<p>Oldfort, you totally miss understand what I mean per your comment in post #17. When I said that my carpool buddy has a cell phone, I mean we always have a mean of communication for road emergency. I buy the AAA plan and he does not.</p>
<p>We have carpooled for three years now and I have not used his phone for my personal use.</p>
<p>We have the lowest $$ family plan which allows three line max w/o any texting nor data, as listed in their web site. </p>
<p>I think you just have to have a sim card to load certain minutes for pay as you go. They don’t care what phone you use as long as it is an AT & T phone.</p>
<p>my younger D was amazingly fast w texting even when she had a flip phone- as are most kids her age . Now she has a phone with a touch screen and a qwerty keyboard.
We had limited texting for a while- I think 500 apiece- and that was fine, now we have an unlimited package.</p>
<p>T1, that is a very simple fact of life - can’t have what you can’t afford. They are lucky to have a cell phone. </p>
<p>I many times feel really bad for my kids. They deserve so much more. For DD, one of family friends gave her a broken phone - only the speaker works as her first phone when she became a junior. When DS became a junior, I purchased a phone for him - $10.00. That was because we shared that phone.</p>
<p>I many times feel really bad for my kids. They deserve so much more.</p>
<p>Please tell me you are kidding.
They are attending good schools, they have parents who were fully involved with their educations, they went on big trips both without and with their family ( all from your posts), they live in an expensive area, their parents are able to fund savings/retirement, taking the worry away that the kids will have to support them,their parent pay what is left after aid for tuition & room & board.</p>
<p>My kids have to pay the extra to me if they want texting. They have not seen fit to pay enough for unlimited texting (it is amazing how their behavior changes when they have to pay the bill :)).</p>
<p>Dad II…please remember that sage advice…for ALL things you think you need but really only want.</p>
<p>Dad II…I don’t understand why your kids have such phones. When you signed on to your two year agreement with ATT, you should have gotten “free phones”. Another thought…my kids both lost one cell phone each…(the ones that came WITH the plan)…they both paid to get new ones from their own earnings. My guess is your kids could have done the same…if their first phones were broken. </p>
<p>This is bordering the ridiculous. Why do you HAVE cell plans for your kids (and you and wife) if you don’t plan to use them? Don’t waste the money at all. Just get an OLD phone that only dials 911…that is for true emergencies…and free.</p>
<p>University of Chicago?? Who is going there? Did Daughter II go there for summer school? Is Son II heading there? I must have missed that good news. Bet the financial aid was terrific too.</p>
<p>To me having a working, reliable cell phone for ALL family members is like having a toothbrush. Maybe we are all tech addicts, but that’s the way I feel.</p>
<p>I do agree that these days, a working / reliable cell phone is close to a necessity, not a luxury. I would drop my home landline if I had to make that choice.</p>
<p>Agreed, MOWC and pizzagirl. Safety and accessibility is top priority in my family. Certainly a higher priority than unnecessary frivolous purchases for recreational or avocational purposes (hobbies).</p>
<p>There are many of us working on losing weight before the transition to senior citizens as this is the last best time to get physically fit while we can workout without getting as many injuries. See the diet and exercise thread.</p>
<p>I say…get a cell phone if you plan to USE it. If not, don’t bother. We have relatives in this family who have gotten the inexpensive, pay as you go phones, and do not use them. They have made it clear they ONLY use them for emergencies. Guess what…the phones are seldom with them, they don’t answer them (how would they KNOW about an incoming emergency if they don’t answer the phone), they forget to charge them…they are a complete waste of money…unless you plan to use them!!</p>
<p>My kids text a lot more than they talk on the phone- I think many kids do.</p>
<p>Personally, I like that my D texts me, rather than calls cause it is easier to double check the information- when she tells me something once, even offhand, she thinks I am going to remember all the details forever.</p>
<p>These days, I cannot pick and chose which information I am going to retain.
I can remember who starred in " My mother , the car", but I can’t remember her friend’s moms name.
:o</p>
<p>BCeagle-
What’s your point? Sure, many of us are looking to get fit and lose weight. I have taken up running. (Really, more like fast walking, intertwined with jogging or running). Doesn’t cost a dime. </p>
<p>I have an expensive hobby (skiing) but I can afford it and don’t complain. If I couldnt afford to pay for a hobby (eg photography) I wouldnt pursue it. Period.</p>
<p>** and ek-
agreed- Often my s has his phone on vibrate when he is in class or in the library- but he can send/respond to a text. Great way to communicate.</p>
<p>My kids text they rarely use talk minutes as do all their friends.
If my younger D is at a friend and wants to come home early without hurting feelings she can text “Can you come pick me up” which she could not say via voice without hurt feelings.
Also most college students text. What if your kids lab partners or study mates want to text a meeting place. Do they refuse their classmates text messages.
I think you are either really cheap and clueless or love playing with other peoples minds.
To say you can’t afford cell phones and text messaging for 4 phones a month is incredible.</p>