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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 in Discussion Type (3)
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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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 4,052 Posts
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ashcampbell
11-29-2011 at 08:36 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:36 AM.
Quote from ALVSGIRLY :
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.
Its betting time. Who has the odds that an ipod wont last the kid a 30 days, 3 months, a year?
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HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
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ALVSGIRLY
11-29-2011 at 08:37 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:37 AM.
Quote from ashcampbell :
Its betting time. Who has the odds that an ipod wont last the kid a 30 days, 3 months, a year?
That's why he isn't getting an ipad now.
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Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
11-29-2011 at 08:44 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:44 AM.
Quote from LordOfChaos :
Kids dont need cell phones.
Not many pay phones around these days... how do you expect your kids to reach you when they're not at home? Band/sports practice doesn't end at the same time every day, and when they go to competitions, you aren't going to know exactly when to expect them to be back. I guess that's fine if you like sitting around waiting in parking lots.
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Joined Nov 2003
"Respect my AUTHORITAII!"
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LordOfChaos
11-29-2011 at 08:46 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:46 AM.
Quote from Frogstar :
Not many pay phones around these days... how do you expect your kids to reach you when they're not at home? Band/sports practice doesn't end at the same time every day, and when they go to competitions, you aren't going to know exactly when to expect them to be back. I guess that's fine if you like sitting around waiting in parking lots.
There are phones at school, there are phones at friends houses, there are phones at work. I never used a pay phone when there were no such things as cell phones, so I dont buy into that argument.

Also, everyone else has cell phones too. Borrow theirs.
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Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
11-29-2011 at 08:51 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:51 AM.
Quote from LordOfChaos :
There are phones at school, there are phones at friends houses, there are phones at work. I never used a pay phone when there were no such things as cell phones, so I dont buy into that argument.
I don't think there are any publicly accessible phones at the school after hours. I used pay phones plenty when there were no cell phones. There are lots of valid reasons for a kid to have a cell phone, even if it's just a crappy pre-paid one.
Quote from LordOfChaos :
Also, everyone else has cell phones too. Borrow theirs.
But kids don't need cell phones Whee
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chevvy
11-29-2011 at 08:58 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:58 AM.
It's amazing kids every found their way home before the invention of cell phones. Think of all the planning that went in to it!

Mom: "What time is band practice over?"

Son: "6:00"

Mom: "I'll pick you up at the front of the school at 6:03. If you're late....you're grounded."

Son: "Yes, ma'am. Sadwalk"
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ALVSGIRLY
11-29-2011 at 08:59 AM.
11-29-2011 at 08:59 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
It's amazing kids every found their way home before the invention of cell phones.
I would say something about running water and electricity, but I don't want to give you any ideas.
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MissyMooMoo
11-29-2011 at 09:01 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:01 AM.
Quote from ashcampbell :
There is already a thread for that.

Tell your teenagers to get a job and pay for their own cell bills. Or to pound sand because all they get is what you are currently giving them. Did you not pay for your own long distance\phone\cell phone charges back when you were a kid?

They didn't have cell phones when I was a kid. Frown

But I did have to pay for the food my pet dinosaur ate. nod
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chevvy
11-29-2011 at 09:01 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:01 AM.
Quote from ALVSGIRLY :
I would say something about running water and electricity, but I don't want to give you any ideas.

I'm ready. Smilie
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Joined Jun 2008
My name is Walter
> bubble2 6,360 Posts
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marg_fan
11-29-2011 at 09:03 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:03 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
damsel. refuses to send me any. Mad
Quote from PaintTheSkyGrey :
Really?

She didn't hesitate for me... Dontknow
Maybe she is jealous of Kair? Dontknow

Quote from emelvee :
Something about being old enough to be her granddad..blah blah. Mad
ftfy!
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HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
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ALVSGIRLY
11-29-2011 at 09:06 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:06 AM.
Quote from chewspam :
I'm ready. Smilie
I see right through you city boy Bleh
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Joined Nov 2003
"Respect my AUTHORITAII!"
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LordOfChaos
11-29-2011 at 09:09 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:09 AM.
Quote from Frogstar :
I don't think there are any publicly accessible phones at the school after hours. I used pay phones plenty when there were no cell phones. There are lots of valid reasons for a kid to have a cell phone, even if it's just a crappy pre-paid one.

But kids don't need cell phones Whee
I cant speak about band practice, but back in my day there were useable phones in the locker rooms and training room.

But lets say you are right and there are no phones. If you have a cell phone and call mom to pick you up at 5PM when practice is over, you still wait 20 minutes for her to get there. Or mom just gets to the school at 5PM and there is a 20 minute window where practice can go over with the same "down time".

I could probably be convinced that a kid in high school needs a prepaid cell phone for emergencies or "hey come get me" calls for that first couple years before they drive. However, most of the time kids want phones to text and call and chat with their friends and really have no real "need" for them.
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Baldilocks
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emelvee
11-29-2011 at 09:14 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:14 AM.
Quote from marg_fan :
ftfy!
I'm gonna hit you with my cane! Mad




Right after my nap. ZzZZz
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shhaggy
11-29-2011 at 09:16 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:16 AM.
OP should put her kids on a really minimal data plan and teach them how to steal data from their friends' phones. Between wifi at home and always being with a friend when out, they'll be fine.
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Frogstar
11-29-2011 at 09:16 AM.
11-29-2011 at 09:16 AM.
Quote from Frogstar :
Not many pay phones around these days... how do you expect your kids to reach you when they're not at home? Band/sports practice doesn't end at the same time every day, and when they go to competitions, you aren't going to know exactly when to expect them to be back. I guess that's fine if you like sitting around waiting in parking lots.
Quote from chewspam :
It's amazing kids every found their way home before the invention of cell phones. Think of all the planning that went in to it!

Mom: "What time is band practice over?"

Son: "6:00"

Mom: "I'll pick you up at the front of the school at 6:03. If you're late....you're grounded."

Son: "Yes, ma'am. Sadwalk"
Scratchchin
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