For someone who likes to be organized, efficient and “on the ball”….wow, I have a huge confession. It’s one that I hope won’t make you take me less seriously, since I always talk about how to save time, save money and do things easier. You’d think that would apply to all aspects of my life, including when I’m away from home and my home business.
But here’s the thing: I don’t have an iPhone. I don’t have a smartphone of any kind. I don’t have a smart-anything when I’m away from my laptop.
I’m a mobile organization hypocrite.
Things I Can’t Do…Without an iPhone:
1. I can’t keep track of anything, other than a phone call when I’m away from home. No cool calendar, no to-do lists, no shopping lists. Unless they’re on paper or in my head, they don’t exist when I’m not at home.
2. I can’t do price comparisons in the store. This KILLS me. To think that I could stand in a store and take a snap of a barcode to make sure I’m getting a good deal…and I CAN’T?! Ugh, it’s like a dagger in the heart for this savvy shopper.
3. I can’t keep my kiddo occupied away from home, unless I tote along some books and toys. I hear all about these great iPhone apps for kids and I can’t use a single one. I can’t use the downtime in the doctor’s office to run through colors or letters and I certainly can’t hand a non-existent iPhone to my kiddo to mess with when I need to have conversation. I’m literally green with envy every time I see someone do that.
4. I can’t access email, Twitter, Facebook or check in on projects. To get any work done, I have to be at home. If I’m away from home, so is a little part of my attention wondering what’s piling up for me when I get back.
You might wonder, “well, then just get one for crying out loud!” Hmm….I know. I intellectually understand all of the benefits and I really want one. But I have two issues that this frugal mama can’t get past: the cost of the service for two of them (hey, my husband would want one too!) and the fact that I’m a total commitment-phobe about cell phones and plans. I’m convinced that the day after I commit to anything, something better will come out. That’s why my husband and I do the whole pre-paid cellphone thing right now. We aren’t locked in to anything. It’s a wonder we two ever got together and managed to navigate the whole MARRIED thing, the way we think about cell phone committments! 
But I know it’s only a matter of time. There will be a tipping point. The day we’re out shopping for something expensive and kicking our own butts that we didn’t have a smartphone to check prices in the store. Or the day that I’m stuck away from home unexpectedly without any access to my business and a crisis erupts. Or, the day that my kiddo decides that TODAY is the day he’s going to raise heck in a public place where I can’t leave for some reason. Yep, that’ll be the day I snap and buy two of these magical devices….and the day after, will be the day they come out with something even cooler. Oh well…..
I’m participating in a contest at Best Kids Apps, a blog about iPhone apps for kids, for a chance to win an iPad.
