Having a phone with you that you keep turned off most of the time would be a good way to learn what sort of things you really need it for. Obviously you wouldn

Having a phone with you that you keep turned off most of the time would be a good way to learn what sort of things you really need it for. Obviously you wouldn't be able to receive incoming calls, but how much do you use your phone to browse the web, or as a map? If you can time-shift those desires (until you are at a computer) or satisfy them with other devices, then you'll be able to go longer and longer without turning the phone on, but still have it for emergencies. Personally I'd settle for a phone which doesn't connect to the mobile network unless I'm dialling out, or only connects when I'm in certain locations at certain times. Perhaps using a VoIP service and automatically connecting to specific trusted Wi-Fi networks would suffice for that use case, however I've often wondered if it would be possible for a mobile network provider to also operate an FM radio station, which would broadcast a pre-agreed code specific to one of their users whenever that user had an incoming call. I don't know how much battery it would drain for a phone to be constantly scanning FM radio data, though.