The average American family owns at least one cell phone; in many families, everyone has a cell phone. Do you also have a land-line home phone? Since the average home phone bill is approximately $50 per month, or $600 per year, more and more people are dropping their home phone service in favor of cell phone plans.

If the thought of going without a home phone – especially in the case of emergency – makes you uncomfortable, call your phone company and ask if they offer a basic service plan. In many cases you can maintain a home phone for around $10 per month. You won't get call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, or even long distance… but you will have a way for people to reach you in an emergency and to call 911 if you face your own emergency.