Don't have one, don't need one, don't really want one

It’s called ‘freedom of choice’ something we still have in The UK.

I meant to say, I only use my laptop for banking, and use my ipad more than any other device.

I can’t imagine our lives without one, and even though I do not use mine very much, I don’t go out without it. It is a phone, a message pad, a satnav, a torch and best of all, a camera. I don't tend to use apps, and don't use it to pay with though.
A smartphone is needed for claiming Universal Credit and so many more things. Years ago, I thought I might be able to finish my working life without using a computer, but wouldn’t imagine how essential it would become. Same with a mobile phone.
I don't walk along looking at mine, it is often on silent so I rarely take calls on it, but I would not be without it.

I do not pay a substantial annual fee for the pleasure of having a landline, my very reasonable priced broadband is inclusive
of my telephone line and as long as I do not call out to mobile numbers then my bill is low.
Any friends and family with mobile have to call me as I keep my costs as low as possible, I am not made of money and everything is so expensive now. If there was an emergency and I had to call to mobiles I would.

I did hold out for quite a while, but certainly wouldn’t be without mine now. I love all the photos and little vids of the Gdcs, plus you can phone on WhatsApp for free - I use it for friends and the odd relation abroad.
Instant WhatsApp messaging too - I’ve had a ‘conversation’ this morning with a Swedish friend in Majorca.

There are certain aspects that grate on me though - the other day we were in quite a smart restaurant (not in the U.K.) where the waiter expected us to use our phones and an app for the menu. ?
I bloody hate having to read a menu via a phone app, it’s just too small, so I said so (more politely) and he did bring me a proper menu.
When Covid was much more of a thing I could understand it, but now??

My DH doesn't have one (though he had one when he was working).
I find mine invaluable for keeping in touch and for very simple banking. Even DH admits he needs one now to get easy banking and to keep in touch whilst travelling.
We've been out of our home due to building work for the last three months and my phone has been invaluable, though I'm really sick of him relying on me for phone calls.
I do find that I get eye-strain from too much use though.

We originally changed to mobile phones to save having to pay a substanial annual fee for the pleasure of having a land-line.

When we moved house, we didn't bother with a new land-line.

I have an android phone that can do all the things a smart phone can, but only use it for phoning, text messaging and taking photos.

My sight is no longer good enough to allow me to use the phone instead of my laptop, nor would I be at all happy about only having access to the Interet and all I use it for over my phone. After all I might lose my phone, or break it, and what would I do then?

Don't get a mobile, if you don't want one,

I have a mobile phone, but it's only a basic one, not a smartphone. All I use it for is emergency contacts when I'm not at home.

Absolutely love my smartphone, can’t imagine life without it. I don’t carry a handbag nor a purse simple phone with cards in my pocket. Life is so much simpler.

I do not have a mobile phone and do not want one. As far as I
am concerned I do not need one. I have home desktop computer and landline and use internet but only simple stuff.
I did not grow up with mobile technology and have no interest in keeping up with it all even though in the future I am aware everything will be on phones and apps. I intend leaving it as long as possible not to have one as seeing all ages constantly on phones when out and about tapping away and never wanting conversations with people is boring all the social skills are lost.

I now have one, but it rarely has power , or credit and indeed rarely know where it is. You need people to ring for it to be useful

My mom feels the same as you. She came a cropper this week when her airline she was using to travel only do boarding passes via their app. She also needed to prove vaccine status- again on the app.
Whether we like it or not eventually your diving licence, pass port everything will be apps and no paper versions. Payment and banking app only.
She tried resisting and it literally got her nowhere.

I wouldn’t be without my mobile now, although I don’t use it to its capacity. I ALWAYS have it when I go out walking after reading about two sisters jogging on a canal path in the middle of nowhere when one of them tripped over a tree root and fractured her ankle. It took the other sister ages to get help and the injured one had to have her ankle amputated as blood flow was so restricted. I got fed up not having adequate pockets, so I now have a lanyard that fits my phone and is worn across the body with a pretty rope. Available on Amazon for around a tenner. My sister dropped hers down the loo which was in her back pocket, a very expensive wee!

Greyduster you said I have one but it doesn’t rule my life. I don’t use social media,. Gransnet is social media!

I don't have a mobile phone either. I rarely go out, and when I do I'm accompanied by someone that does have a phone so I think it would be an expense I don't need + something else I would need to learn how to use. I have found a few things that I can't do properly without a mobile e.g. online banking + I have to get someone else to order my prescriptions as a mobile is required for this service. I'm lucky to have someone I trust as things like finances, health etc can involve personal or confidential information. I've also needed my friend to take photos of me and/or documents for proof of ID, to book Covid vaccines and a couple of other things that off the top of my head I can't remember! For most people a mobile is no longer a luxury item but an essential part of everyday life. I believe job-seekers and benefit claimants have to have a mobile and everyone I know seems to use their phones for multiple things and tells me I would find it useful. I've only had one scary moment when I wondered if a mobile would've been good to have...during a power-cut I had no internet and no landline and experienced breathing problems, yet had no means of even ringing an ambulance/medical help...this has planted the seed that I may, eventually, have to join the rest of the world and get one! Just remembered, I won a cheap basic mobile in a competition - it is still in the unopened box! Will have to give this some thought - the camera would be useful as mine is broken and I have loads of stuff I need to sell/get shot of.

Don't get me going on this. I do have one BUT I don't get a good signal where I live (I'm sure some people don't believe me) so basically only use it for the odd call or text. Also during last couple of years I have done lots more online - eg banking and they insist on sending a OTP (One Time Passcode) . I agree it's good to have extra security but some companies will send a code to your landline too - which I prefer, why can't all offer this.
I just think it's wrong to presume every one has one and therefore you are discriminated against. For example one financial firm I have used before had a good savings rate but now you can only open via an app - I told him to feedback that it meant they are potentially losing a lot of customers but they didn't seem to care.
I don't give out my number as I've told friends if they text I might be lucky to see it 2 or 3 weeks later when I turn my phone on. Ring my landline and TALK to me.
It's good in case of emergency as I do drive on country lanes.
I use a desktop and ipad which I prefer.
The best one was when the phone I had stopped working. I couldn't sign into my online account (Tesco mobile) as they wanted to send a OTP - what goods that when phone isn't working. I ended up having to ring them and had to buy a new phone - I stuck with them as it meant I could at least use the old sim and balance etc in the new one - crazy.
So yes some people think I'm odd but I don't care, they have their uses but you shouldn't be forced to have one just to be able to carry out some transactions.

I wouldn't be without mine, I use it for so much and of course it has all my emergency contacts, medication details etc on it in case of need. I don't go anywhere without it. GraffaC had an old Nokia which he never used - it was so annoying if someone rang home to tell him something could be collected in town & he was actually in town but uncontactable so it'd have to wait til he got home then he'd have to go back in!! I have finally persuaded him to get a smart phone as we're heading to Italy & I've told him he'll need his covid status on it (I don't think he will as Italy seem to be phasing it out next month )Anyway, it worked & he can actually answer it & make calls & I believe he did send a WhatsApp message to both AC who were astounded. Above all, I want him to be able to call for help in an emergency. He's often alone somewhere on our farm, he's not getting any younger & he could easily have an accident, just slipping & twisting his ankle for example. There's being a Luddite & there's being stupid.

It's a computer in your pocket ...a smartphone is an essential piece of kit without even using the phone. The phone is the least of it. I have a couple of friends who think they are doing well without one. I think the older you get the more resources you need at your fingertips. Medical advice from hospitals from around the world..Stanford, Cleveland Mayo clinic health advice with today's appalling GP service is necessary. World library to access...never get lost.

I find my smartphone so invaluable for many of the reasons others have said, however, for the last month I have now turned many of my notifications off- doing this means that I look at things only when I choose rather than endless lighting up of the screen drawing my attention. I can not understand those who still have their phones pinging with every email, WhatsApp, text message etc etc unless they’re in an emergency situation of course.

Each to his own, of course. If you don't want it's not compulsory.
But they are so wonderful. I cannot imagine life without one.
They make me feel safer, and I can contact all my family so easily. Every day I get messages, jokes, photos, etc. And they are so handy for banking etc.
No one should be bullied into having one though. To some they are just a worry, I realise that.

I do not have a smartphone, because of NO signal in the house. Nor millions of people sending me irrelevant messages that I can't understand, due to bad spelling!

I do have an ordinary mobile for emergencies, only.

I feel it is unfair that anyone should be bullied into having one if they don't feel it necessary.

Grandma 70s..but it won’t fit in your handbag or pay for parking

There are times when I wish I didn't have one and only give out my number to those that I consider need it! Others can call my landline.
The thought of being able to be contacted 24 hours a day really makes me feel stressed , so my phone stays downstairs overnight.

My Dad was admitted to hospital over Christmas and without his mobile we would've had no idea how he was getting on etc. No staff to man the phones over the holiday period and the days where they wheeled a landline to your bed are over I suspect! He is deaf so is unable to talk on the phone, but text messaging was a life saver at this time. Its the only way we communicate, because of his disability. As for people staring at screens all the time, would it be better if ones nose was constantly in a book or you were hidden behind a newspaper? Because phones ARE books and newspapers now! I honestly cannot see any disadvantages to owning a mobile phone. If you don't want to be contacted then put it on silent for a while, but there are many scenarios when you might NEED to be contacted and might NEED to contact others!

Driving home across Exmoor at midnight after dropping offspring off at a week long expedition I realised, being a widow and having my workshop at home no one would miss me if I got into difficulties until I didn’t turn up to fetch daughter.
Have had a mobile phone ever since, even with potential connectivity limitations it gives me a possible way to summon assistance if necessary.

It would have been handy if mobile phones had been available when I snapped my ankle in a rabbit hole. Luckily then my dogs howling alerted a neighbour who was out on horseback and she rode for help and the incredible air ambulance lifted me to hospital. Wonderful woman took my hounds in until I was home as well.