Pros for letting a 12 year old have a cell phone?

[donalduck]

I take very good care of my cars, thanks for your concern. However, things DO break randomly occassionally, with no warning. Ever pick up a random nail in your tire that causes it to blow? I have - several times. In my area of the country there was a lot of home construction for awhile so nails were everywhere in the roads. One time it was in the middle of a massive interchange where 3 different major freeways come together, and there was no real shoulder to get to for quite a ways - so I ended up in a median in the middle of it all. While I am perfectly capable of changing a tire - done it several times - there was NO way I was going to get out of the car to change the tire in that situation. That's what guys with big ole tow trucks to block the traffic and with the appropriate warning lights are for. I've also had several other other issues that had to do with the manufacturers not investing in the building of their cars properly, not me not taking care of my car.

And of course there was the situation where my car broke down BECAUSE I had had it serviced, and the dealership messed that service up! But I guess that sort of thing just doesn't happen in your perfect little world.

By the way - I only pay $5/month for my cell phone service. And it's worth every penny.

It just amazes me the way people make such massive judgements about people from behind a computer screen, based on one or two stray facts. From the fact that my car broke down, you decided I don't take care of my cars and that I either am apparently just scraping by to the point that I can barely cover my bills OR that I must spend SO much on my cell phone plan that I let the rest of my life go to the dogs. Or maybe it was all of those. Really???????????

yes REALLY

 

[donalduck]

That is uncalled for

I don't think it was uncalled for.

 

[donalduck]

Wow this thread has gotten out of control .
But you have all convinced me that I am doing the right thing for my 11yr old daughter by NOT getting her a cell phone

You are doing the right thing.

 

[Pigeon]

I am sure she is Thomas.

And you would be sure because?

In addition to tracfone being quite reasonable, Kajeet has $4.99/month plans that are fairly popular where I live.

 

[donalduck]

And you would be sure because?

In addition to tracfone being quite reasonable, Kajeet has $4.99/month plans that are fairly popular where I live.

Because there are no 5 dollar a month cell phones

 

[Pigeon]

Because there are no 5 dollar a month cell phones

Really?

http://www.kajeet.com/kajeetStore/serviceplans.do

Basic, but if your kid needs to make an emergency call, this works just fine. Several of my kids' friends use Kajeet.

 

[donalduck]

Really?

http://www.kajeet.com/kajeetStore/serviceplans.do

Basic, but if your kid needs to make an emergency call, this works just fine. Several of my kids' friends use Kajeet.

what's the point your kids don't NEED it. They want it.

 

[Pigeon]

what's the point your kids don't NEED it. They want it.

You just keep plugging your ears and humming loudly.

 

[Priorityonecb]

My daughter WANTED a cell phone. A week after she got one her school bus had an accident and she and several kids were injured. She was able to call me (crying, hurt, scared) within seconds and I was at the bus to comfort her and take care of things in under 3 minutes. Flipped my mind straight to NEED after that. Sure she would have lived, but when you know better you do better. We know that cell phones when used appropriately can help in an emergency. Call me a parent who spoils their kids, that's okay...they can reach me if they NEED me.

 

[angierae]

what's the point your kids don't NEED it. They want it.

You can continue to believe it's a want. When my daughter is staying after school 3-4 days a week (and there are NO payphones in the building, and the office closes at 4) she NEEDS to be able to call for her ride home.

 

[tlbwriter]

what's the point your kids don't NEED it. They want it.

And giving kids something they want, but don't need, is bad. Fine. You're entitled to your opinion. Of course, it makes you a big ol' hypocrite, since YOU have things you want but don't need, but whatever.

 

[angierae]

what's the point your kids don't NEED it. They want it.

Typical troll - once someone proves you wrong you just go back to your original pointless argument. A cell phone is a want for some kids, not all. And really, lots of things kids have are a want. My kid does't NEED a laptop, she could use mine for homework. My kid doesn't NEED video games. She doesn't NEED to be in marching band, or writing club - both of which mean that DH and I spend extra time carting her to and from these activities. I probably spend way more in gas taking her to band related activities than I do on her cell phone.

 

[thomas998]

And you would be sure because?

In addition to tracfone being quite reasonable, Kajeet has $4.99/month plans that are fairly popular where I live.

A Kajeet cell phone is intended for kids. Hence it only gives you 10 minutes of air time per month at 4.99 Now if the poster claiming they had a cell phone for $5 a month was also driving a car, and caring for a baby I have to assume they that the person is an adult.... as such I doubt they are breaking the rules and getting a kids phone based or claiming to be a child.

I'm pretty sure that the only plans available for adults that are under $15 a month are ones that are subsidized by taxpayers... If someone can find a real plan for $5 month for adults then I'm all ears... but I don't think they exist.

Frankly I am offended by the thought that my hard earned income is going to pay for someone else to have a cell phone. A cell phone is not a necessity its a luxury and a luxury is something people need to buy with money they earn not something they should have based off the government taking money from productive members of society to give to someone else.

Now if you want to tell me how great it is for the government to use my money to pay for other peoples luxuries, why not give every last dime you have to me so I can squander it on things that wont do you a bit of good but will improve my lifestyle.... maybe if enough folks that love giving away their money show up I can retire early.

 

[pigletto]

And once again someone goes on a wild rampage with someone elses innocent question. Shocker.

OP, DD has a cell phone. She got it when I felt that A) we could easily afford it and B) she would be responsible with it and C) maintain her grades to a level that I felt she deserved it.
Bottom line is it is your household, your parenting decision, and you know your child best. It's a cell phone..not black tar heroin. I'm happy to report my child has not turned into a morally corrupt, monosyllabic, ungrateful, texting maniac because of having a phone. Hopefully as parents we've all instilled a little more character and integrity in our children that they don't turn into beasts because of a phone.

 

[NotUrsula]

A Kajeet cell phone is intended for kids. Hence it only gives you 10 minutes of air time per month at 4.99 Now if the poster claiming they had a cell phone for $5 a month was also driving a car, and caring for a baby I have to assume they that the person is an adult.... as such I doubt they are breaking the rules and getting a kids phone based or claiming to be a child.

I'm pretty sure that the only plans available for adults that are under $15 a month are ones that are subsidized by taxpayers... If someone can find a real plan for $5 month for adults then I'm all ears... but I don't think they exist.

Frankly I am offended by the thought that my hard earned income is going to pay for someone else to have a cell phone. A cell phone is not a necessity its a luxury and a luxury is something people need to buy with money they earn not something they should have based off the government taking money from productive members of society to give to someone else.

Now if you want to tell me how great it is for the government to use my money to pay for other peoples luxuries, why not give every last dime you have to me so I can squander it on things that wont do you a bit of good but will improve my lifestyle.... maybe if enough folks that love giving away their money show up I can retire early.

Darned if I know why I'm feeding a troll, but ... Virgin Mobile PayLo: the three accounts we have require a $20 payment every quarter, which works out to $6.67/month and includes rollover minutes. TracFone also has plans which are about the same cost. I don't know any that are under $5, but both of these are well under $15 if you stay within minimum use parameters, which get you about 2 hours of domestic talk time per month, or around 200 texts, or a combination thereof.

As for hard-earned income, the only subsidized cell phones that I know of in my area are on the same program that used to subsidize landline phones, and you have to have someone in the household who is suffering from a chronic medical condition to qualify for them. The agency that manages the program switched from landline to cell plans because cell phones were much cheaper, and it reduced the amount of money that was going to cover only taxes. (Landline phones require payment of several taxes that are not levied on cell phones.)

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

You can continue to believe it's a want. When my daughter is staying after school 3-4 days a week (and there are NO payphones in the building, and the office closes at 4) she NEEDS to be able to call for her ride home.

I agree with this. Sure, older generations didn't need a cell phone--do you really want to go down that path, because I really like things like indoor plumbing that some other generations also got by without.

But times have changed and the world is getting to be such that it is assumed people have cell phones. Not having any available pay phones is an example of that.

That doesn't neceassrily mean that every kid NEEDS one. But in many instances, it sure does make life easier for everyone.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Of course with the money saved not making a cell phone payment every month you might have been able to afford a more reliable car or been able to maintain your car better so that it didn't break down in the middle of nowhere.

WHAT? This is just a weird thing to say.

 

[thomas998]

Darned if I know why I'm feeding a troll, but ... Virgin Mobile PayLo: the three accounts we have require a $20 payment every quarter, which works out to $6.67/month and includes rollover minutes. TracFone also has plans which are about the same cost. I don't know any that are under $5, but both of these are well under $15 if you stay within minimum use parameters, which get you about 2 hours of domestic talk time per month, or around 200 texts, or a combination thereof.

As for hard-earned income, the only subsidized cell phones that I know of in my area are on the same program that used to subsidize landline phones, and you have to have someone in the household who is suffering from a chronic medical condition to qualify for them. The agency that manages the program switched from landline to cell plans because cell phones were much cheaper, and it reduced the amount of money that was going to cover only taxes. (Landline phones require payment of several taxes that are not levied on cell phones.)

You aren't feeding any trolls except for yourself.

The fact is Virgin Mobile Paylo DOES NOT have any phone that is only $20 a quarter with rollover minutes because the only plan they have that is $20 a quarter includes zero minutes and you have to pay for them at $0.25/minute... Tracfone also does not offer the plan you claim, the cheapest is $10 dollars a month and that does not include the taxes and fees.

IF there truly was a reasonable cell phone service out there for $5 a month I think many people on this forum would love to to hear about it. I would drop my current plan in a heartbeat if such a plan existed that I could switch to.

BUT the reality is neither you or the poster claiming they had a 5 dollar cell phone have been able to direct anyone to such a plan. The only such plan I am aware of that is that cheap are the ones that are government subsidized only available to the poor. And yes I have a big problem with that because I would rather have the money go where I want it to go not to support the poor people having cell phones... I know people claim it is cheaper for those people to have a cell phone than a land line, but that would only be true if a poor family only had 1 cell phone. The reality is a poor family is going to have 2 cell phones versus having one 1 land line. Also not allowing subsidized cell phones would give poor people an incentive to work harder to earn the luxuries in life and not just get them for free.

Now if you don't like my point of view, fine. But try to be a little more intelligent and provide a response beyond I don't like your view so you must be a troll. Provide some great reason why taxpayers should have their standard of living lowered so that lazy people can live better... I would love to hear it.

 

[MomToOne]

Now I have to ask, how do you get a cell phone for $5/month? Please don't tell me you are getting one of those government subsidized cell phones.

Wow - you are just a jerk, aren't you?

VirginMobile, grandfathered Minute2Minute plan that requires me to top up only $15/month to keep the number active. I don't use it much, so that amount more than covers my usage. While you can't sign up for that plan now, anyone who signed up for it while it was available is still covered by it. Check the VirginMobile terms and conditions if you don't believe me.

And VirginMobile currently offers the "Basic Rate" Paylo plan that is per minute charges, and requires only a $20 top up every 90 days to keep it active. So even new folks can get a plan that works out to $6.67/month.

My daughter will be on PlatinumTel, which requires only a $10 top up every 90 days to keep the number active. Since texts are only 2 cents each, and phone calls are only 5 cents a minute, that should be enough for her usage at this point. So my monthly charge for her will be only $3.34.

Do your research before you act like such a know-it-all. Just because YOU don't know about plans like these doesn't mean they don't exist.

 

[donalduck]

Typical troll - once someone proves you wrong you just go back to your original pointless argument. A cell phone is a want for some kids, not all. And really, lots of things kids have are a want. My kid does't NEED a laptop, she could use mine for homework. My kid doesn't NEED video games. She doesn't NEED to be in marching band, or writing club - both of which mean that DH and I spend extra time carting her to and from these activities. I probably spend way more in gas taking her to band related activities than I do on her cell phone.

wow I am a troll huh. How do you know that I am a "TROLL"
Like I said before NO ONE NEEDS ANYTHING THEY WANT IT.