Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Curious — top of line phones for kids, etc
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May 29, 2014 at 12:02 am #611480
sunsetbeach1MemberJust curious as to how people afford these things for their kids. Our tween has a smartphone, but 6 months later it is not advanced enough, nor does she get enough data and says other kids “get a new iphone every 6 months or so..” and that “even kindergartners have iphones”…
Is this true? How do you all do it? We have to commit to 2 years for our service, and we certainly cannot afford to just get a new smartphone at the drop of a hat.
Also, how do you keep the monthly costs in check? We’re going on close to $200 a month for three people!
Tips, advice, your stories/examples, all would be greatly appreciated for perspective (and reality) on this subject!
May 29, 2014 at 1:00 am #808800
HappyOnAlkiParticipantI believe in buying the initial iPhone (ski gear, mountain bike, whatever), but if you want to upgrade, start saving your allowance and babysitting money — you can keep up with the Joneses on your nickel!
May 29, 2014 at 5:12 am #808801
shihtzuParticipantWe just got signed up for a new plan through Verizon. It’s $140ish for my husband and I and my new iPhone was only $99. Now if we had two more people on the plan, it would only be $20 more. I kind of get it now.
I don’t think the same kids are getting new phones every 6 months, but someone probably is.
May 29, 2014 at 2:04 pm #808802
berthaParticipantDon’t buy that old line! Kids have been telling their parents “all the other kids have new phones, get to stay out till 4 a.m., use the computer for as long as they want, eat ice cream for dinner, etc” since the beginning of time. My kids and their friends get new phones whenever the contract is up for renewal. Stay strong, this is only the beginning!
May 29, 2014 at 2:42 pm #808803
happywalkerParticipantsunset…hopefully you don’t feel pressure to oblidge your tween for a new more expensive phone and relinquish your “parental control”. Hang in there…there will be more “all of the other kids have it” to come. Been there done that.
May 29, 2014 at 4:45 pm #808804
sunsetbeach1MemberThanks. Have no intention of giving in on this, but it does seem like some of the friends do get better phones fairly often…maybe they have short contracts, and I think some just get whatever they want. Anyway, just wanted to poll what people are REALLY doing.
May 29, 2014 at 6:05 pm #808805
maplesyrupParticipantYou have to shop around for plans. My kids get hand-me-down phones.
May 29, 2014 at 6:27 pm #808806
pattileaParticipantWhen my kids were home, we didn’t buy or pay for their phones, If they wanted a phone they bought go phones, and paid for their plans. They did well in school and sports, had jobs. I am not into this give your child everything. Kids are going to be surprised when they hit the real world and have to pay their own way! Plus instead of texting why not chat face to face, or make a phone call. These phones are making people less social. just sayin….
May 29, 2014 at 7:54 pm #808807
pattileaParticipantWhen my kids were home, we didn’t buy or pay for their phones, If they wanted a phone they bought go phones, and paid for their plans. They did well in school and sports, had jobs. I am not into this give your child everything. Kids are going to be surprised when they hit the real world and have to pay their own way! Plus instead of texting why not chat face to face, or make a phone call. These phones are making people less social. just sayin….
May 29, 2014 at 8:01 pm #808808
SmittyParticipantWe waitied until our kids were 13 and got them iphone 5Cs (the cheaper model of iphone) as a Christmas present.
We have the AT&T family plan which is unlimited talk/text and 10GB of shared data for $140/month +taxes/fees.
We put up with the expense because we like to get a hold of them – plus the “find my iphone” and facetime features are kind of cool.
May 29, 2014 at 9:57 pm #808809
steveParticipantOur tweens are by themselves for a bit both in the morning and afternoon and do walk to and from school. I like to know they can call me or I can call them. They both have phones but the phones are not smart phones. I figure they can wait on that until they get older and can pay some of it themselves.
We have 4 on our Verizon account and it’s approx. $216 a month which I feel is crazy and we are going to shop around.
My kids also try to guilt trip me about their friends that have iphones but I also know that some of their friends have no phones at all.
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