You shared an entire landline with everyone in your house, but if you were lucky, you could get an extension in your room so you could talk in your bedroom (which, of course, also meant your parents could listen in or demand that you get off when they needed to talk). And if you knew someone who did have their own private line, then not only would you be jealous, but you would also go over to use their phone if you wanted to talk to a crush, etc.