Keep the Land Line or Get Rid of It ???

Do it! You won't regret it. We haven't had a land line in 10 years, and have never even missed it. Once my oldest daughter started doing playing sports in Jr. High and babysitting for my younger kids, we got her a cell phone with text block, then once she hit high school we took off the text block. Kids these days DON'T talk on the phone like we did. They only text. She uses maybe 15 minutes a month, but 1000 texts or more!

We tried Magic Jack, but did not like it since we couldn't get a local phone number. Since you are in the valley, you could easily do it. It works for 911 also.

We also cut the cable...meaning we completely dropped it as well, and only have internet service. It was a little bit hard at first, but then I discovered that most of what we liked was offered on Hulu.com or we can get it instantly through Netflix. It is so much more convenient to be able to watch what you want WHEN you want it, plus it's TONS cheaper! (and no commercials!)

My son has his own cellphone, and has paid for it ($10 a month added line fee) out of his allowance since he was 5.

((As part of his 'increasing levels of responsibility' thing... every year on his half birthday his allowance goes up AND he's responsible for paying for more things out of his own pocket.))

Some people, though, who don't want their kids to have their 'own' cell have a 'house cell' that takes the place of a landline. It lives, plugged in, in one place... and is the friend & emergency phone. @ a usual cost of $10 a month, it's still massive savings over a landline in most cases.

We haven't had a land line in years and years. Cells, Skype (computer), and eFax or scan & email, takes care of all our communication needs that used to need a landline.

You may think about dropping your TV bill, as well. Hulu+ ($7) and Netflix ($8) work if you have a newer TV or a gaming system. xBox (not sure about others) has ZUNE, which rents streaming movies that aren't available for streaming through netflix/hulu, and there are, of course, "real" rental movies (netflix, redbox, etc.), and has channels like ESPN for major sporting events from around the world to watch in real time.

Don't know what your TV bill is... but it's a thing to consider. We haven't had standard TV for years, either... and every year more and more is available for streaming. Even HBO and other premium channels are streaming now... but with those you sometimes still need a cable provider. Personally, I'm still just renting the whole series, and will probably continue to even if they go to straight streaming. No cliffhangers, or having to wait for a week, is addictive!

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For power outages... we just charge ours in the car. The cell towers are still up, so we've never lost service in an outage.

with each major power outtage, our corded landline phone was the only working phone in our neighborhood. Cells were out, as were cordless landlines.

Keeping mine...

What will you do in an emergency? 911 MAY be able to trace your cell phone to an area but not your exact address. With a landline 911 gets your address, so even if your 4 year old calls because you are unconscious or the house is on fire or any emergency, help can still come.
Not only should you have a landline, but a corded phone too, in case of a power failure.
You can get a basic phone line with out long distance or call waiting for $20 bucks a month and then use your cell phones for long distance. Etc.
Personally, I would look for other areas to cut expenses before I got rid of my land line.
Btw, I am the wife of a firefighter and the daughter of a police officer.

We recently got rid of ours and our son is older. I wanted it when the boys were younger. If you are going to get rid of it, make sure your youngest knows where your cell is and how to use it in case of an emergency.

We didn't have a land line installed until our son was born. I didn't want to run the risk of having a dead or misplaced cell phone in the event of an emergency. We only have the line (no voicemail, no long distance, no call waiting). The phone attached is a $10 corded variety from the closest electronics store. We don't use it for calls (except to dial my cell phone when I've misplaced it!!) and the ringer is always off. I honestly can't even remember the number assigned to it (though I have it stored in my cell phone). It costs us about $20/month, and I consideri it money well spent for the peace of mind it gives me.

we got rid of our land line about 1.5 years ago, and i don't miss it at all. the only drawback is when we have a sitter (always a family member for us), we have to either leave one of our Blackberrys at home or have the sitter bring their own cell.just something to consider...

My husband and I have been married for almost 9 years, our kids are 7 & 5, and we only just recently got a land-line, and that was because we moved and our current house doesn't always get great reception. I'd say drop it, and you can add in a line for your kids as they get old enough to have their own phone.

I regret not having the hard line in the home. An ice storm can shut down the power for days leaving the cells uncharged, the weather influences how good of a signal I get, it just seems to be one thing after another. I am going to go and get a cheap land line back in the next few weeks.

Also, to add the kids to our cell plan is $50 each...no way no how, not going to even start to happen. Since we are on SSDI we can get the discount phone and it will be less than $10 per month. I think it's only about $30 per year or less.

The down side of getting rid of your land line is that in an emergency you will have to not only dial 911 but be able to be coherent and explain what is happening and where you are. Cell phones are not connected to the same emergency hubs as land lines. so keep that in mind. also if your not home and a sitter is there how will they get hold of 911 in case of emergency? I would not get rid of the landlines.

We got rid of our land phone from Cox about six months ago. Its the best thing that we ever did. We did get a magic jack though, we like it. It cost like $30.00 for five years. The only thing is sometimes you do hear like a shriek on the phone but its hardly ever and I just tell the people this connection is bad let me call you back. Your not listed in the phone book so no more dumb calls from people you don't know. You can pick your own number too.

call me old fashioned, or just call me plain ole paranoid. I want my land line!

I know it is unlikely, but if the power were to go out for a long period of time you would not be able to charge your phone easily. I like knowing my phone will always work. I still have plug in phones and we always know where they are. No searching around when the phone rings. No worrying about if the battery runs out. I know it is there in the event of an emergency. I understand certain things need to go on a budget, but personally I'd rather get the cheapest plan possible and keep the land line.

We did get rid of our land line about 3 months ago... To be honest, it's a little bit of a pain.. I'm not a fan of constantly being on my cell phone. The battery dies so much faster now, and I'm constantly charging it. Plus, my home phone is more comfortable when I'm walking all over my house on my ear.. Our neighborhood is gated, and we can't link it to our cell phones, grrrr (we found that out AFTERWARDS).... So, yes, I regret getting rid of our land line..

The reason we still have landline is because our electricity goes out in storms, we are rural, and I want landline then as it's the only way to have a phone. Other than that if you don't need it don't keep it I guess.

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I'm sorry I didn't read all the replies, but this is an ongoing debate in my house and so far I'm winning! ;)

My cell phone doesn't always work in the house. I usually have to be standing by the back door, and sometimes out on the back porch. Days like today, when it's 16 degrees with single digit wind chills, would make it a little difficult. Plus, as the couple I did read, making sure the cell is charged, you can find it, emergencies. . . .

I have friends and relatives who got rid of the land line, didn't look back and swear it was the best decision they've ever made.

Someone else posted this recently. We kept the landline for the kids and for emergencies. I don't live by my phone and I don't feel comfortable without a house line. Younger kids don't have cell phones and many kids forget to charge the ones they have.

You don't need to bundle. See who will give you at least a local line for cheap in your area. I had really good luck in a different house with Cavalier, for example.

get rid of it! everyone uses cellphones now, no one needs it, we actually got rid of our landline, we only keep the business line open, but we don't get calls there anymore, everyone calls our cellphone, we just get faxes. mind u we do get a lot of faxes, but calls are don't, some clients don't even bother to call, they text lol

We don't have a land line, but it does make me nervous, what if someone has to call 911 in a hurry and we can't find our cells, or our cells are locked and the young kids can't figure out how to lock it in a panic? With a landline, they can trace to your address. Or we have a sitter over who doesn't have a phone and she needs to get a hold of us? In any case, we haven't had a landline in almost 7 years and so far, no problems.

I haven't read your responses, but what happens if you do get rid of your land line, and there is an emergency, and your cell phone won't work? We have thought of that, and decided against getting rid of our land line.

We have two kids, oldest is 4. We got rid of our landline almost 3 years ago. What we did was open another line for a third cell phone and paid $10 a month for it. It was for a babysitter or grandparent that didn't have a cell. After a year of that, we discontinued it. Everyone has a cell these days. If we did go out and needed a sitter and they didn't have a phone, we would leave my husband's cell behind.

I can call 911 if need be, and my 4 year old is trained to call as well. She knows our address.
As far as power outtages, we have never lost service (although I see here it can happen). But, remember if you do keep a landline, you need to keep a phone with an actual cord. Cordless phones don't work without electricity.

If I lost service due to a power outtage and I NEEDED to make a call, I can drive/walk to a nearby store and use a phone there.

Good luck making your decision. :)

We haven't had a land line in 5 years, and have never regretted it!!

we had vonage, were paying 30 a month, for our home phone. We just switched over to magic jack plus. We have only had it for a couple of weeks but so far it's ok and we only pay 30 a year instead of that a month. I didn't like the idea of not having a land line.