as a way to save money?
 

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KaseyReanne by KaseyReanne | SOUTHAVEN, MS
Mar 16, 2012

I think if you have kids that are not yet old enough to hav cell phones then yes. I remember when I was younger once my youngest sister got a cell phone we dropped our land line because we never used it. Hope this helps

mrsbdavis by mrsbdavis | DALLAS, TX
Mar 15, 2012

I have a land line in case of an emergency or disaster. Internet phones wont work and some towers will be down. I need something reliable so I keep a land line phone and a corded phone incase the power is out.

RoyalButterfly by RoyalButterfly | Norfolk , VA
Mar 15, 2012

I would not recommend getting rid of a landline. Its like "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, landlines are most reliable. Yes, most people are opting to get rid of landlines to save money but one should consider the cost when a landline is needed and not available. One can trim down the cost of a landline by simply researching phone service companies in their area that offer the best deal for basic service. I have the most basic service and I only pay about $20 or less a month with taxes and fees. I would say, "Consider it, before you cut it."

heavenly41 by heavenly41 | PORTLAND, OR
Mar 14, 2012

We have a landline because our 12 yr. old can't have a cell phone and we have younger kids also

tcwilson by tcwilson | CHARLESTOWN, IN
Mar 14, 2012

No land line here just cell phones.

mimipenny by mimipenny | FAIRMONT, WV
Mar 12, 2012

I keep mind because of my mother in law. The older generation seems to hear better on a land line.

shawndra by shawndra | UNION, WA
Mar 12, 2012

A landline is great when the electricity goes out so yes I will keep the landline

just4me by just4me | TAYLORS, SC
Mar 11, 2012

I have not had a LAN line in about 3 years and all has been well. I'm a single mother, and my daughter is now 14, and she has had a phone for a while now too, up until now. She has made some extremely bad choices using the phone so it was taken away and I had the phone svc suspend it. Then my health has not been great lately and my phone blew up. And so we had no way to. Communicate . I went the very next day and got a new cell and the dern thing dropped on the toilet. So needless to say. I think it's worth it to pay the $17.00 a month for a LAN line with none of the bells and whistles, just a dial tone, and I'm getting one installed this week!

msfriendly by msfriendly | MONROE, WI
Mar 09, 2012

We have a landline and won't get rid of it. First, I would never give private information (credit card) over a cell phone...they are less secure. Also, it seems like our batteries are always low and, once for no reason no body in our town using our carrier had service for part of a day. We don't pay that much more for our landline and I wan't that extra security knowing we have it.

leopat1010 by leopat1010 | Pawtucket, RI
Mar 09, 2012

I gave up my land line in November 2009 and haven't missed it one single bit. At the time I was paying close to $50.00 per month to listen to a lot of telemarketers. Having 2 cell phones in our house is more than enough.

gladtobehere by gladtobehere | AUBURNDALE, MA
Mar 07, 2012

It would be convenient to only have one phone and one phone number, but... The landline is so ingrained to get rid of it would be alien.

NanaMusic by NanaMusic | Covington, KY
Mar 06, 2012

I would not want to have to be without my home phone. I use my cell when I am out but have trouble remembering when it needs charged. In addition I like having a full-sized phone ... as cell phones get smaller I like them less. But many of my family have gone to cell only and I can understand why completely.

nursejulz by nursejulz | Omaha, NE
Mar 03, 2012

I personally don't believe that landlines are necessarily needed. However, some people do not like cell phones.

hkeathley by hkeathley | Fayetteville, AR
Mar 03, 2012

With the number of dropped calls that still exist with cell phone service, we still have a landline, yet have looked for the most competitive price for service. In addition, the landline has been more reliable during loss of power or storms than a cell phone. It still remains another viable alternative for communication.

Gambitpjr by Gambitpjr | POTTSTOWN, PA
Mar 02, 2012

My husband is a supervisor for a 911 center. he tells me all the time that cells dont always give accurate address info. so we have kept our landlines for that main purpose