I’ve been selling some stuff on Craigslist lately, and yesterday I got a sob story email from a guy who was telling me how much he needed the stuff because he’d recently had to sell his car in order to “keep a roof over his family.” And at the bottom of the email was one of those tag lines that says “sent from some sort of awesome amazing-pants 4G phone that costs $500”.
My husband gets this all the time with his clients too. People who tell him how they can’t afford their health insurance premiums and are thinking about going uninsured, but the email is sent from an iPhone or a Droid or something like that.
I try to keep rants to a minimum on this blog, and instead focus more on the positive side of frugality. But this needs to be said.
A smart phone is not a need. If it is, your employer will be paying for it. If you’re paying the bill out of your own funds, the phone is a want, not a need. And wants are luxuries – things we can buy if and when we have all the basics covered. That means a solid emergency fund in place and basic living expenses covered without too much of a stretch. If you can’t afford health insurance, you can’t afford a smart phone. If you can’t afford your mortgage or your rent, you can’t afford a smart phone. If you can’t afford to pay for your groceries, you can’t afford a smart phone. Period.
Yes, I know that “everyone” has one. But it’s still a want, not a need.
And I wonder what percentage of people with smart phones are using them just to dick around on Facebook, Twitter, and non-work email? That’s fine of course, as long as paying for the phone is not putting you in the poor house.
My husband and I have one cell phone that we share. It’s not a smart phone. We have a $35/month no-frills cell phone plan (with taxes and fees we pay about $50/month – the actual price is always quite a bit higher than the stated price of the plan). Our phone was free. We’re not particularly thrilled with the phone, and haven’t been for quite a while (it’s a touch-screen model and the touch screen isn’t very responsive). But we don’t qualify for another free phone until August of this year, so we’re waiting until then to replace it.
When we got our current phone, we considered smart phones. We thought it would be nice to use the internet features of the phone over our wi-fi network (and other wi-fi networks when we’re out and about) but still have cell service with just a voice plan rather than a data plan. They told us that we couldn’t do that – if we had a smart phone, we had to have a data plan. That was a deal breaker for us. No way in the world were we going to pay for data service. So we continue to have one regular phone between the two of us. And you know what? Life is great. We have a thriving online business that continues on just fine without a smart phone. We have solid relationships with our friends and family, and our lack of a smart phone doesn’t seem to hinder any of that.
We are not glued to our phone. It sits on the counter and we check it for messages maybe once every day or two. We usually take it with us if we’re going somewhere in the car, but we don’t take it when we walk with our kids and dog over to the local disc golf course for the evening. We don’t have it with us when we’re out in the backyard working in the garden or just hanging out with our kids. Our friends and family know that they can leave a message and that we’ll get back to them within a day. We like it that way. We don’t want to be connected to a phone all the time. That’s just us, but I would say that in general, it’s a good start towards a low-stress life.
So back to the issue of what phone to get. Well, that depends. Is your emergency fund fully stocked? Are you able to hit your savings targets each month and cover all the basic expenses without much trouble? Do you pay off your credit cards in full every month? Do you have leftover money and a smart phone is really, truly the thing that will bring you the most value for that money? If so, then have at it.
If not? No smart phone. I do think that some sort of phone connection is probably a necessity in our society, although I’m sure there are people who do just fine without a phone. But for most of us, a basic phone line is necessary. Consider a voice over internet phone (we use Vonage for our business phone, and it’s a lot less expensive than our personal cell phone. We don’t have a land line). Or just a basic cell phone with a basic plan. If money is really tight, use a prepaid phone and only use it for emergencies. If you already have a smart phone and can’t afford it, you can end your contract and then sell the phone to help pay the contract termination fee. Yes, you might lose some money on the deal. But how many months of not having to pay for data service will it take before you come out ahead? Probably not that many.
Whatever you do, don’t ever email someone your sad story about how broke you are, from your $400 phone that has a $100/month plan charge.
deda says
My job pays for my iphone since they consider it necessary, so my sad story is separate from that thanks. I understand your point, but people can have circumstances you aren’t taking into account.
frugalbabe says
The guy’s email also told me that he had lost his job. So no, an employer was not paying for the phone. I did note in my post that if it’s a necessity, an employer is paying for it. Nobody “needs” a smart phone for personal use.
Cowboyrancher says
Hold on there little lady. There are a few things that I think you may be overlooking in your assessment and judgment… First of all, he responded to an internet ad, you obviously don’t find internet access objectionable, just smart phones. Internet costs as well and if you say he could use someone else’s internet, he could have been using someone else’s iphone. Is a poor person supposed to not have any connectivity because they are poor or is it integral to getting back on your feet? I mean internet is integral to living in the 2000s, seriously, unless you work in the unskilled labor sector. So… if someone has to have internet and a phone, it would cost close to that of a smart phone bill… why not take mobility as a plus. Besides, if he lost his job AFTER he signed that contract, he is still obligated to pay for that phone regardless of his new status as unemployed. Oh yeah, I mean, he can cancel for like $300… but what person with no money is going to do that?
Henry says
I agree completely with you frugalbabe. I have no idea what the situation is in the US as I am European, but what I find the cheapest way to have any sort of mobile phone is to get a SIM card only plan from one of the providers and buy a second hand phone from eBay. Even buying the latest and greatest iPhone from Apple for a ridiculous price brand new works out much cheaper than getting a ‘free’ phone from a network provider. Plus, as it is your phone free and clear, you can do wifi only if you want. My bill here in Austria for my ancient iPhone 3G from 2008 (which works perfectly for me, including email, calendar and, yes, phone calls) is €12.50/month. Can you get SIM card only deals from providers in the US?
frugalbabe says
We have Verizon now, and we actually tried purchasing a second hand Droid for $20 and then using our current phone service plan with the Droid. But Verizon wouldn’t allow it – their activation system could tell that the phone was a smart phone, and they wouldn’t let us have a plan without data. So we still have the Droid and will likely be ditching Verizon when our contract is up. We’d prefer to be with a carrier that just lets us take the SIM card and put it in whatever phone we want. That way we could use the internet features whenever wi-fi is available, but only have a voice plan for our cell service.
Rachel Jonat says
Could you move to pay as you go for the droid phone? That way you could disable your data on it and only use Wifi.
We’re on pay as you go with our very cheap no frills mobile phones here in the UK. We gave up our ‘smart’ phones when we moved over here a year ago and it was a great decision. We save a lot of money – used to pay $300 CDN/month for two iPhones and now average $30/CDN every month between the two phones – and we also have more enjoyable family time. No one is checking their email or sports highlights while we’re at the park.
bogart_yahoo says
For those in the US, I’d highly recommend Consumer Cellular. I get 300 minutes from them for my cell phone for about $25 month, including the “extras” (fees & such), $.10 per text (I don’t use them), and no data. The plan is remarkably flexible; you can bump the minutes up or down (add text, etc.), month-by-month (in the month you are already part of, moreover — i.e. if you’re on the verge of running over) easily.
I don’t know much about smartphones and don’t want one, but my impression is that as with so many of these things they are a commitment, so having one, even an expensive one, can be an ongoing cost one cannot readily get out of (immediately) if hardship sets in (gee, sounds like another argument against paying for one, doesn’t it?)
In terms of not having any phone, or not carrying a cell phone, or sharing a cell phone with a family member, though I’m a fan of not being connected, where I get (somewhat) stuck is being away from my kid. I’m quite old enough to be aware that people (and parents) weren’t always reachable by phone and yet most managed to live happy, productive lives, but at the same time, I do prefer knowing that if my son (or husband, for that matter) got hurt or fell sick, I could be reached.
frugalbabe says
Thanks for the tip – we’ll look into that when our current contract ends. I agree about being reachable in the event of an emergency. I think we’ve just come to expect it to be that way. When I was in college, nobody had a cell phone. We all had land lines and answering machines, and the earth kept right on spinning and life was just fine. I remember one time my car broke down when I was about 20 and I had to walk a mile down the road to a house where I asked to use their phone so I could call my parents to come and help me. These days, that would be a very rare circumstance indeed. But I’m trying as much as I can to keep the constant connectivity to a minimum.
Jennifer says
Wow, I remember those days, but now…I can’t even imagine feeling safe enough to walk up to a stranger’s house and ask go inside to use their phone, or them feeling safe enough to let me inside to do it. Can you say Ax Murderer??? I think I’ll keep my cell phone. (a little dramatic, I know)
SKM says
You make a good point, however – the audience you’re targeting with this rant aren’t likely to frequent frugality blogs. :-)
frugalbabe says
True. But this is the platform I have, so I gotta use it :-) Most of what I write comes from a perspective of the upsides of frugality. But every once in a while, I feel compelled to write about the downsides of non-frugality.
SKM says
I shared this article with my husband – I have a smartphone (partly because of my work from home) and he has refrained from getting one (refuses to pay for a data plan … I appreciate that he sticks to his guns.). And to be honest – there are days where I would just like to chuck my smartphone in the nearest river. We can afford the phone easily, but I gotta be blunt … I miss the days where I was not so accessible. We’re expecting our first child in a couple of months and I want him to know his mommy as someone who is engaged in his life, not snapping random photos and using her BlackBerry to upload them to Facebook. :-)
frugalbabe says
Exactly! We could easily afford a smart phone with data plan too, but it’s lot of little choices like not having a smart phone that allow us to save a good chunk of our income each month. What you describe is a big part of it too, and it’s exactly how I was feeling when I stopped logging into Facebook a couple weeks ago. I don’t want to go through life constantly connected to everyone I know via phones and computers. I want to be engaged with my husband and sons – not taking pictures of them just so that I can upload them to Facebook.
Jillxz says
Save a good chunk of income ? If I did not have a smartphone , I would save $14.36 a month. I don’t call that saving a good chunk of income , lol
frugalbabe says
My comment said “lots of little choices”… they all add up. Not having a smart phone all by itself isn’t going to make a huge difference. But it goes along with all the other frugal choices we make, and together, they do make a difference. It sounds like you have a really inexpensive phone plan – that’s awesome! Most people pay far more than $14.36/month for their data plan though.
Jillxz says
I do have a “Loyalty Plan” which is cheaper.
BTW , I love your blog.
Jennifer @ kidoing! says
I love this!!!! YES. I don’t want to hear from one more person that the cost of food is so high or that they can’t afford this or that, when they are paying $100 a month for their iPhones. And, to add to your rant, I can’t stand text messages. When you start getting “happy birthday” text messages instead of a call from a real person, something is wrong.
frugalbabe says
We get about six texts a month, and probably send about that many in reply. They can be useful for sending someone an address or something like that where the person would otherwise need a paper and pen, but in general, I’m not a fan. I especially don’t like it when I’m carrying on a face-to-face conversation with someone and they start replying to a text or sending a text – people are so addicted to their phones and constant communication that basic manners seem to have evaporated! If you’re hanging out with other people, put the phone away until you’re finished hanging out.
Tiffany says
I can’t stand text, either. I actually had it blocked on my phone so I don’t get them and can’t send them. When did not speaking become ok???
Inder says
I have a three year old, so trying to have a normal phone conversation while he’s awake is total chaos, with interruptions every few seconds. Texts and emails are far preferable for setting up actual face-to-face interactions (and then you can see my three year old in person! let’s face it, I don’t get as much time to just chat with my friends as I used to, but such is life). Obviously, no one should feel like they have to use a technology that they don’t like, I don’t buy this idea that technology is a barrier to quality interactions. People have been conversing with the written word (through notes, telegrams, and letters) for a long time, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. If you use technology to avoid people or if you’re rude about your use, that’s your problem, not necessarily a flaw in the technology. (Rude people have also been around for a long time.)
The distractions I deal with in my life are not technology-based, but preschooler-based!
Of course, none of this is to say that texting, or some kind of fancy phone, is a “necessity” rather than a luxury, I just don’t agree that the technology is inherently evil.
Frugal Babe says
Just to clarify, I don’t have any problem with text messaging or technology in general. If I get a text from someone instead of a phone call, I would never feel offended or like it was a lesser-quality form of communication.
My main problems with texting are safety issues, and how often people are texting while also carrying on a face-to-face conversation with someone else. That is rude. If it’s truly an emergency or a really really important text, I’d say it’s fine to say “excuse me for just a minute”, read and/or reply to the text, and then put the phone away. But that is often not what happens. People are glued to their phones, texting and updating Facebook, while also interacting face-to-face with someone else. Some people are chronic offenders who ALWAYS have their phone in hand. I don’t mind text messages at all, as long as the sending/receiving of them doesn’t interfere with face-to-face interaction. As far as safety, phones shouldn’t ever be used while driving or riding a bike (saw a guy swerving all over the road on his bike yesterday, looking down at his phone the whole time. Not a good idea!). Even walking and texting probably isn’t the best idea, especially if you’re walking in an area where there are other people or cars. I would say that the distraction caused by smartphones is a serious safety issue at times.But all of that aside, I agree that texting can be more convenient than talking, and I have no problem with it as a form of communication.
Becky says
I have a similar Craigslist story. I was giving something away for FREE and a lady replied wanting me to meet her halfway because she couldn’t afford the gas to come get my free item. Of course, the message was sent from an iphone.
Also, I completely agree with Jennifer about the text messaging. If it’s not important, send me an email. If you want to reach me immediately, just call me :)
Regina Wade says
Interesting. There are some slightly more frugal smart phone options, if you’re willing to go with a lower-end phone. My husband and I both have android smart phones from two different companies. We pay $45 a month for them (combined cost) and each of them cost us about $150 to start off with (LG Optimus V for anyone who’s curious). BUT they are not locked into a contract. We use Republic Wireless ($20/month–only good for you if you’re on a wireless internet connection most of the time) and Virgin Mobile ($25/month for unlimited data but only 300 talking minutes–good for a texter and data user, non-phone talker). Being able to use the internet on them has been wonderful for us.
In general, smartphones are not the frugal option, but if you know where to look, they can get pretty close to it! You just have to be willing to not have something that’s top of the line and trendy. ;)
frugalbabe says
Wow – it sounds like you’ve got an excellent plan! Thanks for the tip! We had been planning to shop around when our contract is up, since the $35/month plan with Verizon is really a lot more than we need. I think it gives us 450 minutes a month, and we never even come close to talking that much on it. Our wi-fi reaches all the way out into the park behind our house, so we can use it all over our property, and my husband would definitely be interested in the Republic Wireless plan you’ve described. Maybe we could use it with the second-hand Droid we bought a while back… I love all the tips I get from this blog :-)
Lauren says
I have the $25/month Virgin plan too, and it’s awesome. Unlimited data and texting, 300 minutes (or maybe mine is only 200? I basically never use them, though). There’s no way I would pay $60 a month for a smartphone, but I feel I would really be missing out if I didn’t have one, so I’m glad I found this. It’s nice not to be tethered to your house if you’re expecting an email or something, and it’s very freeing to be able to change your plans midday and get directions to wherever you’re going now. With my personality I know I would be much more of an antisocial homebody if I couldn’t access information and communications wherever I went. It enables real life. :)
Lauren says
Oh, and best of all is it’s contractless!
frugalbabe says
The Virgin plan looks great – definitely something we’ll consider when our current contract ends. The coverage in our area is somewhere between “good” and “fair” for voice though, so fingers crossed that it works! 400 minutes for $20 a month is hard to beat. Even with taxes and fees I assume that wouldn’t be more than $30, which is almost $20 less than we pay now. The best part about this post has been all the tips about lesser-known cell phone carriers – thanks!
C.R.P says
I’ll just give you a hearty AMEN!!! For a while, a friend of mine could barely afford to buy food but refused to cut dwn her $80-90 cll plan cause she “needs” it… Ok then. lol! We have a $28 cell phone plan (talk time & some texting for hubby) & it suits us just fine… We share one phone as well.
Kay says
I agree with most of the post… just not this line: that you need data plan to use a smart phone.. you can buy an unlocked iphone from apple store (sure, you’ll be paying premium price.. but you should be able to use your sim card on the unlocked phone. and use it with wifi at home.
or you can buy it from someone who has already bought it, looking to upgrade, got their previous phone unlocked by the phone provider (mine charges $50 for unlocking, it’s ridiculous, but it’s legal) and can use your sim card on this phone.
please note, none of this is black market stuff, it’s all legal.
frugalbabe says
We have an old iPhone that my husband uses on our wi-fi network (and anywhere else we have access to wi-fi), and we also have an older Droid that we bought in hopes that we could do exactly what you describe. But with Verizon, it doesn’t work. It might have worked with our old carrier (T-Mobile) but with Verizon, you have to call them to activate any new phone, and if it’s a smartphone, they automatically add data. We spent 45 minutes on the phone with them trying to make it work, and there was no way around it. So we stashed the Droid in a drawer and will probably leave Verizon at the end of the year when our contract is up.
Kay says
and yes, smart phones are a luxury!! no questions there. :) We are recent converts to smartphones.. we love them, we could pay for them – data plans included (got a great deal as corporate discount for all employees for personal use), it fits in our budget and has come in very handy multiple times..
all said and done., it is still a luxury! not a need. if it comes to paying for essentials vs paying for smartphone, essentials win anyday!
Katie S says
Your post made me giggle. We get heckled all the time for our “old school” phones. My husband kept breaking the nicer ones, so he dug out his phone from 6 years ago that is still working. We can’t justify the cost of data packages just for convenience sake therefore, no smart phones for us. And hubby runs a successful internet business even without it. I completely understand your rant.
Kate says
I agree that a smartphone is a luxury item. ButI do want to point out a few things in defense of the smartphone. I held off on getting one for years and then I finally got an iphone. At the time it was $200 for the (subsidized) handset, and $15 a month for the data charge. I also know people who paid $100 for older models of new iphones.
Still not cheap but not $400.
And yes, I do use it mostly for unnecessary activities. But it was also extremely useful when job hunting, to be able to check and send emails and resumes anywhere. And I don’t pay for text messages because I use free apps for texting.
But yeah, it still may not be for the people who can’t afford their health insurance premiums.
frugalbabe says
I didn’t realize you could get a data plan for $15/month. All of my friends have smartphones, and they all pay at least $30 – $50/month for the data portion of their plan. But $15 for the data is very reasonable, assuming the voice part of the plan is inexpensive too. My friends with iPhones have paid $200 – $400 for them, depending on their phone plans. All of those friends can afford the phone and are not struggling financially, so maybe they didn’t shop around a lot. But yes, I agree that there is nothing at all wrong with having a smartphone – as long as you’re able to pay for the basic necessities first.
Leah says
You can definitely get cheaper data plans. The price depends on how much data you want to use. My mom has a $15 a month plan that is 200 megabytes. I opted for the $25 a month plan, and I get 2 gigs. However, I checked my data usage just now — our next bill cycle is up on 6/13, and I have only used 100 mb so far. I probably could (and will) drop down to the next level after our upcoming vacation. I mostly just use the wifi in my house and only occasionally use 3g when out and about (that’s the data plan on AT&T). We won’t have wifi on our vacation but will be in a populated area, so I imagine I will use more data. But I am definitely dropping down to save some $$ when we come back, as I was surprised to see how little data I actually use each month.
Olga says
I totally agree. We’re in a very tough financial spot right now, but have another year left on my husbands contract. I’ve already made the switch by selling my two old androids to pay the cancellationg fee and then bough a $20 virgin mobile paylo phone and only pay $40 a month. As compared to my husband who is paying $110 for his!! He will be going with boost mobile android for less than half the price the minute we can afford it.
Olga says
I should add that I have unlimited minutes and texts and a certain amount of data, but I do not use that. My husbands would be unlimited everything. Except on a prepaid plan that is MUCH cheaper!
EIleen says
I have a smart phone that I pay for myself. While I understand how it’s a luxury, I’ll explain how I came to have one. I work for an employer that blocks any sort of email website via their firewall. About 4 years ago I realized that I was getting personal email that people did not expect me to wait until 9pm to reply. I do not use my work email for personal use, so as a working Mom, it might be 9pm (after working, doing kid pick up, dinner, homework, bedtime for kids) before I could get in front of a computer. In some cases email that pertained to carpools were getting missed. Sometimes it might be an email from a teacher that I didn’t want to read 10 hours later. The world has changed and people don’t expect you to be reading their email 12 hours later.
frugalbabe says
I agree that smartphones can be very useful. And as long as a person can afford the phone and the service – and also afford the basic necessities of life – then it’s no problem. I also agree that the world has changed and people don’t expect you to be reading their emails 12 hours after they send them. But sometimes it’s perfectly ok to do what people don’t expect. I reject the notion that we should all be instantly accessible to anyone and everyone who wants to get ahold of us via phone or text or email. That’s why our phone stays on the kitchen counter most of the time. We check email more frequently, because our jobs are online. So family and close friends know that email is the fastest way to reach us in an emergency. As with most things in life, the phone issue is different from one person to another. In my opinion, a smartphone is a luxury, which means that paying for it shouldn’t take priority over the basic necessities.
Jennifer @ kidoing! says
Hope I’m not intruding by commenting here (I am reading the comments via email and this one struck a chord in me). :) Maybe I am in the minority (with FB), but I don’t think everyone has a right to my instant attention at any moment during the day. I am home with my children – homeschooling them – and they deserve my attention (my husband, too, although he is so busy he rarely talks to me during the day). If there is an emergency, or someone needs an answer right now, that person will call me and I will respond, but there are many times throughout the day that I am just not available via phone or email.
While this “new way of life” (constant, instant access) may facilitate some things, I more view it as a detriment to our personal relationships because we are so disjointed in conversations (being interrupted and having to jump to fulfill everyone’s needs on a whim). To me, it plays into the “instant gratification” need that so many people have (especially prevalent in the younger generations), and lack of patience that I see everywhere I turn.
I don’t disagree that there are times when a smartphone comes in handy, and everyone’s personal situation may demand a specific plan, but for the majority of my day my smartphone is somewhere I’m not.
Eileen says
I don’t disagree with what you have written. However, I work outside the home and in some cases people were emailing pertaining to carpool that were taking place that same day. Unless I wanted my kid stranded, or if I were the carpool driver, went to pick up a kid that didn’t need to be picked up, I needed access to email. I didn’t feel comfortable being the only person in a carpool that insisted people call me personally to arrange a change when everyone else was using email.
FB says that most people know the best way to reach her is via email. And that’s the only reason I switched to a smartphone – people we worked with on transportation felt the same way (I just couldn’t get to it from work).
At the time I added my smart phone, I had a middle school and HS kid. They played sports, so carpools were part of our daily life.
I used to use my old krazr phone to try to check gmail but it was too cumbersome/unreliable.
Obviously if you can’t afford it, that’s a different topic.
Dan Sealana says
“Maybe I am in the minority (with FB), but I don’t think everyone has a right to my instant attention at any moment during the day.”
I agree. A while back, I had to politely tell a family member that if they send me an email at 10:00 in the morning on a weekday to please not send me a text two hours later asking me why I haven’t responded to their email.
The increasing expectation of instant communication reminds me of that classic “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy’s boss keeps speeding up the assembly line because she thinks Lucy is keeping up.
Inder says
Just thought it was a little ironic that you posted this on the day that I, after years of using hand-me-down phones (smart phones, but free ones), went out and finally bought my own! I was going back and forth about it, but I got a cheap no-contract everything included plan, and decided it was finally justified.
Right after I fork out the cash, I see this post. HA!
I completely agree, of course. I do use my data plan for my work as an attorney. It is useful to me in my job and while there’s the danger of being too connected to work all the time, it allows me to work from anywhere, which gives me a lot of flexibility. Since the data plan is generally the cheapest part of a cell phone plan, and I use that way more than I actually talk on the phone (ugh, I hate talking on cell phones) it makes sense for me to have some kind of smartphone.
Of course, if I was unemployed, I would not consider it a “necessity.” And you can get cheap smartphones, and cheap data plans!
An aside: You can turn off the signature that says “sent from my fancy schmancy phone.” I’d recommend this if you’re sending emails telling sob stories about your financial state.
You raise some interesting questions here, of course. What is “necessary” and what is a “luxury.” Is having computer and internet connection “necessary”? It feels pretty important to me, but obviously it’s not as important as food. I suppose it depends on the person.
~M says
Amen!
I completely agree.
It bugs me to no end when I’m out and about, at a restaurant with the hubs, or wherever, and people are glued to their phones! Texting like crazy, tweeting like mad, etc.! Yet, they complain about how broke they are. Hmmm…priorities?
The worst was when hubby and I went to Las Vegas for a day before going to the Grand Canyon for our 5 year wedding anniversary in May with a homeless woman begging for money for her cat while on a smart phone. The whole cell phone epidemic in the United States truly makes me sick.
Leah says
I am so with you. I actually do have an iphone, and I still completely agree. It is nifty but not necessary. I didn’t want to get a smartphone, but over Christmas we realized that my 5 year old phone was dying a slow death. It still worked for phone stuff, but I couldn’t take pictures anymore (I love taking photos and use that feature all the time) and would also shut off if I accidentally dropped the phone. And by dropped, I mean “didn’t place the phone into my purse just so.” That was probably the bigger issue.
I had bought the phone right before smartphones, and it had a lot of neat features. I didn’t even need to replicate every feature, but there were 3 that I used super regularly. I tried every phone in our phone store, searched models online, and ultimately could not find a non-smart phone that fit all those three uses. Since I was getting a smartphone, and I have all other mac computer equipment, I went with the iphone for ease of use.
That said, I have housing covered, food covered, and a healthy savings account. I’ve got health insurance. I fully recognize that my phone is a fun thing but not a thing I have to keep if things really hit the fan.
Angela @ Cottage Magpie says
YES! THANK YOU! It’s really funny, too, when you choose not to have a smart phone, how all of a sudden you notice how often people around you are absorbed in their phones all the time! Hello — there’s the *real world* happening here! :-)
My husband and I had both gotten sucked into the “need” for iPhones a few years ago, and then when we woke up and realized that $120 a month was not a responsible choice for phone service when we were broke, we sold our iPhones, bought $10 phones on eBay and switched to AT&T’s pay-as-you-go plan (we were on AT&T because of the iPhones). We buy minutes in a lump ($100 for 1000) minutes, so .10 per minute. (My phone is a touch screen, but it’s kind of fussy and you have to push hard, but I don’t mind because I don’t use my phone for things except calling most of the time.)
We now end up using about $5 worth of minutes each month per phone per month — way less than the cheapest plan. I love it. I was really nervous about it at first, it felt so “cheap” (and not in a good way), but nobody else can tell what plan I’m on, and I actually love that my phone tells me exactly how much I’ve spent after each call and what I have left. I really do love it. I can’t imagine going back.
Sometimes I miss some specific things about my iPhone — specifically for taking more impromptu/candid pictures for my blog, or using Instagram, etc.., but at some point I’ll buy an iPod touch which does all the same things the iPhone does (except make calls) on WiFi with no monthly fees.
Although… I’ve been without a smart phone for a couple of years now and I swear the quality of my life has improved!! So I’ll resist that for awhile longer.
:-)
~Angela~
Frugal Babe says
This sounds like a good phone plan too – thanks for the tip!
Ms Life says
This reminds me of a friend a few years ago who was heavily in debt but kept splurging as if there was no tomorrow. She treated herself to expensive clothes, perfumes and a vacation to Africa. To top it all, she got herself a Blackberry so that she could be ‘connected all the time’. I did not understand this at all because her ‘old phone’ was still working well and she still needed to pay back that big debt.
She, on the other hand, did not understand why I did not spend too much on myself. I am glad I did not splurge, because I managed to build myself a house back home and its value has gone up more than three times what I spent. Of course, sometimes, it’s not easy to spend your money consciously but the results are worth it.
Smartgal says
Totally agree! I even feel the same way about TV and cable.
Frugal Babe says
We don’t have a TV, and we only have cable for internet (necessary, since we have a full-time online business). So I agree :-)
denised says
My data plan is only $15/month above my basic cell plan (I resisted the lure of the smart phone until the prices dropped to that level.) The phone was basically free (with a 2 yr contract.) It provides telephone, messaging, intenet, camera, my personal calendar functions, alarm clock, e-reader, calculator, music player, basic navigation (via GPS/mapquest,) address book, food, exercise, and spending logs, shopping lists. I an less likely to buy any of these items (or replace the few I currently own.) Unfortunately, if/when my current phone dies my life will be pretty disorganized and I will not want to go back to the multiplicity of devices I used to use for all these things.
Bbcatcher says
I agree that for many people, they are a luxury, but mine is a money-saver. My plan is $60/month, I paid only $99 for the phone, and I use it all the time because I work online from home. Part of the requirement of my job is that I be able to promptly respond to student emails (I teach online), and the smart phone allows me to do this even if I’m not near a computer. I also use it as a mobile hotspot for $20/month which is cheaper than any of my previous internet carriers. My work does not pay for any of my expenses, as I am considered an independent contractor. My smart phone has also helped me to minimize greatly, as I now have everything I need to keep track of for work and home management stored in one tiny device. Depending on your circumstances, a smart phone can be a great minimalist tool.
Jennifer says
We were fortunate to find a fantastic prepaid unlimited data plan for our smart phones that is actually costing us quite a bit less than we were paying for our voice-only phones. But I still go back and forth about whether I “need” a smart phone or not. I only have one app that I use on a regular, almost daily, basis that at this point cannot be used without a smart phone. But we could drop my phone back to voice/text only and keep my hubby’s smart phone (he is hopefully soon to be self-employed, so his employer will be paying for his ;)) and then we could continue using that app on his phone.
MelD says
Although I agree with the principal that a smart phone, and IMHO any cell phone, for that matter, is a relative luxury if you can’t pay for basic food and shelter, I don’t necessarily completely agree with your rant.
By the time I have bought a phone (even a normal landline), a Filofax or other organiser calendar, a camera, an alarm clock, a timer, a stopwatch, maps for all the places I go as well as an AtoZ of the larger cities to find my way, photo albums, notebooks, a calculator, any kind of MP3 player, a whole array of dictionaries and encyclopedias (updated every few months!) for the things I look up several times a day – not to mention the space to keep these items, their maintenance (batteries etc.) and so on, I personally don’t find my smartphone to be either expensive or a particular luxury. And that’s without any extra apps.
I am not a slave to my phone, it is a tool I use when I choose to – it is usually set to silent and I choose to whom I wish to speak and when. It is not a distraction. I happen to use it as a leisure tool occasionally as well (music, books, magazines, news – saves me checking a suitcase when travelling) but that is definitely secondary to the above-mentioned functions which I use on a daily basis.
Another thing I wish to mention is that your reference appears to be solely US-based; in other countries, costs will vary and may be a lot less than you cite.
Jill Umbach says
Love this article!!! A family after my own heart!!
While I agree iphones are a need item I do feel that a cellphone is a necessity for emergencies. Two years ago I didn’t have my cellphone activated because we had a land line and I was being frugal. I missed a call that my daughter had been taken to hospital and didn’t receive the message until I returned home several hours later.
My last job paid for basic service on my cell phone and since I was required to travel outside of my town this allowed me to check in with family and be available for emergency calls.
I am currently between contracts and recently was upgraded to an android phone. Since it was a new phone I had them lock access to everything but calls and this has resulted in me keeping to a budget of $28.15/month. I use my 10 fave calls to keep any regular family/friends long distance calls reduced to zero costs.
Thelovelyamber says
Don’t judge based on that tagline about sent from an android/what have you. We have a smartphone. Er, had until I washed it (and won’t replace it). The phone was $100. The plan was unlimited data and text, 300 minutes, $25 a month. Pay as you go. It saved us quite a bit over our old phone, had a camera (we didn’t have one at the time), was a no brainer for us. I agree that a cell of any kind is not a necessity… and so now that I’ve broken this one and can’t get that plan back, we’ll be cell free for a while until a good text plan comes along. My husband’s boss was happy to pay for a basic phone that we will only turn on when he needs to be reachable for work (often).
Yes, a cell- I’d argue any phone- is a luxury. But it’s possible to have a smartphone and still make the financially smart choice, especially with an unlimited plan of some sort and no home phone or internet, and if you need a phone of some sort for money making.
Kath says
How timely! My husband and I have had our smart phones for almost 3 years, and his is pretty much dead. We’re thinking it’s time to get a new plan, and a new phone for him. The problem we’re running into is that only the major carriers (Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint) have coverage in an area we visit often (and would like to move to in a year or two) and we need coverage there. We can’t go with the cheap options because of the contracts with the local carrier there.
I think in our case, prepaid is going to be the way to go, and I am hoping that I will still be able to use my phone. My husband’s employer does reimburse up to $70 a month, so that gives us a little bit more flexibility, but I am just astounded at how much plan costs have increased. And I admit, I am a little vain, and I like a pretty phone.
Rachel Campbell says
Straight talk is a prepaid cell phone plan and they run off of ATT or Verizon towers. My mom has it and gets good signal here in our more rural town. 1000 minutes, texts and some data is $30 a month, and unlimited everything is $45 a month. Once our contract with ATT is up, we are switching to Straight Talk and saving the money!
Frances Perkins says
SonyaAnn sent me and I have to say I really like your blog. I agree with you that people with no money don’t NEED a smart phone. I hear people a work all the time complaining about not having enough money, but pulling out their smart phone to check their FB status. I CAN afford a smartphone, but I prefer my money in the bank, so I pay for Tracfone usage for myself, Hubby and MIL for way less than a smartpone would cost.
Angie says
Great piece. I found your blog via Minimalist Mom. I am content with my non-smart cell phone with a slide out keyboard for text messaging. I once had a coworker look at me in shock when I showed her my phone. She asked me how I checked my emails. Uh…computers? I have been tempted to upgrade to a smart phone but I have been holding off. My budget right now doesn’t have room to pay for data plans. I do carry my ipod touch sometimes so sometimes I can pick up free wifi and I can check email via that route.
D Boczulak says
I agree with you for the most part. In today’s job market, a smart phone is an indication that you are up-to-date and have a current knowledge of technology (my specific field). As someone over 40 and previously unemployed, it is critical to stay on top of technology trends whether you personally need to use them or not. Image is important in any job search.
You might also want to check out T-Mobile. They have a pay as you go plan $100 for 1000 minutes (I can usually get for 95) and 1.50 per day for data. I plan to sign up for this plan sometime soon. Since I can use WiFi at home and work, I only plan to tap into the data plan on the weekends or if I’m travelling for work.
Frugal Babe says
Thanks for the tip about T-Mobile. We used to have them, and we know that their network has good coverage here. We’ll definitely look into that option when our contract ends. Maybe we can use the Droid we got for $20 on Craigslist, and just pay $1.50 a day for data if we’re going to be traveling. I love the idea of 1000 minutes for $100 – we only use about 200 minutes a month, so that would last us for several months.
Reebeealways says
You are so right about the phone, My husband and I both worked for the same company and both were laid off several months apart from each other. We too now are looking closely at our cellphone bill and decided that we might a metro pcs phone and pay $25 a month for unlimited talk and text. The funny thing about this for us is we don’t have unlimited talk now with our current plan. We are making the change!
Ali says
Interesting. I agree that smart phones in general are a luxury, but like a few commentators on your post, I have a no-contract, inexpensive plan – of which I did not purchase for the heck of it. I had already dropped my land line which was costing – as a basic phone about $30 a month – without long distance or anything of the like, to a cell phone which with unlimited long distance and access to emergency services while I was out. In the past few months I purchased (in part with my own money, in part a birthday present) a smart phone. I could go on about how my provider doesn’t require me to have a data plan – but I got a flex plan anyway, so it’s a bit beyond the point.
I think for many people, smart phones are a luxury, but they have replaced pda’s – which were a requirement for basic day-to-day functioning for persons such as myself with memory problems, and a laundry list of health conditions. It’s given me access to check and keep up to date files and use data applications for numerous health conditions on the go, remember to take medications 8-9 times a day (different meds, with different food requirements), to check the air quality for my asthma before leaving a building – so I can take meds before having an asthma attack. I think that yes, I could get by without one, but I have found it has made a significant improvement in my ability to function, and feel safe when I am out.
So, I agree with you that it is a luxury, especially when in debt, but I can also see that it’s not just a toy for texting, email and playing games for some people – it actually serves a much more useful and possibly a required job. I’m not saying the smartphone is required, but the applications it has could be argued as essential for persons with severe health care issues.
Texanromaniac says
Then there is my little family. My husband has an iPhone4 provided through his work…so we don’t pay anything for that. I had a $40/month Android that was pay as you go. We decided to downgrade from that and my husband spent some money up front to buy a couple cordless phones and a cheap “dumbphone”. He then spent $175 for two years of VoIP service and $100 for 1,000 minutes of service for the “dumbphone” (the minutes are good for a year). I have a Google Voice number that we give out to people and when they call it both my cell phone and the home phones ring. If I am at home I answer on a home phone and don’t use minutes, and I keep my talking to a minimum if I am out and about with my cell phone.
That being said, my husband also does computer work for people on the side and as partial payment for some work he did, he was given two older model iPhones…an original model and a 3GS model. The 3GS model is mine and I use it where wifi is available, but do not have phone service on it. I can take pictures of my child without hauling around a big expensive camera (the only camera we own now that our little digital point and shoot died a year and a half ago) and I can check my email and Facebook and access Cozi (where I keep my grocery and cleaning lists organized). I can’t get online everywhere, but it is handy where wifi is available. I have no idea if emails I send from my phone would have that tag at the bottom, as I have never had occasion to send emails from my iPhone…but just so you know…there CAN actually be people who have chosen not to spend hundreds of dollars every month on service and yet still OWN an iPhone that doesn’t cost them anything to own!!
Oh yeah, and that original iPhone that we got? Yeah, we uploaded a lot of free learning apps on it and gave it to our toddler. He isn’t allowed to take it everywhere or have it constantly, but he can tell you how to say cat in Spanish and point out in a group of shapes which one is a hexagon….among other things he has learned before the age of three. So yeah…I don’t think downing someone who happens to have an iPhone and a sob story at the same time is very nice.
Oh yeah, and we are working on paying off $30,000 of medical debt…none of that is “stupid” debt…it was all from health issues surrounding the difficult birth of one child, complications with the miscarriage of another, my husband and child’s asthma, and my child’s anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. So yeah…people CAN own iPhones and also have a sob story.
Frugal Babe says
You make very valid points. Just to clarify, I did note that if an employer is paying for the phone, it’s absolutely a different story – and I know lots of people have that situation. The overall point of my post was commentary on the idea that smartphones have become so commonplace that a lot of people – not all, but a lot – view them as a necessity these days, when in fact they most definitely are not. Everyone’s situation is different, and we all have different wants. But a lot of things – not just smartphones, but all sorts of other stuff too – often get lumped into the “needs” category when in fact they are wants. I believe that this is part of the reason why consumer debt has increased so much over the past couple generations. We tend to see all sorts of things and think that we “need” them, when really we just want them. Credit has made it easy to get these things, and media has made it seem like everyone else has them too, so we’d better not miss out.
We have an iPod Touch and we downloaded lots of free learning apps to it for our son a couple years ago – sounds like a lot of the same ones you have, and our son loved them. But no matter how much we like the iPod, it’s still a want and not a need. I think that once we start blurring the lines between those two things, we end up on a slippery slope heading in the opposite direction from financial stability and overall contentment that doesn’t hinge on having “stuff.”There are exceptions to every rule, and your comment is a good reminder that people can have smart phones and just use them on wi-fi networks, without any cell phone plan (we have an old iPhone and we do the same thing). But most – not all, but most – people who have smartphones are paying for a voice and data plan for the phone. As I noted in my post, if they can afford to do so, then it’s not a problem. But if they can’t afford to do so, then it’s important to remember that a smartphone is not a necessity. It sounds like you’re not in the category of people I was describing (ie, paying for a data plan but struggling to afford the basic necessities of life), so my post wouldn’t apply in your case.
Sorry about the medical debt. The reason I took a part-time side job back in 2004 was to help pay off a huge dental bill that we had incurred. It took us a long time, but we eventually got it all paid up – I know how that feels. Best of luck to you.
Megsters says
I agree with you! The kicker is always people who are using their iPhone in line while they pay with food stamps. Just a heads up, Ting (https://z5hg212h3.ting.com/) is an awesome a-la-carte phone company that lets you pay for only what you use. And you can still get one of the simple phones. Our plan last month with two fully featured smart phones was only $48!!! Seriously, it’s a lifesaver. They use Sprint’s network. By the way, that is a referral link, but the company rocks!
marissa says
There are cheap phone plans. My husband and I each pay $30 per month for 100 minutes, unlimited data and text. We bought our phones outright and use prepaid plans so we’re not in contract. We aren’t in financial trouble and weren’t when we bought the phones but were still concerned with living frugally and not being locked into a contract. As you have said, smartphones are free to upgrade to when you’re due to renew your contract so why are they so luxurious? The arguments in this post are invalid, contradictory and illogical.
We have our financial stuff together but if we were to fall into trouble, this phone plan would be sustainable for us and I think for many people. We find them a necessity because we are often apart and we use only public transit (carfree) and they help us track when the next bus will show up and how to get where we’re going if in an unfamiliar part of town. We use text or a quick email because we’re not particularly wordy and often find that we can relay our message easiest in a sentence or two. If i email my husband from my phone he’ll get the message quickly through his computer at work and doesn’t have to be checking his phone all day.
Ladymusic20 says
Thank you for this article! Personally, I am a college student who just took out a loan to pay for my books this semester. Meanwhile, my family is struggling to pay bills while everyone in my house works. Sometimes I feel the desire to keep up with my so-called friends and purchase a more expensive phone, but after reading this article, I will continue on with my no-contract phone, $50 per month bill, until my finances are in order and I have money set aside to pay back my college loan. Thank you!!!
Belinda says
i totaly agree with you. i have been lucky my brother gave me his handme down smart phones (im unemplyed student). these have been great and i was happy to use them. i would monthly pay 30 max to get a prepaid sim.. this was the best option form e as i didnt want to add al the apps n ringtones & little extras fr .99 cents etc it al adds up.
well the last 3 smart phones have met their makers.. and i was looking at possibly replacing it. however my old phone still worked it got net( if u waited n hr) but did the main job of calling & text. we switched to a plan for 15 max amonth that still gives me everything i want & need.
i refuse for now to buy a phone on a plan that will cost easily 70 bucks a month.
however.. due to medical issues i put a itouch on layby as i was going to use it for medical issues. half way through paying for it.. i learnt the medical program wasnt worth the cost and conflicted i finished paying for my touch. Since then i have used it for calling my best friend for free & taking photos plus i have no on going costs involved. i only download free programs.
it is still a luxury but its giving me some happyiness re taking pictures.
one thing i do find however.. is alot of the people who complain they are Poor etc but have smart phones etc… Always upgrade straight away. this is were i am often amazed… u cant pay for petrol.. but u save for a iphone upgrade? waiting a few months drops prices n they still work well. lets face it.. alot of upgrades are simply fluff that is sold as development too.
for now.. i have my little flip phone i bought outright 5 yrs ago, and save gold coins untill i can buy my next smart phone… till then the touch can boost what ever else i need. and themoney i save from switching phone plans and NOt having a big bill each month gos to paying of my car.
Fischer Anita says
I beg to differ. They are a necessity for adults and I will explain as follows. :
Everyone needs a phone and having a smart phone in case of an emergency can detect your whereabouts if you are stranded and have some type of heart attack even if you didn’t sign up for the phone location app.
If you have to travel and are lost running out of gas the smart phone can tell you exactly where the nearest gas station, mechanic, hospital etc etc is.
If youre a job seeker you can do double time job seeking no matter where you are bc you can upload your resume right from your phone. This saves you time instead of taking a bus to library hoping that there isnt a long wait line for computers.
Lastly, smart phones save on internet. It’s cheaper to have it on your cell and fill oit important documents than it is to have it on the conputer. I hook my cell up to the computer and to not pay extra.
Important dates are automatically put into your calander and you don’t have to worry about forgetting that very important meeting or assignment or doc appointment.
Amen. Smart phones are needed. For rich and poor.
John Smith says
All cell phones are trackable via the cell tower network, so there’s no need for a “smart” phone to feel you can be found in an emergency situation.
I still refuse to pay for a data plan, and the expensive phones (and related cables, cases, and accessories, which are incompatible with older cables, etc). Cell phone insurance is also the norm now, which is another monthly fee.
We easily save over $1,000 per year by not having a data plan + phone insurance. That’s after tax dollars, so in 5 years we’ve saved $5,000 and to obtain $5,000 one must earn about $8,000 from their employer. That’s an absurd luxury, and entirely unnecessary when most people spend 10+ hours in front of a computer at work each day anyway.
We do own and enjoy many luxury items, by the way, but the cost/benefit analysis of paying for a phone + data plan + insurance + accessories, does not compute for us.
Add in:
* Privacy concerns (every click tracked, everything purchase tracked, etc)
* People storing their data “in the cloud” which means “someone else’s server/computer”
* People staring at screens constantly, like an addict getting a fix.
I could really go on and on. After 10 yours staring at a screen all day at work, I really don’t need to stare at a screen when I’m home or out with friends and family. The flip phone with keyboard, with text messaging capability, works perfectly fine for us.
Diane S. says
I 100% agree with you, as a smart phone/data plan, are wants. Your NEED, if you don’t have a landline (we had to get rid of ours, as the only people who called us, were various charities, and politicians trying to gin up votes. Being told I *need* a data plan, I’m “I’ve got a computer at home, why do I need to waste money on a data plan for a phone?”. “so you can check XYZ while you are out”. Easy enough to look stuff up online before you go out, getting directions to somewhere, and if your printer is on the fritz, just write it down on a piece of paper! Oh, and all those people who survived for years, without smartphones, data plans, etc,, they were “deprived”. And, after seeing so many .. zombies! attached to their phones.. I completely cannot imagine my parents even thinking of doing that. We had a color TV back in the 60s. The times the TV was on? During football games when the Vikings were playing, the Wonderful World of Disney, the Carol Burnett show, and the 10:00 news. Oh yes, and I got 2 hours allowed on Saturday mornings, for cartoons. And I see 10 & 11 year olds, walking around with smartphones, data plans, etc.. and I’m just *facepalm*. Or people just handing their phones to their kids, and they spend hours on the phone. AND! I will stop before I start doing a rant about that.
Oh, and looking at your latest post, on being quiet. My husband started saving and investing for retirement…at age 17. WTG!
Lindsay Schutz says
I’m a relatively recent college graduate who is currently living at home with mom and dad (housing in my area is ridiculously expensive; you’re looking at upwards of $1,000-1200 a month for an apartment in a safe-ish area where you don’t wake up to bullet holes in your front door and as a single young female, those “affordable” areas probably aren’t the safest) and working in retail full time while trying to find a job or internship in my degree field. I’m part of the “working poor” right now and guess what? I have a smartphone, laptop, and internet access. Want to know why? My phone and service are free because I qualify for the LifeLine program, the internet is courtesy of my mom and dad because it’s cheaper to bundle your home phone/internet/cable with Verizon than it is to pay for everything separately and I need it to apply for jobs as well as take classes online to further my education and improve my job prospects, and the laptop was purchased on Amazon second hand and financed by opening up an Amazon card and paying for it in monthly installments. Oh and at my current job, cell phones are an absolute necessity because it’s how my manager keeps in touch with me in the event that she has some extra shifts that she would like me to take (in fact, one of the first things that new employees are asked before being on boarded is “do you have a number where we can reliably reach you at in case we need you to come in on a day off?”, not to mention the fact that our company HR conducts job interviews solely over the phone because it’s cheaper and more efficient when you have to fill thousands of slots for holiday jobs, so people need to have a phone just to get a job here). Even before I found out that I qualified for a free phone and service, I had a smartphone that I bought for $50 from Virgin Mobile and paid about $35 a month for unlimited everything and that was important to me because it meant that I could respond to emails from potential employers without always having to be near my computer (especially since the one I had at the time had finally croaked after 4 years of faithful service when I was in school).
Zorba says
4 days shy of the year 2020, and this article is just as relevant as ever. I don’t need to rehash what has already been said, other than to add that I made my career in computers and “high tech”, and smartphones never made any sense whatsoever to me. Terrible as a computer, mediocre as a phone. Ridiculously expensive to acquire and “feed”. No thank you.