Paying for Kids' Unlimited Texting

[MELSMICE]

Texting IS the real world for teens. I know of NO teens that don't interact in the "real" world. I also know of no teens that spend every minute of the day with their noses in their phones.

Yes, this is the way teens & young adults communicate.

It isn't a matter of "affording the phone" as it is controlling their DD. They also send messages out on Facebook, which she is also not allowed to have, as a sophomore in high school. No one is leaving her out deliberately she is just the ONLY one without a phone and they forget. As far as last minute planning, that is just par for the course for marching band. Practices are scheduled and held but sectionals are separate and when you sign up for the band you are told this will happen. If you don't like it, you don't have to be in the band. The mom also raises a big stink every year if her DD doesn't have someone to sit by on the bus--there is ALWAYS someone to sit by, the kids just get on the bus and sit but for whatever reason this mom needs to make an issue out it and goes as far as going ON the bus to find someone to sit with her DD. Again, the mom has NO RIGHT to get mad at the other kids when it is HER rules that are causing the problems.

Yes, sounds like a major control issue. That poor kid. Her mom is causing her to become alienated.

We have 5 phones on our plan. Myself, my husband and my 3 boys 23, 20 and 18. We have unlimited text. Good thing. Last month we had 3,754 texts between us all. It would have been more but my oldest son was a camp counselor and had very crappy reception at camp (and not much down time).

LOL - try about 7,000 texts for just one kid!!!!

They did other stuff and there were issues with that too. I remember the days of "calling trees" where one person was a contact person and would call the next and that person would call the next. Those were a pain in the rear and someone always missed the info because one person in the chain either didn't call or wasn't home to get the info. No system is perfect but if you choose not to participate in the system you also give up the right to get mad about not getting the info too.

I agree. Like I said before..........the world changes, technology changes. I had a woman tell me today she was afraid of computers & wouldn't enroll her DD on-line for her dance classes. When I told her I could do it if she gave me her class choices she said she was afraid of computers & would not use them. WTH!

 

[goofy!]

Yes, this is the way teens & young adults communicate.


Yes, sounds like a major control issue. That poor kid. Her mom is causing her to become alienated.


LOL - try about 7,000 texts for just one kid!!!!


I agree. Like I said before..........the world changes, technology changes. I had a woman tell me today she was afraid of computers & wouldn't enroll her DD on-line for her dance classes. When I told her I could do it if she gave me her class choices she said she was afraid of computers & would not use them. WTH!

I just looked at our last month's bill. My daughter with Down syndrome had over 3900 texts last month - she's the most prolific texter in our family by 2x, more than her college junior or 13 year old brothers.

It is definitely the way the young people communicate, even in the special needs world

 

[tvguy]

I pay $9 each per month for my kids phones. I did add $5 a month so they get 500 texts each, and they share 700 minutes of talk time per month with the rest of us (5 on the plan).
DS went 500 texts OVER his limit 2 months ago, he had to pay the overage. The majority of the texts are to his girlfriend, who lives in the apartment 2 doors down from him, but has a different phone provider. Told my son it might be cheaper for him to get her a phone on our plan for $9 because texts between phones on the same providers are free and unlimited.

 

[MoniqueU]

I am not that good with texts because I can't see that well but we get it for 25 percent off 25 dolars. It is easier to get ahold of the kids when they are in class and yes I do trext them in class if it is important. Also we have no landline anymore so this saves our phone minutes. I don't consider it a necessity but i don't consider it a luxury either, just a nice practical way to keep my bills from being even higher/

 

[aprilgail2]

I pay 10.00 for unlimited texting on all of our phones ( I have 4 in my plan)...I don't know who texts more me or my daughter but normally combined we are about 10,000 texts a month.

 

[MichelleVW]

I pay $9 each per month for my kids phones. I did add $5 a month so they get 500 texts each, and they share 700 minutes of talk time per month with the rest of us (5 on the plan).
DS went 500 texts OVER his limit 2 months ago, he had to pay the overage. The majority of the texts are to his girlfriend, who lives in the apartment 2 doors down from him, but has a different phone provider. Told my son it might be cheaper for him to get her a phone on our plan for $9 because texts between phones on the same providers are free and unlimited.

5 people sharing only 700 minutes and you only got them 500 texts? No wonder your son went over! Unlimited texting is usually pretty cheap on most plans. We have unlimited text and DD17's phone only cost me $10 a month.

I just checked last month's bill and DD19 had 4,747 text messages and DD17 was slow last month at only 2,563!

 

[SaraJayne]

I pay 10.00 for unlimited texting on all of our phones ( I have 4 in my plan)...I don't know who texts more me or my daughter but normally combined we are about 10,000 texts a month.

That's over 300 texts per person per day!!!

 

[golfgal]

That's over 300 texts per person per day!!!

Which is about MAYBE 10 minutes of texting time/day. Most of those texts are thing like "hi", "what r y doing" "nothing" "ok" "ttyl" I know I spent a LOT more then 10 minutes/day on the phone when I was a teenager.

 

[SaraJayne]

Which is about MAYBE 10 minutes of texting time/day. Most of those texts are thing like "hi", "what r y doing" "nothing" "ok" "ttyl" I know I spent a LOT more then 10 minutes/day on the phone when I was a teenager.

I have a teenager and no way does he text over 300 times a day.

 

[snykymom]

When a new technology comes in, there's always this kind of "Why does my kid need it? I didn't and I turned out fine!" conversation.

Why are you all on the Internet? Who needs it? Do you pay for your kid's internet connection?

Is communicating by e-mail OK now because you're comfortable with it? "Who needs e-mail? We have a phone (generally the one plugged into the wall with a cord)! If anyone wants me, they'll call."

"Answering machine? What would anyone need an answering machine for?"

"Why do we need a phone in the house? What's wrong with writing letters?"

"Ball point pens? Just a fad! Inkwells are the way to go."

"Notebooks? Who needs notebooks? With paper? A slate & and piece of chalk did OK for me in school!"

Heck, even Bill Gates said in the early 80's that he couldn't see any reason why people would want to have computers in their homes!

The only difference is that change occurs much more frequently now.

For a look at how kids view the world, check this out:
http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2014.php

Most students entering college for the first time this fall—the Class of 2014—were born in 1992.
For these students, Benny Hill, Sam Kinison, Sam Walton, Bert Parks and Tony Perkins have always been dead.

1. Few in the class know how to write in cursive.

2. Email is just too slow, and they seldom if ever use snail mail.

 

[MELSMICE]

When a new technology comes in, there's always this kind of "Why does my kid need it? I didn't and I turned out fine!" conversation.

Why are you all on the Internet? Who needs it? Do you pay for your kid's internet connection?

Is communicating by e-mail OK now because you're comfortable with it? "Who needs e-mail? We have a phone (generally the one plugged into the wall with a cord)! If anyone wants me, they'll call."

"Answering machine? What would anyone need an answering machine for?"

"Why do we need a phone in the house? What's wrong with writing letters?"

"Ball point pens? Just a fad! Inkwells are the way to go."

"Notebooks? Who needs notebooks? With paper? A slate & and piece of chalk did OK for me in school!"

Heck, even Bill Gates said in the early 80's that he couldn't see any reason why people would want to have computers in their homes!

The only difference is that change occurs much more frequently now.

For a look at how kids view the world, check this out:
http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2014.php

Couldn't agree more. That's exactly what I posted previously also.

Many people could probably cut down on their cell minutes, get unlimited texting & pay the same amount or close to it. Kids would much rather text than talk on the phone. Heck - I prefer texting.

I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just a new way to communicate. The best way to get a hold of many people now-a-days is through text or Facebook. A lot of people don't even e-main any more unless it's through work.

 

[mhsjax]

Couldn't agree more. That's exactly what I posted previously also.

Many people could probably cut down on their cell minutes, get unlimited texting & pay the same amount or close to it. Kids would much rather text than talk on the phone. Heck - I prefer texting.

I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just a new way to communicate. The best way to get a hold of many people now-a-days is through text or Facebook. A lot of people don't even e-main any more unless it's through work.

Not me, I may be the exception, but texting and face book is the worst way to get ahold of me. We still have a land line because our coverage stinks in our neighborhood. My phone is know in my purse in my bedroom at the other end of the house. I won't even look at it for a couple of hours if then. I had a friend text me about dinner plans, I finally noticed it 3 hours later and that is only because I was taking my son to Tae Kwon Do. I just refuse to keep my cell phone beside me all day just in case I get a text. I would be carrying it all over the house.

Also we were in contact with someone regarding something that we were doing with that person. She would text everything and we would text back. It took 20 minutes to get plans together, if she would have just called we could have gotten it together in 5. total waste of my time and hers.

My kids to text often and I do think that it has its place and can be a wonderful thing, but I don't agree that it is the best way to get ahold of someone. It takes way more time than picking up the phone. IMHO

 

[MELSMICE]

Not me, I may be the exception, but texting and face book is the worst way to get ahold of me. We still have a land line because our coverage stinks in our neighborhood. My phone is know in my purse in my bedroom at the other end of the house. I won't even look at it for a couple of hours if then. I had a friend text me about dinner plans, I finally noticed it 3 hours later and that is only because I was taking my son to Tae Kwon Do. I just refuse to keep my cell phone beside me all day just in case I get a text. I would be carrying it all over the house.

Also we were in contact with someone regarding something that we were doing with that person. She would text everything and we would text back. It took 20 minutes to get plans together, if she would have just called we could have gotten it together in 5. total waste of my time and hers.

My kids to text often and I do think that it has its place and can be a wonderful thing, but I don't agree that it is the best way to get ahold of someone. It takes way more time than picking up the phone. IMHO

I do agree that each person is different. I keep my cell phone on me at all times for many different reasons - it's usually in my pants, shorts or jeans pocket.

I guess I look at my cell phone the same as my house phone. If you're home your house phone is there & available for you to answer any time it rings. Why shouldn't my cell be the same if someone is trying to get a hold of me?

Like I said, each person is different & likes to use different forms of communication. I have certainly learned that from the people I deal with at my business. Some don't use e-mail, some don't own computers & won't learn how to use them, some don't text or have a cell phone - although most do have cells.

Honestly, I think if you want to be in "the loop" about things - whether they are social, for work or business the best thing is to accept any form of communication & use them all. They all have their place & are all beneficial in some way. Personally, I use all forms of communication (cell, text, land line, e-mail & FB) There's no reason that someone can't a hold of me unless they don't try hard enough!

 

[mhsjax]

I do agree that each person is different. I keep my cell phone on me at all times for many different reasons - it's usually in my pants, shorts or jeans pocket.

I guess I look at my cell phone the same as my house phone. If you're home your house phone is there & available for you to answer any time it rings. Why shouldn't my cell be the same if someone is trying to get a hold of me?

Like I said, each person is different & likes to use different forms of communication. I have certainly learned that from the people I deal with at my business. Some don't use e-mail, some don't own computers & won't learn how to use them, some don't text or have a cell phone - although most do have cells.

Honestly, I think if you want to be in "the loop" about things - whether they are social, for work or business the best thing is to accept any form of communication & use them all. They all have their place & are all beneficial in some way. Personally, I use all forms of communication (cell, text, land line, e-mail & FB) There's no reason that someone can't a hold of me unless they don't try hard enough!

I agree, but like I said my cell phone is in my purse because the reception is horrible. Hubby has his with him at home because it is his business phone, but the sad thing is, when he does get a call, he has to go outside to be able to have that conversation. People will try all three with me, they may text if is isn't an emergency, they may call my cell phone, but then they try the home phone. One way or another they get me.

 

[NotUrsula]

I guess I look at my cell phone the same as my house phone. If you're home your house phone is there & available for you to answer any time it rings. Why shouldn't my cell be the same if someone is trying to get a hold of me?

Because thanks to the fact that US regulators fell down on the job when cell phones were first introduced, answering my cell phone costs me money, while answering my landline does not. I don't answer it at home unless I am specifically expecting a call on it. People who know me know that I only use the cell for emergencies and when I am traveling, and I have asked them always to call the landline first. If they choose to call the cell phone anyway, then it must not be that important.

 

[C.Ann]

Because thanks to the fact that US regulators fell down on the job when cell phones were first introduced, answering my cell phone costs me money, while answering my landline does not. I don't answer it at home unless I am specifically expecting a call on it. People who know me know that I only use the cell for emergencies and when I am traveling, and I have asked them always to call the landline first. If they choose to call the cell phone anyway, then it must not be that important.

Interesting point.. Do you still get charged if it goes to voice mail?

 

[Jacoby 46]

Personally, I use all forms of communication (cell, text, land line, e-mail & FB) There's no reason that someone can't a hold of me unless they don't try hard enough!

My thoughts exactly and the quickest way to get a hold of me is a simple text!

 

[NotUrsula]

Interesting point.. Do you still get charged if it goes to voice mail?

Yes, but not as much. Messages are $.15 each, regardless of length. Talk time is .25/minute for the first 10 minutes in a given day, then $.10 per minute after that.

I know the minutes are pricey, but that's the trade-off I accept for only paying $80/year to maintain the account. This plan is still the best overall value for me. I don't see a good reason to nearly quadruple my annual investment just because some chatty people like their cell phones better than their landlines.

 

[MELSMICE]

Because thanks to the fact that US regulators fell down on the job when cell phones were first introduced, answering my cell phone costs me money, while answering my landline does not. I don't answer it at home unless I am specifically expecting a call on it. People who know me know that I only use the cell for emergencies and when I am traveling, and I have asked them always to call the landline first. If they choose to call the cell phone anyway, then it must not be that important.

Where did you find a land line company that gives free service? We have Verizon & I pay for land line service? We get free long distance on our land line, but we still pay for the line.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, but not as much. Messages are $.15 each, regardless of length. Talk time is .25/minute for the first 10 minutes in a given day, then $.10 per minute after that.

I know the minutes are pricey, but that's the trade-off I accept for only paying $80/year to maintain the account. This plan is still the best overall value for me. I don't see a good reason to nearly quadruple my annual investment just because some chatty people like their cell phones better than their landlines.

Thanks.. You won't get any arguments from me - I don't even have a cell phone..LOL..

The reason I asked is because I remember reading something online last year about a "cell phone, phone book" - meaning anyone could obtain your cell phone number (telemarketers included) and really rack up some $$ on your bill if you answered every time it rang - or if they left a message via voice mail..