Photo – Simplifying (Good-bye Data Plan)

Oh boy, yet another rare weekend post (I was inspired. It happens).

I decided today to cancel the data plan on my cell phone (gasp!). That’s a photo of my phone above. Read why I decided to do this after the break.

OK, so there are actually a few reasons I decided to cancel the data plan on my phone:

1. My phone isn’t really a smart phone. It is OK for email and checking Twitter, but that’s about it.
2. I didn’t see the point in spending the extra money on a plan when I didn’t have a super-fancy phone.
3. I’m trying to save money.
4. I’m trying to simplify my life a bit.

While the first two reasons are the most practical (if I had an iPhone or a Droid I wouldn’t be writing this post). But, the last two reasons are more about making sacrifices and trying to “unplug” a bit. I spend too much time checking email and Twitter on my phone. It is almost like breathing some times, it is that natural.

I’ve gone “cold-turkey” for the past couple days, not using my phone for email and/or Twitter and it has been oddly liberating. I figured, why not try it for at least a whole month and save myself some money in the process?

Of course I’ll still check my email and Twitter, I just won’t from my phone. And I can send texts from my phone to update Twitter (and to respond to DMs). We’ll see how long this lasts.

And once I am up for a new phone, and can afford a decent smart phone, I’ll get the data plan back. But that won’t be for a while. I am considering saving up for an iPod Touch, which has a better browser than my current phone, not to mention all those fun apps and games (and apparently now Netflix Streaming).

Would you ever consider getting rid of your data plan?