Comments on: Frugality, Usability, and Phone Shopping

By: Helena

Helena — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:47:31 +0000

I have no opinion on the phone thing, but I can’t be the only one who really wants you to put up a picture the disappearing-can-of-soda thing.

By: David/moneycrashers

David/moneycrashers — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:53:21 +0000

I am about to look into getting a Trac phone, which I think you can purchase for about $20 from Walmart and depending on your usage, can get by on about $7 per month.

If you don’t make alot of calls, its better than paying $40 or so per month for a traditional plan

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:18:19 +0000

Why not get a Peek (www.getpeek.com)? $50 for the device, no contract and $15/month for unlimited email/text. I use a Peek + a really low-cost Nokia on pay as you go (since I am using less and less voice these days).

By: J.O.

J.O. — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 21:58:24 +0000

In agreement with lurker carl – use the eraser of an ordinary pencil. Cut the bottom half off the pencil if you want it to fit in your pocket more easily.

By: Briana

Briana — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:58:55 +0000

Ugh, cell phone buttons. My first phone was my favorite (2002?) and it had rubber buttons, numbers only, similar to a regular cordless phone. All upgrades between my first phone and my current iPhone, a basic Motorola and a Palm with a full keyboard, were terrible. My fingers are not fat, but my nails are longer and it made it impossible to press the little smooth plastic buttons.

I paid extra for the Palm (employer covered up to a certain amount) and I regretted it.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:09:17 +0000

The data plans scare me since they are so much more expensive than the plan we have now. That said, we will be in the market in the next 6 months since I need a way to check my blog’s email from anywhere and Mr. BFS has wanted one for more than 2 years. I’ll be looking for ones that are known to last for years…like 3-5 at least because I hate buying new technology every year or two…

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:36:31 +0000

Please beware of using your *social network as a shopping buddy* as far as luring you into purchasing something you don’t need. I was not in the market for a mop, but a friend highly recommeded the steamer mop as a wonderful thing. I was ready to run out to the store and purchse one immediately based on her recommendation. Luckily, I asked another friend their opinion and they didn’t feel so strongly – she had one I could borrow to try it myself. I did just that and also gave it thumbs down which saved me from making a bad purchase.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:17:14 +0000

An over-the-top phone that you’ll keep for 2 years????

Man, you people just don’t get it. You have so been sucked into I need it because the marketing people say it’s cool. You don’t use half the features on it, and you pay for a data plan you really don’t need. Unless you’re a trader or need to check your website when you’re on the road like Trent, do you really need to check what Paris Hilton is doing on a 2 inch screen?

Stop living through other peoples eyes!

By: Leah

Leah — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:14:57 +0000

I agree! I try to play with everything before I buy (or, at the least, a closely comparable model). Just bought a point & shoot for my boyfriend, and I went to several different camera stores to try out options before we bought. My current phone was bought sight-unseen, but I had owned other models that were super similar and wasn’t worried — turns out I’ve kept the phone for four years now!

In terms of just buying online, Kate, I try to find forums of people who might be interested in what I’m buying. Or specific websites that review that stuff. I’m not sure about cell phones, but there’s lots of good review sites for cameras.

By: anita hampl

anita hampl — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:03:09 +0000

Last month I bought a new refrigerator online. Spent all Sunday afternoon and night reading reviews, including CR. Thought I had a great price on the HHGregg site and free removal and delivery.
While in a client meeting that Tuesday I received 3 texts from DH and sons complaining that it was delivered and there was no icemaker! (That explains the great price LOL).
You can bet that I when I shop for ICE TRAYS I will look for “thorough” reviews!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:57:10 +0000

When you say expensive, I assume that you mean the upfront cost of purchasing the phone.

I am curious, how much did you buy it for and how much is the data plan you purchased? (I purchased my Droid from CostCo for $99.) Is $30 for unlimited data significantly different than what you currently have?

How much do you value your lost utility of not using it and trying to research a new phone?

I think you would thoroughly enjoy an Android phone (even a low end one), with its many free and effective applications. Please consider it in your search.

~Dan

By: endlessblink

endlessblink — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:54:06 +0000

A great post about a very important subject. For me buying expensive electronic devices always comes with a great uncertainty and edginess. You never know if after all you read and learn about a specific product will fit your needs and won’t turn into a mass in the near future. Having a huge variety to choose from is great. But the price for having that variety is that you never know how good a product really is and how long it will last.

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:28:18 +0000

Does anyone have any tips for looking for online reviews? We live in a rural area so I do a lot of purchasing, sight unseen, over the internet. I look for reviews on almost everything that I purchase and feel like I have gotten pretty good at filtering reviews. But sometimes it is difficult to find them.

By: cathleen

cathleen — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:54:54 +0000

iPhones are $99
Is that an ” over-the-top overly expensive phone”?

Wow, I remember the first “portable phone” I purchased (for a boss) and it was Motorola Brick for $1000! :) And the bill was $1000 a month, for real.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:26:01 +0000

My wife and I got two Droids thru Wirefly for a total of $20. We had dropped the landline long ago in favor of the cellphones and Skype (which was cheaper in total), and now we’ve dropped the cable internet for the phone data plans (same cost).
I too have huge hands but I rarely sit down to the computer anymore and I sometimes wonder how I got along without this phone. : )

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:49:13 +0000

There is a technique for typing on the Blackberry you need to only use the tips of your thumbs with the nail perpendicular the key board, You can not use the pads. I have short stubby fingers and it was very hard for me to get use to it. That said I got a new Samsung Captivate Android phone from my company today and it blows away the Blackberry.

By: J

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:39:29 +0000

I got 2 Droids for ~$140 from Verizon Online. Not too bad.

By: SAFTM

SAFTM — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:37:03 +0000

If you can fit a smart phone and its plan in your budget, I think they’re great. I got lucky because I got the iPhone 3G from my work for free (so the decision was easy) and my data plan was also partially covered. I also managed to save some money using price compare apps (I stopped counting at $50, but it’s probably over $100 (like shopsavvy – we have a son and used it to save forty dollars on a carseat alone).

But I splurged and got an iPhone4 when it came out (my company still pays for some of my plan). I’m happy. I budgeted for it. It is my one real luxury item – my “latte factor” (I drink only company coffee and spend less than $25 per week on breakfast, lunch and snacks – not bad for me – I really kicked out a lot of the fluff). I guess I skimp in other places enough to make out for the splurge.

By: Joe L.

Joe L. — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:45:06 +0000

FYI – the topic of costs related to modern technology, et al. was brought up at Get Rich Slowly today:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/04/the-high-cost-of-modern-living/

By: kate

kate — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:59:07 +0000

to each his (or her) own. I got my cell phone and my husband’s cell phone for free when I signed a 2 year contract. We have unlimited nation-wide and plenty of texts for $32 a piece. I might never get a smart phone. For me, I already have the smart(er) phone.