Cutbacks, Layoffs and getting back to basics.

It’s a jungle out there. I know that some companies are already doing cutbacks and layoffs but so far not my company. Thank God for that. However my wife and I decided that before we were forced to make some cutbacks, why not make a few on our own. We are cutting back on some things, laying off others and getting back to basics.

There is a new Sprint commercial where the CEO of the company holds up a cell phone and says; “I can’t believe they still call these cell phones” Well I have to agree. I can think of a few adjectives to go along with the description. How about: complicated, overpriced, difficult, extravagant and not necessary. Yes I said it, “not necessary.” I lived for 40 years without a cell phone and I can do it again.


Yes we have decided that we can live without cell phones. It will take some getting used to but we think we can manage. It’s not a bad thing though. There are some advantages though to not having a cell phone.


For starters, how about and extra $60.00 a month. That doesn’t sound like a lot but that is $720.00 a year. These little things add up.


Then I will be less likely to have an accident by not using a cell phone while driving. It’s a fact that people talking on cell phones causes accidents.

How about having less worries by not having to frantically search for the missing cell phone on a daily basis.

I will have more privacy and more time to myself. Do I really want to be bothered all the time? Just think about all the times you have to turn your cell phone off these days in places like church, meetings, libraries etc.


I don’t see the fascination with texting and. I don’t play games on my cell phone so I won’t miss those. I also don’t use it as a calculator, a message reminder, a storage device or an alarm clock. Never have and now I never will. And I am not even going to mention the use of the more adult functions.


Ok now don’t take offense here but this will mean that I no longer have to talk with someone in Argentina when I have phone problems. That always aggravated me.

The truth is that if they had kept them simple I may have stayed connected. At one time I considered giving up my land line and going straight cellular. That thought quickly left me though when they started coming out with a new phone daily and not supporting the old stuff. So Mr. CEO of Sprint, you did this to yourself by not keeping it simple. You tried to wrap everything into one little bundle and now you lost my business. So from now on, if anyone wants to “reach out and touch us” call us at home. If we don’t answer please call back. Now how hard was that?

As far as layoffs, I am still laying off the gas pedal and getting over 40 MPG. Now with the new low gas prices, cough cough, it is only costing me around 30 dollars a week. I will be paying for half of my gas with the money I save by not having a cell phone. We are also laying off unnecessary trips to town and combining trips when we can.

Now as for getting back to basics, have you noticed that we have run out of ideas for games, movies and books? Everything hitting the market these days is simply a remake of an old idea. I have been thinking about going out and getting some original board games for the family to play. You know that a family that plays together stays together. I refuse to pay money to see most of the movies being made these days. How many times can you see a person being cut in half with a chainsaw and still be entertained? I don’t really read many books but frankly I haven’t seen any recently that even interested me. I guess I need to start writing that book I promised everyone. I assure you it will be an original. I am also still reading the one book that is still an original….The Bible. It has something for everyone so why not give it a try.

Have a great day,
Greg