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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
L∞: Pro Bono
> bubble2 11,184 Posts
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calistyle
11-30-2011 at 06:07 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:07 AM.
Quote from shhaggy :
An ipad isn't a toy, it's just a medium. My parents bought me a $2700 PC when I was 5. I played games on it designed for my age. 4 years later I was coding programs in qbasic on it. They didn't get me vacation homes when I was 15, the gift doesn't have to escalate. It'd be the same thing with an ipad.
It doesn't have to escalate, but it often does anyway.
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Joined Jun 2005
L6: Laser Lotus
> bubble2 21,668 Posts
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shhaggy
11-30-2011 at 06:09 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:09 AM.
Quote from calistyle :
It doesn't have to escalate, but it often does anyway.
ok, if you can afford it, there's nothing wrong with that either. But the point remains that getting them something expensive at 5 doesn't mean you're getting them cars at 13. You can't just extrapolate things like that. And you know what? What if you DO get them a car at 16? Does that mean they get a house at 17? A plane at 18? A fortune 500 business at 21? What goes in their trust fund? Luxembourg?



Seriously people, stop judging how other people raise their kids. There's nothing wrong with choosing not to buy your kids something expensive that you don't think they need or that you don't want to get them. But there's also nothing wrong with choosing to buy them those things either. YOU decide what's best for your family and how you want to live.
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Last edited by shhaggy November 30, 2011 at 06:12 AM.
Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
11-30-2011 at 06:15 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:15 AM.
I promise not to buy ds a vacation home when he's 15. Only way is if dh and I both die, and it is left to him in the will.

I may buy him a car when he gets his license. It depends on how responsible he is.
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Joined Sep 2009
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 7,138 Posts
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zzyzzx
11-30-2011 at 06:16 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:16 AM.
Quote from teenbean :
The families must be rich or spending money beyond their means. I have a hard time justifying getting a smart phone for myself and I'm 34 years old.
Iagree
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Joined Sep 2007
Love It, VS!
> bubble2 1,520 Posts
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IceyNiki
11-30-2011 at 06:27 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:27 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.
This cracked me up. Hahaha
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Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
11-30-2011 at 06:30 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:30 AM.
Quote from IceyNiki :
This cracked me up. Hahaha
He says I know how to use the iwhatevers better than mommy. He's so right laugh out loud.
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Joined Sep 2007
Love It, VS!
> bubble2 1,520 Posts
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IceyNiki
11-30-2011 at 06:40 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:40 AM.
Quote from ALVSGIRLY :
He says I know how to use the iwhatevers better than mommy. He's so right laugh out loud.
I bet. These kids are more advanced nowadays. I cannot tell anyone anything about raising children. Better you than me.
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Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
11-30-2011 at 06:43 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:43 AM.
Quote from IceyNiki :
I bet. These kids are more advanced nowadays. I cannot tell anyone anything about raising children. Better you than me.
They most certainly are. Do you want kids one day?
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Joined Jul 2007
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> bubble2 4,691 Posts
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pictureframes
11-30-2011 at 06:43 AM.
11-30-2011 at 06:43 AM.
Quote from shhaggy :
An ipad isn't a toy, it's just a medium. My parents bought me a $2700 PC when I was 5. I played games on it designed for my age. 4 years later I was coding programs in qbasic on it. They didn't get me vacation homes when I was 15, the gift doesn't have to escalate. It'd be the same thing with an ipad.
are u kidding? or do i have to look up to see what qbasic is?

i never got sqwat growing up. the kids have ipods. they dont live on them like some kids i see. Smilie really i saw them as a cheap alternative to nintendo ds.
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 11,184 Posts
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calistyle
11-30-2011 at 08:02 AM.
11-30-2011 at 08:02 AM.
Quote from shhaggy :
ok, if you can afford it, there's nothing wrong with that either. But the point remains that getting them something expensive at 5 doesn't mean you're getting them cars at 13. You can't just extrapolate things like that. And you know what? What if you DO get them a car at 16? Does that mean they get a house at 17? A plane at 18? A fortune 500 business at 21? What goes in their trust fund? Luxembourg?



Seriously people, stop judging how other people raise their kids. There's nothing wrong with choosing not to buy your kids something expensive that you don't think they need or that you don't want to get them. But there's also nothing wrong with choosing to buy them those things either. YOU decide what's best for your family and how you want to live.
Are you replying to me directly? Or are you using me as a medium to lecture the group?

I gave you one sentence; it was void of judgement. You gave me a paragraph and an image which not only included your own judgement, but also included an assertion that I have passed judgement, and I haven't.

I don't appreciate that. Please don't do it again... I want to continue liking you. Smilie
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Joined Jul 2009
Permanently Bland
> bubble2 15,176 Posts
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PaintTheSkyGrey
11-30-2011 at 08:09 AM.
11-30-2011 at 08:09 AM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
Band practice doesn't end at the same time every day?

Really? Seriously?

Kids can't walk anywhere anymore?

Or do they just need to be picked up so they don't get beat up for being in band? Scratchchin
My high school was 25 miles away from my house. Are you advocating I carried my bookbag and instrument down I-75? Scratchchin
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Joined Jun 2005
L6: Laser Lotus
> bubble2 21,668 Posts
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shhaggy
11-30-2011 at 08:20 AM.
11-30-2011 at 08:20 AM.
Quote from calistyle :
Are you replying to me directly? Or are you using me as a medium to lecture the group?

I gave you one sentence; it was void of judgement. You gave me a paragraph and an image which not only included your own judgement, but also included an assertion that I have passed judgement, and I haven't.

I don't appreciate that. Please don't do it again... I want to continue liking you. Smilie
...I was lecturing IVIAL, but really I tend to lecture anybody whom I deem needs lecturing.
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Joined Jun 2005
L6: Laser Lotus
> bubble2 21,668 Posts
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shhaggy
11-30-2011 at 08:21 AM.
11-30-2011 at 08:21 AM.
Quote from outtanames :
are u kidding? or do i have to look up to see what qbasic is?

i never got sqwat growing up. the kids have ipods. they dont live on them like some kids i see. Smilie really i saw them as a cheap alternative to nintendo ds.
Not kidding, it's just an old programming language.
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 11,184 Posts
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calistyle
11-30-2011 at 08:47 AM.
11-30-2011 at 08:47 AM.
Quote from shhaggy :
...I was lecturing IVIAL, but really I tend to lecture anybody whom I deem needs lecturing.
1. Next time, please speak to the person that you want to speak to rather than a substitute. I'm sure Mal would've responded to you in due time. Try to be a little bit more patient. Smilie
2. I'm okay in the lecturing department. Wink
3. Mal probably is too. laugh out loud
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Joined Mar 2009
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> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
11-30-2011 at 09:21 AM.
11-30-2011 at 09:21 AM.
Quote from shhaggy :
...I was lecturing IVIAL, but really I tend to lecture anybody whom I deem needs lecturing.
You do seem fond of lecturing.
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