News, Do your parents still pay your cellphone bill? You're not alone. (stepmother, daughter)
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Gosh... then why not calculate the % of the total minutes used and factor in the % of total texts!?! That would be even more fair, right?
LOL!
No way I would take more from my kids than their lines actually cost.
In fact, no way we take anything. We just pay the bill. As I said prior, $20 is no biggie for us to pick up. And having them each send $10 a month to us is ludicrous.
We have unlimited data, not necessary If one kid consistently went WAY over and made us pay extra in minutes, you bet they'd be paying for it. Their lines only cost $10-20 because the parents are kind enough to let them go on their plan. An equal split of it is still far, far less than what they'd be paying for their own.
It might be ludicrous to you, but a lot of parents feel this is a good "entry bill" to pay for young adults, to prepare them for the real world. We feel it teaches them responsibility, and hope they won't feel completely overwhelmed when the real bills start arriving. I remember getting my first rent bill in the mail for my first apartment... made that cell phone bill seem pretty inconsequential, and made me glad I lived in NYC and didn't need a car.
It might be ludicrous to you, but a lot of parents feel this is a good "entry bill" to pay for young adults, to prepare them for the real world. We feel it teaches them responsibility, and hope they won't feel completely overwhelmed when the real bills start arriving. I remember getting my first rent bill in the mail for my first apartment... made that cell phone bill seem pretty inconsequential, and made me glad I lived in NYC and didn't need a car.
Meh.
My kids (29 and 26) are married, own their own homes/cars/etc, pay their own utilities/insurances/student loans/etc.
I think they have been well prepared for the real world, and they function well within that world, even with us taking care of the cell phones.
Meh.
My kids (29 and 26) are married, own their own homes/cars/etc, pay their own utilities/insurances/student loans/etc.
I think they have been well prepared for the real world, and they function well within that world, even with us taking care of the cell phones.
Wait, they own a house, etc, and you still pay for the phones? Why? I'm asking this seriously - I just don't understand it. They haven't called you up to say, "Mom, don't worry, I can handle my own bills" ? Do they have kids and spouses who are all going to go on your plan?
Meh.
My kids (29 and 26) are married, own their own homes/cars/etc, pay their own utilities/insurances/student loans/etc.
I think they have been well prepared for the real world, and they function well within that world, even with us taking care of the cell phones.
I agree. While we don't pay for any regular expenses for our 25 and 28 year old "kids", we do give them money occasionally. We do so when we want to and for things we know are difficult for them to afford like some extra spending money for a trip or a plane ticket to a friend's wedding or yet another bridesmaid's dress. They are both highly responsible with their money and never ask for parental contributions and when we contribute, they are most thankful. If your kids don't feel entitled to your help, then you're doing it right (as you clearly are).
Wait, they own a house, etc, and you still pay for the phones? Why? I'm asking this seriously - I just don't understand it. They haven't called you up to say, "Mom, don't worry, I can handle my own bills" ? Do they have kids and spouses who are all going to go on your plan?
No, they did not call and ask that.
Because we told them (upon their graduation from college) that we would just keep them on our plan. We know that they cannot get a plan as cheaply. DH and I think of it as doing something nice for them.
And, like I said before, asking them for $10 a month is ludicrous. It's not like we need that $10....
OK so I've looks at my cell phone bills $140/month for 3 lines (my dad usage is apx 90 on peek minutes a months (have 1500)) He makes all his long distance call from the cell. No Data/No Txt's My Son(16) and I both have smart phones, We use about 1000 Peek Minutes a month (mostly me calling my office).
Have unlimited Txt, Unlimited data, Unlimited Off-peek 7p-7a & Weekends, Unlimited Cell to Cell.
How much of the $140 should my dad (79y) be paying?
Cost me about $12 a month to add his line ($10+2taxes).
It might be ludicrous to you, but a lot of parents feel this is a good "entry bill" to pay for young adults, to prepare them for the real world. We feel it teaches them responsibility, and hope they won't feel completely overwhelmed when the real bills start arriving.
Maybe this is the difference in our thinking. My daughter is living on her own, paying her own rent, power, internet, car insurance, etc... asking her to pay $10 for her phone seems silly as she has already proved that she can handle "real bills" and doesn't need the lesson of an "entry bill". Asking her to pay 1/5th of our phone bill puts extra stress on her and makes it harder for her to succeed, so I wouldn't even think of asking this of her.
I am talking about grown adults who are still on their parents phone plans for the savings, convenience and it makes me feel good that I can help her in this very small way. The above statement would be more appropriate to apply to a "fresh out of high school" teen who is living at home (imho) who needs to learn about bills and managing money.
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If one kid consistently went WAY over and made us pay extra in minutes, you bet they'd be paying for it. Their lines only cost $10-20 because the parents are kind enough to let them go on their plan. An equal split of it is still far, far less than what they'd be paying for their own.
