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Easy, almost anyone can afford 36 $50 payments. Most fast food employees can afford that. On the other hand, I think as a country, an astonishing amount of peo

by anm89 4y ago

Easy, almost anyone can afford 36 $50 payments. Most fast food employees can afford that. On the other hand, I think as a country, an astonishing amount of people would be in a very bad spots if we head into an economic downturn.

chii 4y ago
> almost anyone can afford 36 $50 payments. Most fast food employees can afford that. except if those fast food employees ceases to be employees in a downturn. The problem is that taking on debt for consumable products is not a good financial decision. You don't need an iphone - you can live with a low-end android that could be had for less than $200.
- seanmcdirmid 4y ago
  Fast food usually picks up in downturns. It’s the fancier restaurants that lose business.
  - simplotek 4y ago
    I don't think it's right to assume that fast food jobs are a hallmark of job security.
    - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
      The quote I was replying to was literally > except if those fast food employees ceases to be employees in a downturn Which just doesn’t happen in practice. I didn’t make any other claims in my comment.
  - LegitShady 4y ago
    the workers dont benefit from fast food picking up, just the owners, so fast food employees aren't buying iphones on the bet that its a fast food pick up time.
    - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
      I worked at McDonald’s through one recession (early 90s) and it…gets busy. At least, fast food workers aren’t in danger of getting laid off during a recession (their business counter cycle’s recessions). See https://m.investing.com/analysis/chart-of-the-day-why-mcdonalds-defies-recession-200633500 https://m.investing.com/analysis/chart-of-the-day-why-mcdona...
      - LegitShady 4y ago
        less danger in lay offs doesn't matter with inflation pushing up rents, food costs, transportation costs, etc. The issue isn't the risk of lay offs, its that they already didn't make much money and now everything is more expensive. The $1000-1500 phone goes from 'expensive luxury' to 'a financial threat for little reason' when there are cheaper alternatives.
        seanmcdirmid 4y ago
        That has nothing to do with the recession however: if anything recessions act to decrease inflation or even cause deflation. That’s why it’s counter cycle: being a fast food worker still isn’t great, but recessions lead to some small benefits.
slaw 4y ago
My iPhone 13 was stolen after 11 months of use, so it was $880/11=$80 a month for me. I switched to Android, because Apple got rid of sim cards in newest iPhones.
- dahdum 4y ago
  > I switched to Android, because Apple got rid of sim cards in newest iPhones. I was worried about the lack of sim card on the new iPhone due to travel but looking around I found many online eSIM providers. Easier than finding a local provider and you can get regional/global ones too. May I ask what your use case is? Is it local phone numbers where country regulations prevent eSIM voice? That's the only downside I found but not relevant to my needs.
  - slaw 4y ago
    Local sim cards have very affordable data plans, also local number is often required for local services like PassApp transportation in Cambodia. For 199 baht/6USD I got 20 GB of data in Thailand. With international eSIM you may be behind double NAT and VPN may not work. My company VPN was not accessible. https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Thailand https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Thailand

by anm89 4y ago

chii 4y ago

> almost anyone can afford 36 $50 payments. Most fast food employees can afford that. except if those fast food employees ceases to be employees in a downturn. The problem is that taking on debt for consumable products is not a good financial decision. You don't need an iphone - you can live with a low-end android that could be had for less than $200.

seanmcdirmid 4y ago
Fast food usually picks up in downturns. It’s the fancier restaurants that lose business.
- simplotek 4y ago
  I don't think it's right to assume that fast food jobs are a hallmark of job security.
  - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
    The quote I was replying to was literally > except if those fast food employees ceases to be employees in a downturn Which just doesn’t happen in practice. I didn’t make any other claims in my comment.
- LegitShady 4y ago
  the workers dont benefit from fast food picking up, just the owners, so fast food employees aren't buying iphones on the bet that its a fast food pick up time.
  - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
    I worked at McDonald’s through one recession (early 90s) and it…gets busy. At least, fast food workers aren’t in danger of getting laid off during a recession (their business counter cycle’s recessions). See https://m.investing.com/analysis/chart-of-the-day-why-mcdonalds-defies-recession-200633500 https://m.investing.com/analysis/chart-of-the-day-why-mcdona...
    - LegitShady 4y ago
      less danger in lay offs doesn't matter with inflation pushing up rents, food costs, transportation costs, etc. The issue isn't the risk of lay offs, its that they already didn't make much money and now everything is more expensive. The $1000-1500 phone goes from 'expensive luxury' to 'a financial threat for little reason' when there are cheaper alternatives.
      - seanmcdirmid 4y ago
        That has nothing to do with the recession however: if anything recessions act to decrease inflation or even cause deflation. That’s why it’s counter cycle: being a fast food worker still isn’t great, but recessions lead to some small benefits.

slaw 4y ago

My iPhone 13 was stolen after 11 months of use, so it was $880/11=$80 a month for me. I switched to Android, because Apple got rid of sim cards in newest iPhones.

dahdum 4y ago
> I switched to Android, because Apple got rid of sim cards in newest iPhones. I was worried about the lack of sim card on the new iPhone due to travel but looking around I found many online eSIM providers. Easier than finding a local provider and you can get regional/global ones too. May I ask what your use case is? Is it local phone numbers where country regulations prevent eSIM voice? That's the only downside I found but not relevant to my needs.
- slaw 4y ago
  Local sim cards have very affordable data plans, also local number is often required for local services like PassApp transportation in Cambodia. For 199 baht/6USD I got 20 GB of data in Thailand. With international eSIM you may be behind double NAT and VPN may not work. My company VPN was not accessible. https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Thailand https://prepaid-data-sim-card.fandom.com/wiki/Thailand