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How do large families afford to give every kid a smart phone?

120 286 November 29, 2011 at 06:58 AM
I am pricing plans and I can't believe how expensive it is to have multiple smart phones. We have 5 lines on our plan and pay $185/mo with AT&T - if we upgrade to all smart phones the plan will be almost $300/mo and that is not even unlimited data! I even get a corporate discount. We are almost out of contract on all lines so we can migrate to another carrier but it still looks like $250/month. I just cannot justify that kind of cell phone bill. Is it just me? Am I just cheap?

I have three teenagers nagging me about upgrading to smart phones and it is getting old.

My 17 yr old is working so I told her she can come off our family plan and get her own phone. She thinks that is unreasonable.

Ok, guess I just had to vent and whine.
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HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
11-29-2011 at 06:59 AM.
11-29-2011 at 06:59 AM.
Make more money than you maybe???
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My # is bigger than yours
> bubble2 36,734 Posts
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SnakePlisken
11-29-2011 at 07:00 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:00 AM.
that $9.99/mo family plan is a real killer Sadwalk
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Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,383 Posts
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Frogstar
11-29-2011 at 07:00 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:00 AM.
By being fiscally irresponsible?
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heartless
> bubble2 9,236 Posts
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noungning
11-29-2011 at 07:43 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:43 AM.
We just dropped our last data plan on BF and downgraded. laugh out loud
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> bubble2 31,118 Posts
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vec
11-29-2011 at 07:45 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:45 AM.
Quote from Count_Chocula :
that $9.99/mo family plan is a real killer Sadwalk
.this
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> bubble2 7,409 Posts
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chevvy
11-29-2011 at 07:48 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:48 AM.
Quote from Frogstar :
By being fiscally irresponsible?

^this.


I can't think of one reason why anyone under 18 (depending on the kid) would need a smart phone.
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vec
11-29-2011 at 07:51 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:51 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
^this.

I can't think of one reason why anyone under 18 (depending on the kid) would need a smart phone.
It's definitely nice having them unknowingly carry around a GPS transmitter.
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> bubble2 7,409 Posts
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chevvy
11-29-2011 at 07:52 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:52 AM.
Quote from vec :
It's definitely nice having them unknowingly carry around a GPS transmitter.

you can get that on just about any phone. it doesn't have to be a smart phone.
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> bubble2 15,170 Posts
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PaintTheSkyGrey
11-29-2011 at 07:55 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:55 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
^this.


I can't think of one reason why anyone under 18 (depending on the kid) would need a smart phone.
Iagree

Most feature phones are capable of sexting, which is all kids do with their phones anyway.

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> bubble2 21,621 Posts
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shhaggy
11-29-2011 at 07:56 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:56 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
^this.


I can't think of one reason why anyone under 18 (depending on the kid) would need a smart phone.
Most people over 18 don't need one either, unless it's for work. They want them for the same reason the rest of us want one, to communicate with others easily and to have access to information.

There're ways to afford it, but for the best service and the unlimited plans, of course it gets expensive. You just have shop based on what you need. If you need a lot of minutes and texts but only a little data, you can go with Page Plus for $30. If you want unlimited data and texts but only a few minutes, you can go with T-Mobile for $30. If you need unlimited anything but don't care about service quality, you can go with Virgin for like $25.

I see nothing wrong with parents making their kids pay for extra services if they want it. When I was younger my parents paid for my cell phone because they wanted to be able to reach me (and there were times when I hated having a cell phone for this reason). When I wanted a text plan, I agreed to first pay the overages that it cost (at the time I think 5 cents a text) and then later the $10 package that I wanted added on.
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> bubble2 41,039 Posts
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emelvee
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
Iagree

Most feature phones are capable of sexting, which is all kids do with their phones anyway.

Hide
damsel. refuses to send me any. Mad
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> bubble2 31,118 Posts
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vec
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
you can get that on just about any phone. it doesn't have to be a smart phone.
That's true but for the same price (family plan) you might as well give them a smart phone. It's something that they could have taken away while being punished. It's a win-win for parents.
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PaintTheSkyGrey
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:58 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
damsel. refuses to send me any. Mad
Really?

She didn't hesitate for me... Dontknow
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HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
11-29-2011 at 07:59 AM.
11-29-2011 at 07:59 AM.
DS wants an iphone now. He's 5. We'll get him one someday but not anytime soon. I'm thinking of getting him an ipod now and giving him my ipad whenever I decide to upgrade mine.
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