My brother recently purchased an Iphone. Last week he spent some time at our Aunts house in San Jose, while our grandma also happened to be there. He espoused the wonders of it (iphone) to our aunt and grandma, and even got our uncle majorly intrigued.
Our Aunt was considering switching everybody from Sprint to AT&T and getting iphones (1 for her and uncle, and 1 for my dad and grandma.) In the end she decided not to because the company she works for gives an 18% discount for using Sprint.
But ... my grandma really thought the iphone was really neat. Especially the gps function and the internet browser function.
She knows how I am majorly directionally challenged, as well as how I am without internet at work.
So ... she and my dad have made me the following offer:
1. They'd buy me an iphone
2. They'd pay for any charges over the $50/month ($39.99 + taxes/fees) I currently pay for my plan.
At first I told them I really appreciated the offer, but I'm really okay with my cheapy phone that just makes and takes calls. They kept pushing for me to think it about it more.
I *am* really, really interested in the GPS turn by turn directions capability, because I do have a great tendency to get royally lost quite easily.
Also, the internet capability at work - even if it was just enough to be able to find the articles I have to read for my classes, would be a huge time saver.
Looking at At&T's site, it looks like these are the basic costs (above the voice plan):
$30/mo - data plan
$10/mo - GPS service
$5/mo - 200 text/picture messages
With a bit of trepidation, I mentioned this to my mom. She thinks I should take advantage of their offer.
Oh, I don't think I've mentioned this before, but they also have offered to pay up to $300/mo towards a new to me car payment. (Which so far I have politely declined.)
I guess I'm feeling really torn about this - making roughly $850/month, and then going around carrying a phone that costs %12+ of monthly gross income?
Am I looking a gift horse in the mouth? Being ungrateful?
It would be really hard to give up the iphone once I got used to it -- I know how much I love technology and gadgets. And I do think it would be a really beneficial tool for me. I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around a $200+ phone with a $100/mo price tag.
If you were single, looking at two years of school, probably continuing to make under $900/mo for those two years, and had an offer like this, what would you do? Oh yeah, also think of this as though you are someone who has gotten majorly lost, more than once, coming home from the mom's house - a route you've done a million times. 
ETA - Oh yeah. I'm also really interested in some of the apps you can use with it -- like the Kindle app -- and it looks like there is an app that you can use to track your distance walked/ran ...
Received an offer I'm not sure I want to resist
August 29th, 2009 at 05:56 pm
August 29th, 2009 at 06:05 pm 1251569120
My dh's family is very generous. I personally do not expect financial help from them, but I would never say no. In fact, it really upsets them when we say no.
No matter what your situation, just take it.
If you want to be wise about it, put the amount they are giving for you into a savings account (when you can afford to anyway). With an end goal of not relying on help in the future (ideally).
That's my opinion!
August 29th, 2009 at 06:30 pm 1251570627
August 29th, 2009 at 06:37 pm 1251571051
Maybe someday I'll be in a financial place where I can do stuff like this for someone. Kind of pay it forward, right?
Once I move to my new place, I'll actually be able to put money in savings again (only to spend it on tuition ... but at least it goes in savings for a bit, right?)
August 29th, 2009 at 06:43 pm 1251571390
August 29th, 2009 at 06:46 pm 1251571590
August 29th, 2009 at 08:43 pm 1251578630
I think I'm going to stop at an Apple store on Monday and see if I can play with one. Then I more than likely will be calling my dad and saying, "Yes, pretty please!"
August 29th, 2009 at 10:54 pm 1251586458
Skip the phone and take them up on the car. A car is needed to continue your school plans and employment; you already have a cell phone. My reasons are below on the telephone.
I have a coworker who was loaned a iphone to check out while he decided if he wanted it as his permanent phone. He broke it within the first five days and had to pay for it then still buy a phone.
Why dont you get a Tom Tom or GPS? I think the GPS for traveling reasons would be more cost effective as you would not have to pay 10/mth for a gps plan.
I would love internet on my telephone but an extra $30 each month is more than I can afford for something that truthfully I dont need.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:21 pm 1251588115
Right now I'm trying to avoid the whole car buying thing and keeping my sweet little Honda - even tho Murphy seems to have taken a liking to it lately.
August 30th, 2009 at 04:52 am 1251607961
with couponaddict about turning down the phone. You could ask your grandparents to get you a gps instead. I've seen some really nice ones that are less than $200. And then they wouldn't be paying a charge on it every month.
My disclaimer is that I myself hate phones so the i-phone doesn't excite me that much. But honestly I think you'd be better off with the regular gps.
August 30th, 2009 at 05:01 am 1251608514
No worries about going against the majority.
August 30th, 2009 at 05:16 am 1251609372
August 30th, 2009 at 05:51 am 1251611481
August 30th, 2009 at 12:32 pm 1251635557
Thanks Jewel, I don't actually have Sprint. My mom, brother and I all have AT&T. My dad, grandma, two uncles and aunt all have Sprint. I've pretty much been with SBC or AT&T since 2000 when I got my first cell phone. That's good to know about the blackberry though.
August 30th, 2009 at 06:35 pm 1251657344
The iPhone is great! I love the map feature. You can search for "fabric store" and it will find the nearest fabric store and locate it on the map. Although for you, you could search for "car repairs" and it will find the nearest one!
Take it!
August 30th, 2009 at 06:52 pm 1251658340
If I do get one, I plan on getting a case for it, and probably a screen protector as well.