I enjoyed this post a lot. I too have been using the Light Phone as my daily phone - for nearly a year in my case. I actually think having a dumb phone saves a lot of money in the long term compared to using a smart phone with web based apps.
Savings come in two main ways:
1) By not being exposed to constant advertising on social media, apps, and the web, your "wants" become less.
2) Savings come in the forms of all the things you "can't do" with a dumb phone, and you must adapt your lifestyle accordingly - by not being able to pay for parking with an app, you may have to park elsewhere nearby for free. By not being able to use Uber, you choose to take the bus or walk. By not being able to order delivery on your phone, you instead save money by dining in, picking up take out, or simply making your own food at home.
I choose not to try to "replicate" all the features of a smart phone on my light phone, but instead choose to live a more slow paced and relaxed life, like it's 2005 again!
Thank you for sharing Carmella! I've been thinking about the idea of the 'dumbphone tax' but couldn't exactly pinpoint it. When sharing my experience with friends and family, I start so many sentences with "This phone is great, but it does have a few trade-offs but they are totally worth it!" It is a dumbphone tax!
The other night I put in a Target pickup from the website but forgot that you need a mobile device when you arrive for them to bring the items to your car. I reluctantly got out of my car to walk in to let them know I've arrived and then decided to shake that feeling and embrace the extra 5 minutes I had to myself. I even stopped in a shop next door to browse for a few minutes and had a nice conversation with the sales attendant who had her new puppy with her. An interaction I would have missed entirely, much like your experience at the garden store if I had a smartphone. A little inconvenience leads to more fruitful interactions and I find that when these taxes arise, they often come along with a silver lining!
Your experience with the parking attendant is quite funny -- I had a very similar encounter at the library recently. I went up to the front desk to renew my library card and as they were updating my information in the system they said, "Next time, you can do all of this in the app, it's a lot easier." I explained that I didn't have a smart phone and I could tell by the blank stare I got in response that this information didn't compute. They just paused, then resumed talking about the app!
I think the idea of a dumb phone tax is a great way to call attention to the fact that we're normalizing smart phones as a necessity of life. And opting out, as you mentioned, has become a kind of privilege, because the inconveniences can become financial.
Carmella, I wanted to share a "dumbphone tax" moment that I had just the other night. I was at the grocery store and filled my grocery cart for a big dinner that we were having with family who flew across the country to visit that day. I was running around all day and grocery shopping for the event was happening later than I would have liked, but it was happening and I was solo, so that was a win!
I get to the checkout and realized with horror that I don't have my wallet, only my Light Phone. I quickly call my husband and ask if he could send over a card number over the phone but the cashier doesn't have a way to enter the card details. At this time, the cashier is starring quizzically at my tiny credit card sized phone.
I hang up, and I thought to myself that I could drive home and back, but be late cooking dinner...and then I remembered that I had my old iPhone in the glove box that I use for directions on long trips but it wasn't charged. In order to charge it quickly, I asked the cashier if I could borrow a charger and then use Apple Pay. During the time it took to charge, the cashier asked me lots of questions about the Light Phone and was very intrigued. After 5-10 minutes or so, my old smartphone was charged and I paid for my groceries.
Before I left, the cashier asked me the question, "Is it still worth it to have this phone and not use a smartphone?" My answer surprised me. I said absolutely without a hint of hesitation! It was a slightly embarrassing experience but I also had an interesting conversation that I otherwise wouldn't have had. Forgetting my wallet wasn't the end of the world, even if I did have to drive all the way home and back to the store. I think a few months back this experience would have caused me so much frustration and embarassment but day by day using the LP, I am learning a little a little bit of friction is okay and even good for me.
All the other benefits from not staring at my iPhone all day are worth these small "dumbphone taxes" and I had a funny story to tell when I got home to tell when I was making the paella.
Your story about paying for parking reminded me of this piece of news from a few months (possibly even years) ago.
This old man in the UK, went to a supermarket that only accepted payments by card, he didn't have a card and paid in notes - the cashiers wouldn't accept it - he was very adamant wanting to pay, left the money on the counter and left. If I remember correctly they wanted to call the police.
I want to add that this was purposeful, he was trying to make a point at how ridiculous this whole situtation was.
I enjoyed this post a lot. I too have been using the Light Phone as my daily phone - for nearly a year in my case. I actually think having a dumb phone saves a lot of money in the long term compared to using a smart phone with web based apps.
Savings come in two main ways:
1) By not being exposed to constant advertising on social media, apps, and the web, your "wants" become less.
2) Savings come in the forms of all the things you "can't do" with a dumb phone, and you must adapt your lifestyle accordingly - by not being able to pay for parking with an app, you may have to park elsewhere nearby for free. By not being able to use Uber, you choose to take the bus or walk. By not being able to order delivery on your phone, you instead save money by dining in, picking up take out, or simply making your own food at home.
I choose not to try to "replicate" all the features of a smart phone on my light phone, but instead choose to live a more slow paced and relaxed life, like it's 2005 again!
Thank you for sharing Carmella! I've been thinking about the idea of the 'dumbphone tax' but couldn't exactly pinpoint it. When sharing my experience with friends and family, I start so many sentences with "This phone is great, but it does have a few trade-offs but they are totally worth it!" It is a dumbphone tax!
The other night I put in a Target pickup from the website but forgot that you need a mobile device when you arrive for them to bring the items to your car. I reluctantly got out of my car to walk in to let them know I've arrived and then decided to shake that feeling and embrace the extra 5 minutes I had to myself. I even stopped in a shop next door to browse for a few minutes and had a nice conversation with the sales attendant who had her new puppy with her. An interaction I would have missed entirely, much like your experience at the garden store if I had a smartphone. A little inconvenience leads to more fruitful interactions and I find that when these taxes arise, they often come along with a silver lining!
Your experience with the parking attendant is quite funny -- I had a very similar encounter at the library recently. I went up to the front desk to renew my library card and as they were updating my information in the system they said, "Next time, you can do all of this in the app, it's a lot easier." I explained that I didn't have a smart phone and I could tell by the blank stare I got in response that this information didn't compute. They just paused, then resumed talking about the app!
I think the idea of a dumb phone tax is a great way to call attention to the fact that we're normalizing smart phones as a necessity of life. And opting out, as you mentioned, has become a kind of privilege, because the inconveniences can become financial.
Carmella, I wanted to share a "dumbphone tax" moment that I had just the other night. I was at the grocery store and filled my grocery cart for a big dinner that we were having with family who flew across the country to visit that day. I was running around all day and grocery shopping for the event was happening later than I would have liked, but it was happening and I was solo, so that was a win!
I get to the checkout and realized with horror that I don't have my wallet, only my Light Phone. I quickly call my husband and ask if he could send over a card number over the phone but the cashier doesn't have a way to enter the card details. At this time, the cashier is starring quizzically at my tiny credit card sized phone.
I hang up, and I thought to myself that I could drive home and back, but be late cooking dinner...and then I remembered that I had my old iPhone in the glove box that I use for directions on long trips but it wasn't charged. In order to charge it quickly, I asked the cashier if I could borrow a charger and then use Apple Pay. During the time it took to charge, the cashier asked me lots of questions about the Light Phone and was very intrigued. After 5-10 minutes or so, my old smartphone was charged and I paid for my groceries.
Before I left, the cashier asked me the question, "Is it still worth it to have this phone and not use a smartphone?" My answer surprised me. I said absolutely without a hint of hesitation! It was a slightly embarrassing experience but I also had an interesting conversation that I otherwise wouldn't have had. Forgetting my wallet wasn't the end of the world, even if I did have to drive all the way home and back to the store. I think a few months back this experience would have caused me so much frustration and embarassment but day by day using the LP, I am learning a little a little bit of friction is okay and even good for me.
All the other benefits from not staring at my iPhone all day are worth these small "dumbphone taxes" and I had a funny story to tell when I got home to tell when I was making the paella.
Your story about paying for parking reminded me of this piece of news from a few months (possibly even years) ago.
This old man in the UK, went to a supermarket that only accepted payments by card, he didn't have a card and paid in notes - the cashiers wouldn't accept it - he was very adamant wanting to pay, left the money on the counter and left. If I remember correctly they wanted to call the police.
I want to add that this was purposeful, he was trying to make a point at how ridiculous this whole situtation was.