When I first got a computer I was so addicted to reading anything I could find on the Internet. Forums were another huge timewaster too. I just loved that I could talk to all those people from all over the world.

Hi Annie – My cellphone bills used to be enormous as everyone who worked for me had one. But now it’s just me – I’m also on pay as you go – same as you. And in the last few weeks I’ve spent zero.

Hi Melissa – exactly. If you don’t let them control your life – they can’t

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Great post! I’m with you on the cell phone – I hardly use mine but it’s there for emergencies and the few times I’ve really needed it, I’m so glad it’s there.

My teenager is mainly the one who contacts me with it – she texts me from school (between classes and during lunch) if she forgets her lunch or wants to go to a friends house after school. Likewise, I’ve used mine to text her to tell her I’ll be picking her up and not to get on the bus. But it’s not something that’s always tied to my ear.

I actually use it so little, I’ve had to call it to find it! Or went to put in my pocket when heading out somewhere only to find it needs to be charged. Mine is the pay as you go kind, too. I can’t see paying monthly when I don’t use it often enough for that. We do have a “regular” plan for the teenagers phone, though.

And I agree with Hunter on the email – I like to keep mine open so I can respond to clients or potential clients right away. I think it’s professional to not keep them waiting. I’ve had clients tell me that when they’ve been deciding between me and another writer or designer, they’ve chosen me because I communicated well and quickly.

Dishwashers – I love them! I’m allergic to most dish soaps and trying to wash by hand – even wearing gloves – gives me a rash. It’s currently out right now because we are having the plumbing redone in the kitchen so the husband gets to do the dishes.

Anyway, I gotta run. The Short Dude is home from school today and he’s about ready to drive me bonkers! Gotta go for a walk or something to keep him occupied so I can actually get some work done later.

~ Annie

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i need a nap.

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Hi Barbara – if you feel like taking a break from technology, you’ve got to do it. I thought of one way you can save a bit of time – will email you over the weekend.

Hi Mags – Poor you with no dishwasher. Washing up sucks, but like you say, if you’re at someone else’s house doing it, it gives you time to talk.

Hi Brad – The internet has been a godsend to me over the years. It’s definitely saved me a lot of money and hassle. As for time though – I’ve spent far too much time on forums and blogs to claim that I’ve saving that.

Mind you, when I had my fire and flood business, I barely ever used the Internet, aside to check the weather etc, check up on my competitors, or do a bit of reputation management.

What kinds things to say about my blog – thank you.

Graham LMAO – fancy falling on the dishwasher at a party.

Emails are definitely faster than the polava of typing a letter and posting it etc. But like you say – just because it’s quicker doesn’t mean we need to respond quicker.

I can see what you mean replying straight away for business quotes. It’s a pity there wasn’t a way you could automate that.

Hi Hunter LOL – I never know what words you people know and what you don’t. Cream crackers are like biscuits we have with cheese. And cream crackered means knackered (only because it rhymes) – it means really tired – exhausted basically.

Hi Mark – there’s definitely a lot of gadget addicts isn’t there. And I guess a lot of them make a fortune, promoting them and thinking up new ones for the rest, so there is a very positive side to the whole thing.

Hi Vered – that’s a good point – everything just keeps improving and we use the time saved to do something else. My kids were joking that soon you’ll just need to stick a credit card in the TV when you see something you want to buy and it’ll come out of a dispenser at the bottom.

Hi Steph – It sounds like you’ve got on top of the email & cell phone problem too. Like you say, it does become a problem remembering to take it with you when you barely use it though.

Suffice it to say it’s often not even charged and I forget it a lot when I go out to run errands.

Email can drive me nuts too. Sometimes I’ll just go through a phase of being really bad about it. And I regularly have to warn family that I check it once a day most days, unless I’m expecting something. I gave up the obsessive checking a long time ago and that freed up a lot of time.

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Instead of using the extra time for relaxing, we use it to get more done.

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