Posted by spendwize.com on March 2, 2010, 2:52 pm
Spring for the bucks and get your wife a cell-phone - it's for her
protection! A CB radio would only be helpful if someone on the other end
could provide the service she needs!
xxxxo
-------------------------------------
Ohioguy wrote:
> We are moving in a couple of weeks, and my wife will have a roughly
> ~22 minute commute, instead of riding the bus. She is worried about
> having car trouble, and says she would like to get a cell phone so that
> she could get a tow truck in an emergency. I guess I don't worry about
> that much, because I always replace the tires & such a lot more
> often
> than needed - just so I don't have to worry about blowouts & such
> much.
> I had never considered getting a cell phone - when I see people
> constantly answering them in the stores, and airing their private
> conversations, I find myself visualizing little people on leashes.
> Plus, I don't like the idea of another recurring monthly fee. (why I
> don't have cable TV, for instance)
> The best deal I've been able to find on a cell phone is a tracphone.
> I actually have one, a Nokia 2600, that I got marked down to $8 at a
> local Kmart. I figured I would use it as a gift for somebody
> eventually, or use it when we took a cross country vacation temporarily
> - something along those lines.
> Anyway, I see that Target has a "double minutes for life"
> card for
> $25, and there are 400 minute, 1 year cards available for it for $100.
> Plus, there are lots of bonus codes out there. Looks like I could get
> 800+ minutes a year for the emergency phone, for $100 a year.
> On the other hand, we could get a modern CB radio. It would
> probably
> be a one time $150 expense, but would have no recurring fees. However,
> I am not certain that something like that would work in the case of a
> breakdown.
> Anyone know - would a CB radio work in a pinch to get a tow truck
> out
> if your car breaks down? I remember playing with a handheld one about
> 10 years ago, but am not sure if they can be depended on in
> emergencies.
> However, I figured I should look into it, since my wife says she just
> wants the ability to get a tow if the car breaks down. I have no idea
> if CB still has an "emergency" channel, though. If so, I
> don't know if
> it is regularly monitored.
> Anyone have experience with this?
> Thanks!
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Posted by sf on March 4, 2010, 9:29 pm
> We are moving in a couple of weeks, and my wife will have a roughly
> ~22 minute commute, instead of riding the bus. She is worried about
> having car trouble, and says she would like to get a cell phone so that
> she could get a tow truck in an emergency. I guess I don't worry about
> that much, because I always replace the tires & such a lot more often
> than needed - just so I don't have to worry about blowouts & such much.
>
> I had never considered getting a cell phone - when I see people
> constantly answering them in the stores, and airing their private
> conversations, I find myself visualizing little people on leashes.
> Plus, I don't like the idea of another recurring monthly fee. (why I
> don't have cable TV, for instance)
>
> The best deal I've been able to find on a cell phone is a tracphone.
> I actually have one, a Nokia 2600, that I got marked down to $8 at a
> local Kmart. I figured I would use it as a gift for somebody
> eventually, or use it when we took a cross country vacation temporarily
> - something along those lines.
>
> Anyway, I see that Target has a "double minutes for life" card for
> $25, and there are 400 minute, 1 year cards available for it for $100.
> Plus, there are lots of bonus codes out there. Looks like I could get
> 800+ minutes a year for the emergency phone, for $100 a year.
>
> On the other hand, we could get a modern CB radio. It would probably
> be a one time $150 expense, but would have no recurring fees. However,
> I am not certain that something like that would work in the case of a
> breakdown.
>
> Anyone know - would a CB radio work in a pinch to get a tow truck out
> if your car breaks down? I remember playing with a handheld one about
> 10 years ago, but am not sure if they can be depended on in emergencies.
> However, I figured I should look into it, since my wife says she just
> wants the ability to get a tow if the car breaks down. I have no idea
> if CB still has an "emergency" channel, though. If so, I don't know if
> it is regularly monitored.
>
> Anyone have experience with this?
> Thanks!
CBs were all the rage 20 or 30 years ago, but I don't know any regular
citizen who uses one today. What you need to find out (with whatever
cell phone provider you decide on) is if you have uninterrupted cell
service along your wife's route. The maps may say you're covered, but
there are often spots that are not covered due to the terrain or
buildings blocking your signal. It can be in terms of miles in the
country or just a few blocks in the city. Ask your friends about
their experiences.
--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.
XML site map
> ~22 minute commute, instead of riding the bus. She is worried about
> having car trouble, and says she would like to get a cell phone so that
> she could get a tow truck in an emergency. I guess I don't worry about
> that much, because I always replace the tires & such a lot more
> often
> than needed - just so I don't have to worry about blowouts & such
> much.
> I had never considered getting a cell phone - when I see people
> constantly answering them in the stores, and airing their private
> conversations, I find myself visualizing little people on leashes.
> Plus, I don't like the idea of another recurring monthly fee. (why I
> don't have cable TV, for instance)
> The best deal I've been able to find on a cell phone is a tracphone.
> I actually have one, a Nokia 2600, that I got marked down to $8 at a
> local Kmart. I figured I would use it as a gift for somebody
> eventually, or use it when we took a cross country vacation temporarily
> - something along those lines.
> Anyway, I see that Target has a "double minutes for life"
> card for
> $25, and there are 400 minute, 1 year cards available for it for $100.
> Plus, there are lots of bonus codes out there. Looks like I could get
> 800+ minutes a year for the emergency phone, for $100 a year.
> On the other hand, we could get a modern CB radio. It would
> probably
> be a one time $150 expense, but would have no recurring fees. However,
> I am not certain that something like that would work in the case of a
> breakdown.
> Anyone know - would a CB radio work in a pinch to get a tow truck
> out
> if your car breaks down? I remember playing with a handheld one about
> 10 years ago, but am not sure if they can be depended on in
> emergencies.
> However, I figured I should look into it, since my wife says she just
> wants the ability to get a tow if the car breaks down. I have no idea
> if CB still has an "emergency" channel, though. If so, I
> don't know if
> it is regularly monitored.
> Anyone have experience with this?
> Thanks!