Does ANYONE use dial-up anymore?

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 08-04-2010, 02:43 PM

Hi. I'm Aspiring To Be Frugal and I have dial-up Internet.

Does anyone else feel the insatiable urge to apologize to others for a phone line being busy due to their resistance to purchasing high-speed Internet? I've had numerous people tell me "your line was busy" over the last couple of years and, while dishonest (sort of), I've resorted to telling them that "Gee...I must've left the phone off the hook while DS was taking a nap and forgot to hang up the phone!"

I simply was tired of being treated like I was stuck in the dark ages because I refuse to pay for anything other than dial-up Internet!

I know others may find it odd that I would even be patient enough as I have to wait on things to load, but it really doesn't bother me. Sure, we can't download music or videos (iTunes or YouTube) but who cares?

Anyway, I just wondered if there were others out there like me!

**Momto5RN** · 08-04-2010, 02:53 PM

i know very few who have it - some of my patients ( usually over 60's ) who dont use a computer alot still have dial up.

isnt there a program out there that you get a pop up that tells you who is calling - there use to be a free one way back when dial up was used 99% of the time.

we had a second phone line when we had dial up but t was all of 10$ to have it just for a fax and computer and iworked from home with my puter so needed it .

do these people also have an email addy
can they email you if they need you that bad ??

i will tell you one of my hugest pet peeves is to get a b-day invite for my kids try to RSVP and get unending busy signals or that they have no answering machine so it rings and rings
i felt like it was so disrepectful to my time to expect me to call and call and call .

i would be honest and say i have dial up sorry i must have been on the computer when you were trying to call - these are the times i am least likely to be on the computer and the best times to call. ( and give them the times )

**frugalwarrior2** · 08-04-2010, 02:56 PM

I only know my Dbrother who has it. It amazes us because she does acct. and taxes from home. And yes I'd like to scream at him sometimes. He doesn't answer the phone either. We have older parents,so not a good thing for a few $$ saved.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 08-04-2010, 03:09 PM

I guess I forgot to say that I have been giving out my cell phone number more and more. I don't get too many calls so don't worry about using up my minutes.

And I guess I am thinking dial-up is the frugal way to go for us...it would be another $20 a month for high-speed.

**nuisance26** · 08-04-2010, 03:11 PM

~I held out as long as possible. We got it in 2008 because DH couldn't use his new computer game with dial-up. We got a great deal on high speed that had us paying the same thing we were paying for dial-up for a year and then it went up to $25 a month after that.
I save so much time not waiting for pages to load and it was so nice to stop hearing everyone chide me about the busy signals on our line. I can't imagine going back to dial-up and the annoyance just to save $15 a month. Plus we can stream Netflix and videos. It's well worth it, IMO.
My parents have dial-up. High speed isn't available in their neck of the woods.~

**savvy_sniper** · 08-04-2010, 05:54 PM

If it works for you, then by all means stick with it. AND don't feel the need to lie or hide the fact.

**ecgsmama** · 08-04-2010, 06:49 PM

Other than a $500 set-up fee and $100 monthly after that for satellite internet, I have no choice. Sorry....sometimes the phone is busy...like right now :-)

**monkeywrangler71** · 08-04-2010, 06:58 PM

I don't know anyone on dialup now, everyone who lives outside of the cable service area has high speed from the phone company. Even my grandmother switched.

But if you don't mind it who cares what others have. Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who still doesn't have a cellphone.

**RABBIT** · 08-04-2010, 08:25 PM

I have dial-up! Our friends and family think we are a stones throw away from being Amish! I give people my cell phone number and tell them to call me on that if the phone line is busy. I live in the country and we have very little options of satellite service and I refuse to pay the start up fee as well as the high rates. So dial-up it is for me.

**dcompton** · 08-04-2010, 08:41 PM

I'm one of those creaky over-60 folks who still have dial up. I have access to fast internet at work if I need it, and if I want to download audiobooks, I bring my laptop in and use the wireless. So I really see no need to pay more at home, and I'll stick with my $10/month dial up as long as feasible. Since I probably only get two or three phone calls a month that aren't wrong numbers that is a definite non-issue.

And Monkeywrangler, there are two of us left without cell phones. It would be a convenience once in a while, but I don't need to be that connected.

**Momto5RN** · 08-04-2010, 08:51 PM

well if the people who need to reach you for something important have your cell then they should use it - there are alot of people around me who dont even have land lines anymore all they use is cells.

i am still a little nervous to do that because i use my cell for work and dont need parents from school or ypunger kids friends calling me when i am working and dhs cell is from his work . So family - work and a few close friends have my cell and thats it .

but never be embarrassed if you are happy with your choice .. thats 240 $ a month in your pocket and if you dont need the things that non dial up would give you why spend it .

**Momto5RN** · 08-04-2010, 08:59 PM

Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who still doesn't have a cellphone.
>>>

if you dont need it why bother .
some days i wish i could throw mine in a lake ( like the days i am off work and work calls me about non urgent things even though my VM says today is my day off they leave me messages n my cell instead of on my work VM which drives me nuts because if my family leaves a message i have to weed thru work messages on a day off to get to my family ones. when i am off i want to be mentally off also .

alot of the newer stuff cells etc is great for people in certain places in their lives - it has many plusses but also has cons and if its not something you feel you need i wouldnt get one either .

if my kids were all grown and out of the house on their own and i didnt need one for work - i would happily do without and just have an old one that was programmed to just dial 911 in case of emergency to keep in the car ( which i believe you can set up for free in some areas )

**frugalfriend** · 08-04-2010, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

And Monkeywrangler, there are two of us left without cell phones. It would be a convenience once in a while, but I don't need to be that connected.

Make that three of us!

I am so tired of people thinking I am weird for not having one!

**mndtrp** · 08-04-2010, 10:15 PM

I haven't for years, but I don't worry if someone else does. As long as they aren't forwarding me every ridiculous thing they come across, their method of getting online doesn't matter.