How old were you

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Replies

  • misao1994
    misao1994 Posts: 78
    I was 11, because my mom was a single parent and I'd go home alone and we had no home phone.

    Now I'm 18 and still have a cell phone, but I pay for it ha
  • shaynak112
    shaynak112 Posts: 751 Member
    I was 17, it was when I moved away from home to university. 21 now. Obviously still have a cell phone (who doesn't?). Started paying for it when I graduated last year (when I was 20).
    Nowadays I think people should get cell phones in high school. Definitely not elementary school but high school seems right :).

    Add: I felt really lame and uncool in high school when all my friends had cell phones and were texting/calling each other. It really sucked. I was willing to pay for one (I worked one job through grade 9, 10, and 11 and two jobs during grade 12) but my parents still said no. :( But I really did feel like it effected my social life. And of course, I wasn't allowed to have a laptop either (again - I totally would have paid) so it was hard to keep track of who was doing what. Well, I was allowed to use the family computer once in a while. So I'm pretty sure I missed out on quite a few things when I was in high school.
    Oh, and my first year of university, I didn't have a phone (well, during frosh week). That was THE WORST. Because that was when everyone was meeting each other, giving out numbers to hang out later, etc. Soooo many people asked for my number but nope, didn't have one. Could have made some friends but that's okay... being a social outcast was totally cool with me :p

    So yeah, the social reason is why I think kids should get them when they start school. Well that's part of the reason. The other part is that you start hanging out with friends, going out, doing other things more so it really is a better way to keep track of your kids.
  • jnhu72
    jnhu72 Posts: 558 Member
    I got one when I was 15, only because I had a job and paid for it on mine own. I'm 22 now.
  • _the_feniks_
    _the_feniks_ Posts: 3,412 Member
    If it weren't for mfp I couldn't tell you what I had for dinner last night. No way I'm going to remember getting my first phone. Maybe 18? I'm 36 now.
  • Berto0391
    Berto0391 Posts: 273 Member
    18 when I got my first one I didn't even really need it because most of my buddies had phones.

    I'm 21 now.
  • reyopo
    reyopo Posts: 210 Member
    My dad was the first person I knew to get a giant car phone in the 80's. It had a giant receiver box and a curly cord. He drove a gorgeous 1954 Chevy Bel Air, I was and still am pretty sure he's the coolest guy ever.

    My first cell phone? 26 or 27, I think. It was huge! I sewed a case for it out of studded red leather. I'm 41 now...
  • TrimAnew
    TrimAnew Posts: 127 Member
    I was in 7th grade when I got my first cell phone. I'm 27 now.

    I had just joined the the girls soccer team (the only sport I ever played) and it was handy to help coordinate my ride home each day after practice. My parents got their first cell phone at that time as well.

    At the time my mom swore it was a waste of money for them to have the shared one, but then she insisted on always being the one to carry it. When I started to drive, she would fuss at me if I didn't answer my cell phone. I constantly pointed out that I drove a stick shift and thus needed both hands to drive, and that it's bad to talk on the phone while driving anyway.

    The other funny thing was that she would occasionally call me, leave a message, and then instead of pressing "end call" or just flipping it shut, would instead power down the phone, then worry when I "didn't call back." Sort of hard to call someone back when their phone is off. Haha.

    During school hours, I kept it in my locker on silent. Nowdays, parents call/text their kids during class, kids answer because they keep phone on them 24/7, and society wonders why teachers complain and take the phones away and why kids don't learn. If a parent needs to talk to a kid during school hours, they ought to call the school's office not a kid's cell phone.

    My folks didn't get separate cell phones until I went to college and by then they got quite adept at using them. Both are now addicted to their "crackberries" for texting at all hours of the day. As for me, I still use an old fashioned "dumb" clam-shell style phone and I'm perfectly happy with it. I hate texting--drives me nuts.

    Having said all that, I only have a cell phone. Haven't had a land line since the one that came with my dorm room.
  • BabyLeila23
    BabyLeila23 Posts: 410
    I wasd 16...I'm 23 now. My parents told me that I didn't need one until I started driving.
  • hmbrandon
    hmbrandon Posts: 114
    17, when I could afford to by myself one. No way would my parents have gotten me one. I'm 26 now.
  • 4cstadler
    4cstadler Posts: 9
    I got my first cell phone when I was 35 because I would be traveling some distance to a job and didn't have a reliable car. I'm now 45 and I currently do not have one.
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    I got mine at 17 too, when I had a job so i could pay for it
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
    I got my first cell phone for my 13th Birthday. My sister and brother got one shortly after that, they are both younger. I remember my sister was around 10 when she got her and she thought she was wicked cool. It was annoying lol. But the reason I got one is because I was constantly on public transportation alone or with my younger brother and sister and both my parents worked so they wanted to make sure I could get in touch with them.
  • Sequoia_2
    Sequoia_2 Posts: 24 Member
    I was 37..I am now 48
  • It_never_ends
    It_never_ends Posts: 105 Member
    I was 17 when I got my first phone, it was my BF's old one. I had to pay for my plan.
  • WickedSpinSistr
    WickedSpinSistr Posts: 139 Member
    When I was 22 and working at my first "real" job after college. The phone was gigantic, and not the least bit smart.

    I'm 34 now. I am very thankful that smart phones and social media didn't exist when i was in college. :))
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
    My first cell phone: I was 18, agreement was i had to buy my own phone and pay the bill.
    I'm currently 23 and have a better phone!
  • BillyC96
    BillyC96 Posts: 7,560 Member
    48

    It's been annoying me ever since.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    I was 25. I am now 30. And I honestly don't use my cell much. Except to play games when I'm waiting in line at the bank. HAH. And occasionally to text someone to arrange a date; "Meet at the park at 1?" "sure." That's my texts. Hahaha. Lame huh?

    But honestly I hate, hate, hate typing on phones. Especially touch screen ones.
  • Byemma
    Byemma Posts: 55
    I got mine at 12. My sister had to commute to school (45 km) and my parents wanted her to have a cellphone. Since we're twins, we both got one. I didn't use it until I went to high school (I was 13 at that time), but even in the first 2 or 3 years of high school I didn't use it much.
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
    13. My freshman year of college.
    9/11 happened & I live in New York.

    24.
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
    18 then.
    29 now.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    13. My freshman year of college.
    9/11 happened & I live in New York.

    24.

    13 = your freshman year of college? Did I read that wrong?
  • TheFitHooker
    TheFitHooker Posts: 3,357 Member
    I think I was 23 or 24 when I got my first cell. I'm 30
  • Shelgirl001
    Shelgirl001 Posts: 477 Member
    I was 27 I believe and it was a large Qualcomm phone. They made you pay an extra dollar or so for the first minute of each call. It sucked, because there weren't actual package plans so you paid by the minute. Needless to say it was rarely used as there wasn't great service anywhere. It was for emergencies only. I am now 42.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    zack-morris-phone.jpg

    My parents had that very phone. I remember how awesome I thought it was. :laugh:

    My high school boyfriend had that phone... and misplaced it at a party :huh:
  • thebrianmo
    thebrianmo Posts: 108
    I'm pretty old, does a pager count?

    LOL yep, me too! The first device I had was a pager. I was 24 when I got my first real cell phone. It only had regional calling availability and ran on 4 AA batteries. The company no longer exists. I'm 36 now and have been with Verizon Wireless for 7.5 years, I don't know what number phone I'm on though, lol
  • geonbaeLeilee
    geonbaeLeilee Posts: 606 Member
    21. I'm behind. ^^'
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    This is kinda pathetic, but 35. I got it because I was caring for my mother and she would panic if I was gone for too long.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    16, 22
  • jerbear67
    jerbear67 Posts: 247 Member
    My first device was pager at 15. I got my first cell phone at 18 and it was a beast see the Zac Morris phone. Im now about to turn 35.

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