S/O: Making the jump to a smart phone

[RachelsMommie]

For the Dave Ramsey followers on this board, how did you justify making the jump to a smart phone?

For myself and my DH, it will be between $40 and $50 a month to make the switch, plus $300 upfront for the phones themselves. As a DR follower, it is SO hard to justify this ongoing expense. We are debt-free except our mortgage, and we have a FFEF. But I see this as $600 a year that could be going to things like vacations.

I did cut our home phone, which is saving us $70/month, but having a hard time making the jump. Any advice?

Thanks!
Kristi

 

[richmond282]

I think this a decision you and your DH have to make together. I find it interesting that you feel the $ would be better spent on a vacation. How does your DH feel about it? I;m not knocking taking a vacation, I just think you guys need to agree.

FWIW, my DH and both have smartphones. We did cancel our home phone and we both use the internet/apps/ etc. a LOT. I travel a lot for work and don't always have wi-fi access to use a laptop or tablet, so I find it very beneficial to have that access when I need it. I have several apps that I use a lot as well.

 

[cornflake]

I too am not seeing how you're putting vacations in the 'better use of the money' category than phones, especially given you use the phones daily.

I don't see what Ramsay would have to do with it - as I don't think he cares as long as you have no debt, no credit, drive a junker and wouldn't go into debt for anything crazy like adoption fees (I occasionally listen to him and was just appalled the other day). But regardless, I don't think what you spend money on matters in his plan as long as you have no debt.

 

[DawnM]

adoption fees? How did THAT make its way into a conversation asking about paying for a cell phone?

And he does not say you need to drive a junker, just drive something you can afford with cash.

I too am not seeing how you're putting vacations in the 'better use of the money' category than phones, especially given you use the phones daily.

I don't see what Ramsay would have to do with it - as I don't think he cares as long as you have no debt, no credit, drive a junker and wouldn't go into debt for anything crazy like adoption fees (I occasionally listen to him and was just appalled the other day). But regardless, I don't think what you spend money on matters in his plan as long as you have no debt.

 

[DawnM]

I added a smart phone and our bill went up significantly. We use some of the money my husband got for a raise to cover it.

 

[cornflake]

adoption fees? How did THAT make its way into a conversation asking about paying for a cell phone?

And he does not say you need to drive a junker, just drive something you can afford with cash.

It had, I freely admit, nothing to do with the poster's q. Just with Ramsey.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Not a Ramsey follower, but I do feel like a freak sometimes in that I still have not been able to justify the cost of a smart phone.

 

[Swimalie]

Not a Ramsey follower, but I do feel like a freak sometimes in that I still have not been able to justify the cost of a smart phone.

Same here, somewhat. I don't think I'm a freak for not having one but I don't think they are necessary. I still have a home phone (cheaper with the bundle) and don't see a need for internet access all the time. I have a lap top that I can travel with and my husband has an iPad.

 

[RachelsMommie]

My DH is like me in that he doesn't know if we should make the jump or not. He is actually the one that made the comment on the $600 a year and what could done with it, like an extra day at Disney on vacation. =)

I guess it's just hard to justify a monthly expense for something that is just a "fun thing" for me and him to have. Both our phones are 7 years old and they are starting to die, so I need to make a decision whether to stay with the dumb phone or jump to the smart phone. We live debt-free, but are saving money to replace our second car, and I guess I worry that I'll regret the decision to increase a monthly bill.

But I would love the apps and internet access on the go, plus having a GPS, video camera, and still camera with me at all times to capture my DDs and their daily adventures.

 

[Kies99]

Why not go with a pre-paid smart phone? My wife is a big DR follower (actually coordinates Financial Peace at her church) and we just jumped to smart phones this past Saturday through Virgin Mobile. $35 a month for unlimited data and messaging, plus 300 min talk. No activation, no commitment and the phones were only $80 at Best Buy with first month free in the form of a $35 top up card.

We've used Virgin Mobile for probably 7+ years and seriously have never had 1 single issue with them.

 

[HayGan]

There are some basic phones that can provide email and limited data. I know that Verizon has some with a plan for $10/month. It is limited but if you need limited access, it works. Sure the apps and stuff are nice but really aren't necessary. I probably wouldn't have gone to a smartphone if I didn't need it for work. Most of the time I actually wish I wasn't as connected as I am!

Why not get just one and then for the other get a basic phone with camera? You can buy a gps with just a few months of what you would save not getting a smartphone.

 

[Ginny Favers]

All I have to say is, I wish I didn't do it. I did it a few months ago, switching from my old reliable flip phone to an android. Part of me thought it would be better to stay more informed, part of me was embarrassed by my old phone....But I hate the smartphone. Now that everyone knows they can text me, they DO. And I am constantly checking my email and texts. I was FINE just checking it once a day for so many years.... how did this happen? Also, my flip phone lasted me for years... this one, I keep having to pop out the battery and beam it up again when it freezes up on me... seems the more bells and whistles you have, the more chance something will go wrong. Sometimes calls go right to voicemail without my phone ever ringing-- not sure why that happens!

Add in the extra expense, and I wish I didn't do it. But because of the contract, it's hard to go back...

 

[elcodfish]

Not a DR follower but I just recently got my first smart phone for a few reasons that make it worth the cost for me.
1) navigation. I don't have a GPS but my phone can tell me where I am and where I am going when I get lost.
2) Along with navigation it can find stores or restaurants around me. It has been great to find a restaurant if I am out a little further than I usually am.
3) texting. I have lots of nephews and the pictures are totally worth it for me. They are bigger and clearer than the 1.5 inch screen I had before
4) camera. again, just a great feature
5)price checking. you can have an app that will scan something and give you price comparisons! genius!
6)games. stupid but a great time waster in waiting rooms
7) internet. information at your fingertips. find movie times, the name of that actor you can't remember that is driving you crazy, find an address or phone number.

I would wait for a deal. I just signed up at verizon, the phone was buy 1 get 1 free (worked out to $50 each). Since I switched carriers I asked and got $35 of the $50 activation fee off. I also signed up with some family members and the family plan made it a little less per month.

 

[Muushka]

Not a Ramsey follower, but I do feel like a freak sometimes in that I still have not been able to justify the cost of a smart phone.

Not crazy! What is it that he says, 'live like no one else so that you can live like no one else' or something like that.
I'm not a DR follower, he gets on my nerves after a few minutes. I am a fan of Clark Howard.
Either way, the point is that the money you don't spend on an expensive cell plan can be saved or used for something more useful.

Why not go with a pre-paid smart phone? My wife is a big DR follower (actually coordinates Financial Peace at her church) and we just jumped to smart phones this past Saturday through Virgin Mobile. $35 a month for unlimited data and messaging, plus 300 min talk. No activation, no commitment and the phones were only $80 at Best Buy with first month free in the form of a $35 top up card.

We've used Virgin Mobile for probably 7+ years and seriously have never had 1 single issue with them.

I looked at that deal. Seemed like a good one. How do you like the phone?

Right now I have Straight Talk for $30 a month but I never use the minutes.

I don't think $5 extra a month for all those goodies is a bad deal!

 

[Lucky St. Louis]

I completely resisted the smartphone craze and just got one last year. I love it. My husband has one which he needs for work (self-employed) so to add me to the plan cost about $30 extra per month. I do have limits on my texts and data while he is unlimited, I believe. I have an iPhone but didn't get the latest version. I got the 3GS for $50 when the 4 came out. It does everything I need it to. It has actually helped me to save money...some examples...

Yesterday, I was shopping at Target with the coupons that came in the Sunday paper. I wanted to buy two of something BUT only had one coupon. So, I was able to send a text to Target and they sent me the coupon on my phone which I used at check-out. In the past, I would have had to call around to family and friends for a second coupon and made an additional trip to the store to purchase the item. All done in a matter of seconds.

Over Christmas I was shopping at Eddie Bauer for a special water bottle my daughter saw on-line. It was $7 more in the store. So, I pulled up the on-line price, showed it to the manager and they gave it to me for the cheaper price...couldn't have done that with my old flip phone. Now I regularly check website prices before I make a purchase.

I use a bar code scanner ap which has been great for comparison shopping. I've even been able to price match right in a store by showing a competitor's price to an associate.

I frequently forget coupons or forget to print coupons. If you have a coupon in your email, many merchants are able to scan the barcode from the phone. I just did that at Famous Footwear and Old Navy which saved me a trip home or back to the car!

I have the Field Agent Ap which I check when going out to run errands. It's a "secret shopping" ap which pays you for accepting jobs which might require you to go to a store, take a photo and answer some questions. If there is a job along my route, I'll accept it. In less than a year, I've made over $240 which I send to my Pay Pal account.

It is great for photos when I (frequently) forget my camera.

Being able to check e-mail when I'm out and about is great. I've been able to see my kids sports cancellations or field changes right away instead of showing up and being confused.

All this said, it a smart phone necessary? Absolutely NOT but it sure has come in handy for me. Good luck with your decision!

 

[marie1203]

What carrier do you have? You can usually get smartphones for free if you are renewing your contract. We have sprint and our phone bill it is only $20 for 2 phones data plan a month.

 

[Disneefun]

I'm not hearing a real "need" for a phone in your posts, so what it comes down to is this: Do you want it badly enough to spend the money on it, or is there something you want more that you'd rather use the money for? Are the apps, etc. valuable enough to you to crowd out some other possible "want" that you want more? If the answer is yes, buy the phone. If the answer is "no, the phone isn't as valuable to me as "X, which I want more," then don't buy the phone. Only you can answer that.

I don't have one and probably won't get one. I just have no need for it. Yes, it's nice and a convenience, but I'd rather put that $100 per month toward a vacation fund, and some of my other hobbies that are more important to me.

I'm not a DR follower per se, but I am debt free and I'm very careful about what I use my money for. I don't buy things just because everyone else has them. If I have no real need for it, or even a strong want, I leave it alone. I'm not hearing either a strong need or even an especially strong want from you, just a, "Well it would be nice," kind of attitude. If that were me, I'd use the money for something other than a phone.

 

[scrapquitler]

For the Dave Ramsey followers on this board, how did you justify making the jump to a smart phone?

For myself and my DH, it will be between $40 and $50 a month to make the switch, plus $300 upfront for the phones themselves. As a DR follower, it is SO hard to justify this ongoing expense. We are debt-free except our mortgage, and we have a FFEF. But I see this as $600 a year that could be going to things like vacations.

I did cut our home phone, which is saving us $70/month, but having a hard time making the jump. Any advice?

Thanks!
Kristi

Just a thought....

Since you aren't sure that you will use the internet capabilities all that much, you might want to consider purchasing and iTouch instead. Once you pay the $200 (depending on the size of it that you buy you won't have any ongoing expense from it. Many (or most) apps work with a wifi connection so you could use it lots of places besides at home (but not everywhere) to get the benefits of internet-on-the-go.

 

[adventure_woman]

I personally can't justify it. My DH just got one - but the idea of spending $360/year on something I don't need I can't do. I'm like you - that can go towards a Disney trip! I do however have an older Android phone with wifi that he got from someone at work that I can have internet access at home with - so that is nice.

 

[timmac]

I'm not certain I understand why DR is coming up as part of the discussion. I'm personally not a follower, but that's neither here nor there.

If you're basically debt free, then the only questions are whether or not it's something you feel you want, and whether or not you can afford it. Those are questions that only you can answer.

I will say, however, that the fact you're posting here looking for help "justifying" the cost, sure makes it sound like it's not worth the expense.