Questions about phone for dd12?

[2littleprincesses]

I went to the verizon store to find out how much it would be to add dd to plan and how much the phones are. This would be her christmas present and her first phone.

She can get a basic phone with a flip out text pad for $30-50 and then $10 a month fee

or
She could get a IPhone 4 for free with a $40 a month fee.

She has had an Ipod for 2 years and it has a cracked screen (her sister stepped on it). I am thinking of just getting the basic phone because it is her first and she has the iPod. However, she is very responsible and will have this phone for 2 years so there is a nagging to get the iphone. What do you think?

 

[clm10308]

I went to the verizon store to find out how much it would be to add dd to plan and how much the phones are. This would be her christmas present and her first phone.

She can get a basic phone with a flip out text pad for $30-50 and then $10 a month fee

or
She could get a IPhone 4 for free with a $40 a month fee.

She has had an Ipod for 2 years and it has a cracked screen (her sister stepped on it). I am thinking of just getting the basic phone because it is her first and she has the iPod. However, she is very responsible and will have this phone for 2 years so there is a nagging to get the iphone. What do you think?

Personally, I would go with the basic phone for now. You could then let her know that if she takes care of it that she could be upgraded in two years. When my DD got her first cell phone I made her pay for the phone ($25) and we paid the monthly fees.

 

[DEEJ91]

My DD11 has had a standard flip phone and also has an ipod touch (2nd gen) The only reason she has the phone is because she has tons of activities such as martial arts, soccer, and lacrosse so it was needed. This year for Xmas she wants the new touch that costs $300. I'm going to just upgrade her phone and get her a 4S, with my verizon credit it's only $50 bucks and $10 more per month. Plus you can use parental controls to cap the data use on it. I was always one to say kids should not have smart phones, however she has always taken good care of her phone, Ipod, DS and other gizmos so I'm not too worried about it now.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Are you willing to pay $30 MORE per month over the flip phone? That is what you should be asking yourself.The up front cost of the phone is minimal compared to what you pay for the service over the life of the contract.In this case $720 more for the iphone over the flip phone assuming a 2 year contract.

 

[mrudman]

Are you willing to pay $30 MORE per month over the flip phone? That is what you should be asking yourself.The up front cost of the phone is minimal compared to what you pay for the service over the life of the contract.In this case $720 more for the iphone over the flip phone assuming a 2 year contract.

I would get the regular texting phone... $360/year is more than I'd be willing to spend for a phone for a 12 yo.

ETA: I'm also getting my soon-to-be 12 yo her first phone for her birthday, and I'm going with a pay-as-you-go plan with a basic texting phone (LG Rumor). That might be something for you to look into also, depending on how much you foresee her using it.

 

[powellrj]

I am going to be the odd man out and say get her the iphone.

 

[Fire14]

You may wish to look online at verzion wireless website or check Best buy, target, radio shack. I got a better deal on phone and jetport thru these methods than at verzion store and after purchuse it's 100% verzion, techs don't know i bought it else where.

 

[irishsharon]

Can you get a "cool" phone and just do a pay as you go plan? I will be getting ds a phone for his birthday(June) he will be going into middle school.I can't imagine that he will use it much but with sports and activities think its a good idea. Dh and I have the very basic(old) phones and just do pay as you go.I am clueless about all this, I have never texted anyone ever! My ds has an ipod and we are thinking of getting him the ipad mini or refurbed ipad for christmas.Anyway what I'm really looking for is a great phone and very low monthly payment.Thanks

 

[RitaE]

We did it both ways --- my kids had iPhones and then they had the cheaper phones at times. It really comes down to your budget and which she would prefer.

One of my sons actually preferred having the cheaper flip phone to carry to school and such and then have an iPod touch separate. He felt like he could throw the lower cost phones in his bag and leave them in locker rooms or out at the ball fields and things without worrying about it being stolen. There wasn't always a place for him to lock his bag up.

 

[irishsharon]

We did it both ways --- my kids had iPhones and then they had the cheaper phones at times. It really comes down to your budget and which she would prefer.

One of my sons actually preferred having the cheaper flip phone to carry to school and such and then have an iPod touch separate. He felt like he could throw the lower cost phones in his bag and leave them in locker rooms or out at the ball fields and things without worrying about it being stolen. There wasn't always a place for him to lock his bag up.

Good point

 

[timmac]

Suggestion: If you do get the basic flip phone for now, see about buying one outright, rather than getting it as part of a contract extension. You may pay a little more for it, but you'll have the ability to later upgrade that line (to an iPhone for instance) at the subsidized price. On the other hand, if you get a flip phone through verizon now at a subsidized price, you'll have to wait another two years to be able to upgrade for the cheaper cost.

 

[DebMcDonald]

My 11 year old just got a basic texting and calling phone, we have blocked the data package. IMO - and it's just my personal opinion, I feel that at the age of 11/12/13 is too young to give them all the benefits of the iphone or any phone for that matter with a data package. Having a now 19 year old while in High school she could not put down her phone with all the gagets, so we have chosen it limit it as long as we can for the younger one, keeping them more glued to the family and kid stuff a little longer - again this is just my personal opinion. My 11 year old also has the ipod that can do all of the stuff at home, but when we're out, she doesn't have the ability to be playing on the phone and ignoring everyone else - but another reason I wouldn't let him/her have the iphone - you may never get through the two year contract with that phone - or at least I never have with my oldest, she's always killed the phone far earlier than her two years was up. Also, that extra $40 month is alot at the end of a year.

But again, these opinions are mine and mine only, so don't flame me.

 

[brennicksmom]

I agree with the iPhone.

I have a 10 year old and a 13 year old. My sons have had iPhones for 1 1/2 years now. For one thing, we don't have a home phone, and both data plans are cheaper than any home line we have gotten a price for.

Another thing is that we have a "find my Phone" app that shows us the location that they are. To add a GPS locater to the flip phones we originally purchased cost the same as the data plans. We all are hooked up to the same iTunes account, so if one of us buys an app, we all have it.

They also do not carry around two devises. The iPhones are also iPods, so its an all in one package.

Ultimately, ou know if your kiddo is ready for it. We have taken advantage of them having them. They practice math facts on them (app), take spelling tests on them (app), and they are able to access all sorts of sites they need-Dictionary.com, etc. Overall it was a perfect choice for us.

 

[TnTWalter]

what I did was go with
Platinumtel. I got a free phone with $100 card.

It was an older LG phone with slide out keyboard.

We gave it to her in Feb and 8 months later she has $20 left. She texts all the time doesn't call much. She also has a kindle Fire so uses that for web surfing, reading, etc.

so about $10 per month; no contract.

It's the realpaygo plan
5 cents per talk minute 2 cents per text
http://www.platinumtel.com/plans/realpaygo

they do also have android plans for more $.

I have my plan through Virgin Mobile $25 for 300 minutes/unlimited talk and data so couldn't add her to a family plan, etc...

 

[Minnie116]

I agree with the iPhone as well... My dd12 had a basic flip phone and never complained once about it. now she uses my old Android and carried her ipod touch around, I am considering the iPhone for her for Christmas, it is one less thing to keep track of.

 

[luvmy3]

My dd would love an Iphone, but since our family does pay as you go plans, it is not an option. If we were on a contract through Verizon, I would get it for just so she has everything in one device. There would be a catch though, she would be required to contribute to the monthly cost, or I would pay for it, but it would count as ALL her holiday and birthday gifts she would have gotten for the year.
If you are willing to pay those monthly expenses, I don't see a reason not to get her the iphone.

For Christmas this year my is getting a Droid Incredible, it will be her first smartphone. Since I already pay for her cell, I am willing to continue that, but the extra monthly expense due to having a smartphone is her gift along with the phone.

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

We added a line to our account for our DS when he turned 11, but in all honesty, his phone is rarely, if ever used. He has a low-end "smartphone", that has internet capability, but I have that blocked. He can use the wifi in our house, but doesn't bother with it. He uses his ITouch all the time - but not to make calls, and if he had an IPhone, he still would not make calls. He plays sports, hangs out with friends, participates in school activities - but let's face it, why is a phone needed for that? My DH is a coach - so at least one of us is always with him when he has a game and/or practice, if he is at a friends house - someone there has a phone if he needs to call us, and so does the school. We bought him the phone because he is a very responsible young man, and takes care of all of his electronics - but in all honesty, he doesn't need one. He can use my droid to play games/apps on long car rides (or his Touch, or PS Vita), and can also use my phone for a dictionary, algebra apps, whatever. I don't mind sharing and he rarely asks

So I suppose you have to weigh what the phone will be used for and the big picture of how much you are willing to spend over the course of a 2 year plan extension, if you go that route.

DD14 is overdue for an upgrade, and I'm looking into phones for her. I would get her an IPhone in a heartbeat since she is now a freshman in high school and I need to GPS her (LOL) but we use TMobile and I'm not familiar will all those "unlocked" or "jail-broken" IPhones, so I suppose it will be a droid for her. DH and I have droids and I love mine. DS11 mentioned a new phone for XMas as well, but I quickly talked him out of that after he realized how much he doesn't use his.

 

[jeepgirl30]

we just moved my DD12 to the iphone 4 last night. My DS9 gets her old basic phone.

I had planned to just get her a new basic phone but when we looked the cheapest we found were close to $100. We do not have a home phone so we decided to give DH her upgrade, he got the iphone 5 and she know has his iphone 4. Its a 32gb so i was actually thinking about giving her my 4s 16gb but i don't really need the space. DH has all his music on his phone so he needs space.

I was setting up DS with DDs old phone and was so frustrated as it seemed so hard to use!

Go with what you feel she'll like the best in 1 year. She'll have this phone for 2 years. It goes by fast but you don't want her stuck with something she hates.

 

[JB2K]

Can you get a "cool" phone and just do a pay as you go plan? I will be getting ds a phone for his birthday(June) he will be going into middle school.I can't imagine that he will use it much but with sports and activities think its a good idea. Dh and I have the very basic(old) phones and just do pay as you go.I am clueless about all this, I have never texted anyone ever! My ds has an ipod and we are thinking of getting him the ipad mini or refurbed ipad for christmas.Anyway what I'm really looking for is a great phone and very low monthly payment.Thanks

Yes, "cool" phones and "pay as you go" are very much comptaible (there are certain restrictions for certain phones) and yes, you can pay $45 a month for "unlimited everything" on an iPhone, or the latest Andriod.

The only caveat is if you don't already have the phone, you'll have to pay extra, since the phone won't be "subsidized" by the carrier...

 

[Starbrite]

Just went thru the same dilemma with DD11. I got the Iphone.


Getting her the regular phone would be a good start, but then she wouldnt be able to upgrade to another phone for 1 year. And by the time I added the $10/month and $10 for unlimited texting..I might as well do $40 a month and make her happy.