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How do people manage to keep track of their mobile phones

(135 Posts)
M0nica Sat 01-Nov-25 16:40:47

Forthe last 3 months, because of the vagaries of Vodaphone and Openreach we have had no telecomms at home so I have had to be dependent on my mobile phone.

The problem is I do nto always have it onme or close to me. When i go out I put it in my handbag, and when i return Iput the bag under the stairs, and if the phone rings I do not hear it. Alternatively it is on my desk - and if I am not near my desk, and I often aren't , it rigs and I do not hear it. Ditto whenit is in the car.

I tried putting it in a little bag slung round my neck, but the phone kept resetting itself and one of the things it reset was whether it would ring or not, so it kept turning off sound.

Carrying around in my hand all the time gives me cramp and anyway, I need both hands to do things.

There is nowhere in the house to put my phone where I can hear it all the time, and so many clothes lack pockets.

In our last home we had a VOIP (pretend landline) and that had a loud ring and we had three handsets, all of which rang in different parts of the house.

We have decided not to have fibre to the house, I do not quite understand what we have but it is some wireless gizmo that provides an excellent internet service, but no phone.

So I am utterly perplexed as to what to do to make sure I pick up all my calls.

SueDonim Sun 02-Nov-25 17:09:29

I find some of these posts utterly bizarre. I will not be made a slave to a little device It makes me feel like a dog on a lead. You posters who take it everywhere, do you really want to have a conversation with anyone whilst you are sitting on the loo? Just asking! dont need a umbilicalcord and so on.

Mobile phones are tools. You can do what you want with them. Answer a call or not (and maybe sitting on the loo is the only quiet time you have to make a call!). Look at social media (which we all are on GN) or not. Read adverts or ignore them. Read a book on your phone or not. Use sat nav to guide you to places or use a road atlas. I really don’t understand why people get so het up about what other people do, unless it impinges negatively on your life.

Doodledog Sun 02-Nov-25 17:12:41

Agreed, SueDonim. I don’t understand the need to judge others for just doing things differently from oneself. Do people really think there is only one way to live?

RosieandherMaw Sun 02-Nov-25 17:47:11

I find some of these posts utterly bizarre. “I will not be made a slave to a little device It makes me feel like a dog on a lead. You posters who take it everywhere, do you really want to have a conversation with anyone whilst you are sitting on the loo? Just asking! don't need a umbilical cord” and so on

Nothing new here Suedonim - Gransnet’s USP seems too often to be being judgemental

M0nica Sun 02-Nov-25 19:49:56

SueDonim

I find some of these posts utterly bizarre. I will not be made a slave to a little device It makes me feel like a dog on a lead. You posters who take it everywhere, do you really want to have a conversation with anyone whilst you are sitting on the loo? Just asking! dont need a umbilicalcord and so on.

Mobile phones are tools. You can do what you want with them. Answer a call or not (and maybe sitting on the loo is the only quiet time you have to make a call!). Look at social media (which we all are on GN) or not. Read adverts or ignore them. Read a book on your phone or not. Use sat nav to guide you to places or use a road atlas. I really don’t understand why people get so het up about what other people do, unless it impinges negatively on your life.

But still doesn't answer my question as to how to remember to carry the damn thing with me all the time.

I quite agree a mobile phone is a tool. But who carries a screwdriver everywhere or would remember to do so if they had to?

Allira Sun 02-Nov-25 20:30:52

Keep it somewhere visible and turn it up to LOUD!!

V3ra Sun 02-Nov-25 21:13:42

My mobile phone is by me all the time, for a variety of reasons.

We no longer have a landline phone.

I use it as an alarm clock.

I check the weather forecast on it before I get up.

We both have very elderly parents, who have recently moved into separate care homes, and there have been a lot of settling in issues to address.

I have minded children whose parents I need to be available for.

I do all our banking and pay our bills, and do my Dad's banking and pay his bills, on my phone.

We have our own family, most of whom live away, some are shift workers, but we keep in touch, and share photos, by WhatsApp, usually daily.

I listen to the radio through my phone.

I keep up with the chat on Gransnet on my phone 🙂

So, I just automatically take it round the house as I go from upstairs to downstairs 🤷🏼

V3ra Sun 02-Nov-25 21:16:04

Ha! Forgot to say I do virtually all my shopping online these days, on my phone 😁

Mollygo Sun 02-Nov-25 21:19:36

Having read this thread, I’m just looking at a lanyard. I keep my phone in my pocket or next to me on the seat. I like the idea of a lanyard for when I haven’t a pocket.

keepingquiet Sun 02-Nov-25 21:23:14

I only have a small house and my living space is open plan so it is always within reach.

I don't worry about missing calls though as I pick it up often just to a quick puzzle or check messages.

However, I rarely take it upstairs except at bedtime and don't panic if I hear it ring- there will be a record of who rang and if it is a unknown number I know its a cold call.

I don't see what the problem is really. Why do people feel the need to constantly have their phone on their person?

When I go out I pop it in my handbag like I would my glasses.
If I leave it behind it might annoy me but again, I know any messages and calls I missed can be recovered.

RosieandherMaw Sun 02-Nov-25 21:24:07

I quite agree a mobile phone is a tool. But who carries a screwdriver everywhere or would remember to do so if they had to

If you were using it half a dozen times a day, you would, possibly in one of those natty little tool belts chippies etc wear.
Let’s face it, you were asking how to remember to keep track of your phone.
That is down to you.What do you do about having a pen to hand, I wonder?
If you wanted to, you would find a way.
My phone is on the coffee table in front of me where it has been all evening.
I see no problem or hardship.

Jaxjacky Sun 02-Nov-25 21:36:31

MOnica from reading the suggestions - a lanyard, crossbody bag of a bum bag if you don’t generally have pockets. I’d favour the bum bag in your situation, then you could lean, bend over and it wouldn’t get in the way.

SueDonim Sun 02-Nov-25 21:44:23

Exactly, Rosieandhermaw. My glasses are a tool. I can’t read anything without them which is a good way of remembering to wear them. Likewise, and as you mention, I keep a pen or pencil in most rooms in case I need them, plus one in my handbag.

People have made a number of solutions the problem but they seem to have fallen on fallow ground.

SueDonim Sun 02-Nov-25 21:45:11

solutions to

M0nica Mon 03-Nov-25 09:39:10

A solution has been found - and by DD, who did some lateral thinking.

She realised the real problem is that with our 5G wireless hub it is not possible to have a landline/VOIP phone, so recently all household phone calls have had to go to DH or I on our mobile phones, so she did some searching and found we could get a phone that looks like and acts like an ordinary house phone and can sit on a stand on a wondow sill in the living room, with a ring that can be heard over a distance. However it is a mobile phone and will have a mobile number.

We will then direct all our household business calls to that and give the new number for parcel delivery, tradesmen, and we get a lot of those, so when anyone rings on business, one of us will hear the phone, and field the call, and we will check it regularly for messages as it will be visible near the front door, or in other words, provide a landline service on a mobile phone.

My phone, will then just deal with my personal calls, satnav and similar, and occasional calls when out, so will continue to revolve between handbag, desk and car.

Mollygo Mon 03-Nov-25 09:43:27

Glad you’ve found a solution you’re happy with. Give DD a pat on the back!

yogitree Mon 03-Nov-25 10:04:10

Doodledog

ViceVersa

I just take mine with me from one room to another. Simple.

It's not simple if you have ADD, or have any other reason why you are likely to forget where you put it. If it were as easy as that, the OP wouldn't have posted.

I agree re reasons for being unable locate your phone quickly. I have a wee cross-body bag I made (crochet) that doesn't interfere with the buttons and I also have my Garmin watch which rings when my phone does. It also helps me locate my phone if I have forgotten where it is. Not foolproof, but helps a bit.

Shel1951 Mon 03-Nov-25 10:28:56

I have a tile attached to my keys, when I can find my phone i press the butane it sets of a ringtone a nd vica versa. It even tells me on the app exactly where my phone is, very handy as one day my dayghter took my keys home but the map located it at her road

Shel1951 Mon 03-Nov-25 10:29:56

Button smile not butane...don't you love predicted text

Shel1951 Mon 03-Nov-25 10:34:26

My tile purchased from amazon

Norah Mon 03-Nov-25 13:20:16

M0nica

A solution has been found - and by DD, who did some lateral thinking.

She realised the real problem is that with our 5G wireless hub it is not possible to have a landline/VOIP phone, so recently all household phone calls have had to go to DH or I on our mobile phones, so she did some searching and found we could get a phone that looks like and acts like an ordinary house phone and can sit on a stand on a wondow sill in the living room, with a ring that can be heard over a distance. However it is a mobile phone and will have a mobile number.

We will then direct all our household business calls to that and give the new number for parcel delivery, tradesmen, and we get a lot of those, so when anyone rings on business, one of us will hear the phone, and field the call, and we will check it regularly for messages as it will be visible near the front door, or in other words, provide a landline service on a mobile phone.

My phone, will then just deal with my personal calls, satnav and similar, and occasional calls when out, so will continue to revolve between handbag, desk and car.

Is it then a 3rd mobile?

We do similar using land line business and land line personal.

Missiseff Mon 03-Nov-25 13:39:22

I'm never without mine.

cc Mon 03-Nov-25 13:59:00

I try to remember to put the mobile in my bag when I'm out and on the shelf in the kitchen when I'm in the house, next to the charger. Fortunately our kitchen and living room are open plan so I can usually hear it if it goes off.
However I often leave it in the bathroom, by my computer or the washing machine, or wherevery I happen to have been.
My husband is pretty good at tracking all my lost possessions down fortunately.

bobbydog24 Mon 03-Nov-25 14:00:49

Just to relate my experience this morning. I carry my phone in my pocket as I like to listen to Classic FM as I do my housework. At one point I decided to look at something on my phone and went looking for it. After searching for about 15 minutes, while listening to some lively classical music I realised where my phone was. 🙄

Doodledog Mon 03-Nov-25 14:38:24

bobbydog24

Just to relate my experience this morning. I carry my phone in my pocket as I like to listen to Classic FM as I do my housework. At one point I decided to look at something on my phone and went looking for it. After searching for about 15 minutes, while listening to some lively classical music I realised where my phone was. 🙄

That's exactly the sort of thing I would do grin

AuntieE Mon 03-Nov-25 14:44:31

I don't!

Pockets in skirts just are not big enough for a smart-phone and I never wear jeans at home.

So, I am constantly wondering where I left the blinking phone, and getting to it too late when it rings.

A friend suggested I buy a brightly coloured cover for it - that might help I suppose, as the phone is black.