Saving Money While Expanding Your Family Mobile Phone Plan

My daughter, Rosie, is going to be eight years old in November.  She’s started talking about how it feels to be a year older, whether she’s tall enough, if she’ll have to sit in a car seat any longer and the biggie….  what she wants for her birthday!  Dun, dun, dun *ominous music*.  It’s always a momentous decision, choosing THE birthday gift.  For me, I mean!  The responsibility, after all.  Yikes!  I picture her, thirty years old, sitting in the therapist’s chair explaining that her mother bought her the horribly wrong birthday gift on her 8th birthday.  Yes, I over think these things.  It’s my job as a former-Catholic-still-has-the-guilt mom.

I didn’t worry when I bought her this phone.

The top of Rosie’s “wish list” used to be a puppy.  But we broke down and jumped into that this summer.  Now, the occasional request for a kitten still pops up, or even a second puppy, but something else has replaced it.  Are you hearing this one from your kids yet?  MOM, I want, I NEED A… *shudder* P-H-O-N-E.  Yes.  It’s no longer working to say, “you’re too young for that”.  Now I’m hearing the words every parent hates and every kid says, “Everyone else has one.”  Don’t you hear a voice in your head saying, “Well, if everyone jumps off a cliff, are you going to follow them?”

Rosie’s best friend has had a phone for years.  Seriously, a couple years.  One of my go-to parenting advisors who also has an almost-8 year old also gave her daughter a phone a couple years ago.  So in Rosie’s eyes, I’m so mean!  And here I thought I was the “fun mom”.  Not when it comes to a phone anyway.  I’m THAT mom when it comes to phones *sigh*. Will I soon be looking for a cheap wireless plan?

What do you think?  

What age should a child get a cell phone?  

A smart phone?  

Rosie is kind of a shy kid and she very seldom goes anywhere without family or her best friend’s mom.   I haven’t had to worry much at all when she’s away from home, because it’s always been with someone I trust 100%.  As she gets older though, I know I’m going to have to loosen the reins, so to speak, and she is going to be with other people, in more places.

Questions to Consider When Getting Your Child Their First Phone

School Policy

Q:  Will your child be allowed to take a phone to school?  Can they use it?  Will it be safe from being lost or stolen?  Do they need a way to reach a parent at or after dismissal?

First step, check the school policy.  Rosie’s school says:

“Cell phones that are brought to school MUST remain in the off position during school hours and MUST be turned in to the school’s Main Office. If a cell phone is not turned in and is seen by any school personnel it will be taken away and returned to the student at the end of the school day. The school claims no liability for any lost or stolen cell phones.”

AGAINST BUYING:  My child can’t use a phone at school.

Rosie goes to a public charter school with no bus service, I pick her up at the end of the day.  So, she doesn’t need a phone between the end of the day and when I see her, like some children might if they take a bus or public transportation.

AGAINST BUYING:  My child doesn’t take a bus or other transportation, I drive her to and from school.

After-School

Q:  How often is your child away from you and under what circumstances?  

Now for after-school hours.  She has some after-school activities, but at least so far, I’m in the same building as she is for all of them.  No worries or reason for a phone there, until that changes.

Playdates.  It would be nice if I could reach her, or she could reach me when she is at a friend’s house.  I did read a major tip in favor of getting your child a phone – you can text them.  Getting or talking on a phone call from a parent can be embarrassing for a child with their peers, but they can text you without anyone else knowing.  Or you can text them.

BIG REASON FOR BUYING:  I can reach my child or they can reach me, when they are at someone else’s house.  Life doesn’t always go as planned and it’s nice to be in touch about changes in schedules or unforeseen circumstances.

Responsiblilty

Q:  Is my child old enough and responsible enough to take care of an expensive electronic device?

Rosie has demonstrated that she can, and does take good care of her things.  She has a few other electronic devices and hasn’t lost or broken any of them.

REASION FOR BUYING:  My child is responsible enough to care for a phone and this will continue to teach her the importance of being careful with your things.

Cost

Q:  Can I afford to add a phone to my plan?

Awhile ago I wrote about discovering Walmart Family Mobile. I calculated that we would be able to save about $40 a month!  I could use that to pay for Rosie’s phone.  When I’m thinking about a phone for my daughter, there are several things that make Walmart Family Mobile a good choice primarily there are no contracts or overlimit fees.  First, there is no contract.  I might find out that giving her a phone is a bad choice and end up taking it away.  I don’t want to be stuck paying for a phone that isn’t even being used.  Second, there are no limits or overlimit fees.  I’ll be setting restrictions on how many texts and too who, but the reality is, she might slip some time and go over the limit.  I want to be the punish-er and decide what her consequences will be.  I don’t want to be the one punished with overlimit fees!  The cost is very reasonable. $29.88 for unlimited talk and text and $39.88 for unlimited talk, text and data.  And you save $5 when you add lines.

REASON FOR BUYING:  With the money we save from switching to Walmart Family Mobile we can afford to add another line for Rose and it won’t add to our monthly expenses.

When you use Walmart Family Mobile, you also have access to MyFamilyMobile.com where you can check on usage, billing, support and more.

Well, I think my mind is made up and a little one will be getting her wish this year on her birthday.  Shhhhh, don’t tell her.  Now to look into controls and restrictions to place on phone usage……

For more info, go to Walmart.com.

To see more pictures from my shopping trip, check out my Google + Album:  Cheap, No-Contract, Unlimited Wireless Plans.

Disclosure of Material Connection:   I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  #cbias #SocialFabric #FamilyMobileSaves #shop