4 ms·

I think you're missing a big one that applies to most people I know: - Locked into two year contracts where a phone upgrade is "free" every two years, but they

I think you're missing a big one that applies to most people I know: - Locked into two year contracts where a phone upgrade is "free" every two years, but they are spending $100+ per month for that "free" phone As a Canadian, I have a $50 plan with 12 gb of data (pretty good deal for here). If I wanted to get a new iPhone 13, I'd have to spend $300 up front (would be offset if i had an old device to trade in), plus an additional $33/month for two years, plus choose a plan that was at least $60 base. So I'd get a "free" phone every two years (as long as I had an old device to trade in every two years, and paid twice as much per month). I won't do these things, so I have just replaced my $300 all-in phone from 4 years ago with a $400 all-in phone.

eyelidlessness 4y ago
That definitely feels like it falls under the spending too much category, but I’ve only once financed a phone (should be mine pretty soon I think!) and hope I never need to again.
- SECProto 4y ago
  That's fair, I just find that the number of people who fall into that specific source of "spending too much" makes it important to specify. Most providers bury the actual phone cost somehow, and only focus on the monthly total - normalizing people spending $100/month on cell services
closetohome 4y ago
Your description of that deal doesn't really add up. If you're putting down $300 and paying $33/month, that's just buying a phone.
- SECProto 4y ago
  Yes, but if you have a two year old iPhone then they give you a $300 credit for trading it in. And you're already paying $95 a month (to cover your two year old phone), so the monthly cost ends up being the same. And the only alternative the salespersons will mention is buying the iPhone outright for $1200. So people think they are getting a deal (when they're actually just financing a phone over two years with an overpriced plan)

eyelidlessness 4y ago

That definitely feels like it falls under the spending too much category, but I’ve only once financed a phone (should be mine pretty soon I think!) and hope I never need to again.

SECProto 4y ago
That's fair, I just find that the number of people who fall into that specific source of "spending too much" makes it important to specify. Most providers bury the actual phone cost somehow, and only focus on the monthly total - normalizing people spending $100/month on cell services

closetohome 4y ago

Your description of that deal doesn't really add up. If you're putting down $300 and paying $33/month, that's just buying a phone.

SECProto 4y ago
Yes, but if you have a two year old iPhone then they give you a $300 credit for trading it in. And you're already paying $95 a month (to cover your two year old phone), so the monthly cost ends up being the same. And the only alternative the salespersons will mention is buying the iPhone outright for $1200. So people think they are getting a deal (when they're actually just financing a phone over two years with an overpriced plan)