Cell Phones, convincing parents? Options

[asphyxiated_cata...]

I am trying to get my parents to let me have a cell phone, but they say I can't have one until I am 16 (I am almost 15) and can drive. I get really mad because when ever I approach them about it in a nice, professional way they are just like "you don't need one" and the argument is over. I am always using my friend's phone to call people because I DON'T HAVE ONE. And I tried explaining to my parents that my friends were getting mad at me because I was using their minutes and they just told me to give them a dollar for every call. So anyway here is my question: Do you guys have any ideas for ways I can convince my parents to let me get a cell phone, or reasons that I need one?

[*This Confession*]

Well i've had a cell phone since the 6th grade? O_o
Little odd,

Anyway I would bring up senarios.

What happens if your driving and you car breaks down somewhere? Like in the middle of no where do they expect you to just start walking and perhaps get picked up by some stranger?

Emergencies happen that could be a good reason to have a cell phone, thats why I had one in the first place.

[asphyxiated_cata...]

yeah I've tried the emergency senerio, and my dad said, "now how many emergencies are going to happen each year? One or less. Use your friend's cell phone." I was like aaaaaah. anymore ideas? anyone?

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

I've had a phone ever since 6th grade too. But that was 'cause I had to go to Flushing every Saturday for Hunter prep classes..
I still have a phone now 'cause I go into the city every other Saturday and M-F (in July only) in the summer by train.

You could join something like I did so that you have to travel far.

[deactivated]

lol, had one when i was in 2nd grade, but took it away.
but got it back in 6th, too.
i said that uh..
there were highschool bullies that go to our school and bully us and can us and stuff.
it worked for me. x]

[Serendipity]

try reading this; it might give you some ideas (;
good luck!

[RxCore]

i had a phone since 6th grade because i never knew how i was getting home afterschool. both my parents worked so i either got a ride, walked or waited an hour for my mom to get home. my parents wanted to keep tabs on me and how id get home. now i need it for cheer practice since sometimes we end early or late.

maybe you can think of a similar situation that you can use.

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

try reading this; it might give you some ideas (;
good luck!

That one's pretty good, but it says,

If you're not in Middle School or Junior High, DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!! You will have absolutely no ground to stand on, and besides, you have no reason to get a cell phone.

[*mipadi*]

To be honest, I'm skeptical that kids in middle school, or even high school, really need a cell phone. They may want one, but wants and needs are different. I never had one in middle school or high school. I always arranged transportation ahead of time, let me parents know when I was coming home, and gave them the home phone numbers of my friends.

In fact, I didn't actually get a cell phone until college—and that was when I paid for it myself. Maybe that's the key: Cell phones are expensive, and it can be hard to justify the cost for someone who still lives at home and has use of their parents' landlines. Maybe if you try to collect some money and offer to pay for part (or even better, all) of it yourself, your parents will be more accepting to the idea.

Do your parents have cell phones? Because if they do—and they have a family plan—another line is only about $10 a month, which should be pretty affordable if you have a job, babysit, mow lawns, housesit, or something of that nature.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

I've had a cell phone since I was young. Simply because I'm a farm kid. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't want me to walk miles home after working. It comes in handy. Plus my mom has three cell phones, why? I don't know. She has a weird obsession with texting me and my brother (well when he was here)

They could always get you one of those dorky kid cell phones where you can only call mom, dad, and 911. Like the Firefly

[Animeloverhk93]

This is how i convinced my parents:
"MOMMMMM, DADDDD its about time that i have a cell phone"
"no"
"BUT MOMMMMM"
"NOOO"
"Hey, if i got raped while walking home, i'm gonnna blame you guys. thats why i need a cell phone"
"okay fine"

ahha no it wasn't that easy as i say it is but it was worth it. Just bring up things that are life threating that a cell phone comes in handy. And then talk about the prices. Try finding somthing cheaper.. thats what i'm doing. Well i hope you get a cell phone soon!

[pinayprincess]

lmao thats cool.. i should do that w/ my friends- a dollar per call lol.. but anyways yeah why not have one? i mean for emergencys too you know.... its not only for friends, but for family i mean if you need one to call friends theres always a HOME phone


[ wow i sounded like my mom!]

[BeautyInATragedy]

Wow I had a cell phone since I was in 5th grade. xD Well, I think you should sit down and talk to your parents about it. Tell them that you will make sure the bill won't be high, and that you'll partially pay for it? That might work.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

Yeah, there's so many different types of cell phone plans now. You could get one of them pay as you go, or prepaid, or even a family plan. So if they don't have cell phones you all could get a family plan then your phone's are free and you all share your minutes. That's what my mom got. So my mom, dad, brother, and I got our phones for free and my brother would alway steal our minutes, lol. Then if you have rollover minutes anyone can use them.

[julianamon]

Well first of all, why do you <b>need</b> a cellphone? You could always just go home and use your home phone.

But you could also try telling your parents that you live pretty far from your home, and if you ever get into trouble, you want to be ready.

[vn_cuti3]

haha kinda funny how i got my cell phone. i had the same problem as yours and they wouldn't let me get a cell phone no matter how hard i tried to convince them. so then one day i just play a little game with them. i went out with my friends without telling them when i'll be back or where i was going. so they waited until like really late at night and they were really worry. and when i got home they were like all up in my face asking questions i just simply tell them that's the reason why i need a cell phone to contact you guys. and then the next week i got my own cell phone. well i dunno if it would work with your parents but it worked with mine


p.s. i wasn't far away from home that night i was right next door with my best friend

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

Well first of all, why do you <b>need</b> a cellphone? You could always just go home and use your home phone.

Haha, there's a whole debate about that here..

[HakunaMatata]

Explain that you need it for emergencies and now that you're becoming more and more involved in school, it's just the most convenient way of communication. While it's always nice to have transportation set and prepared , use examples about the many times that you needed to call them or someone just to get home. Also, if they just want you to give them a dollar, then just say that you don't want to be a burden. And to top it all of, I'd get a pay-as-you-go phone to start off, so you gain some credibility and guarentee your parents that you won't use too many minutes.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

^yeah, i say for emergencies.

[shinysparkle3]

tell them it would make you feel safer when you go out with your freinds and stuff because you would be able to reach them instantly and that you could always call for help.

[DarkImpressions]

Well yea Im in the same situatuion im 14 going on 15 and my mom wont get me one becuase she says i dont need one even though i do i sorta get tired of askinf poeple to hold their phone i shouldnt have to because its there phone but anyways she talking bout i cant get one till im 16,that is so gay by that time i can get me own because more than likely i will have a job

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

Explain that you need it for emergencies and now that you're becoming more and more involved in school, it's just the most convenient way of communication. While it's always nice to have transportation set and prepared , use examples about the many times that you needed to call them or someone just to get home. Also, if they just want you to give them a dollar, then just say that you don't want to be a burden. And to top it all of, I'd get a pay-as-you-go phone to start off, so you gain some credibility and guarentee your parents that you won't use too many minutes.

That's a good idea!

Am I the only one that didn't want a cellphone in the first place? My parents just gave me one because I have to travel far.. I never asked for one.

[asphyxiated_cata...]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I think I have convinced my dad to let me get one if I pay for the phone AND the pay-as-you-go thingy, but today i was driving we were going to eat and i had a friend in the car and i was using my mom's cell phone my friend was like, "Oh did you get a phone?" and my mom was like (EXTREMELY LOUDLY) "HAHA NO, SHE ISN'T GETTING A PHONE." I was just like darn. And my friend rolled her eyes. So Maybe my dad will let me secretly get one and we wont tell my mom until after I get it. lol.

[scottypottyboi]

lucky you id rather drive then have a cell anyday

[shortiiex]

how about get a family plan...that way you can keep in contact with them w/o paying

or get a pre-paid plan so, they don't have to worry about you overusing your minutes

[*x1227x*]

i have a cellphone for incase a emergency happens since i walk home alone, and my neighborhood is pretty dangerous. and my mom actually just offered it to me. so i guess i didnt really need to beg but if i did beg i would just say i need to walk home alone since i dont have any simblings (sp?) that go to school with me :S.

like what shortiiex said, you should get a family plan because you will be able to contact them without paying. :P

[Trinie]

for emergencies!! yup yup

[carina]

i honestly don't think if your in middle school you shouldnt have one but if your in high school you should especially in the city i still couldnt convince my parents freshman year though so i just paid for a pre paid phone with my allowace it really sucked cuz i had virgin m,obile dont get it it sucks now i have a job and i pay my own phone bills 2 phones actually my sidekick for free text and the chocalate for mp3s and calling

[docsgirl]

I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16. I don’t see why you would really need a cell phone unless you need it to keep in contact with your parents while you away from home. But if you want it to keep in contact with your friends you have a house phone that you can use. Cell phones are privileges not something you must have. Personally i think its horrible small children(around the age of 10) are getting cell phones, unless it is extremely needed cell phones should be given out when the child is going out more (driving) or show the maturity for one.

And don’t trick your parents into getting you one, that’s kinda scary. They need to trust you. They aren’t keeping you from having a cell phone because they want your life to be miserable- they will give you one when they feel you are ready. Just be grateful when they do finally give you one.

[pandamonium]

I didn't get a cell phone until I was 16. I don’t see why you would really need a cell phone unless you need it to keep in contact with your parents while you away from home. But if you want it to keep in contact with your friends you have a house phone that you can use. Cell phones are privileges not something you must have. Personally i think its horrible small children(around the age of 10) are getting cell phones, unless it is extremely needed cell phones should be given out when the child is going out more (driving) or show the maturity for one.

And don’t trick your parents into getting you one, that’s kinda scary. They need to trust you. They aren’t keeping you from having a cell phone because they want your life to be miserable- they will give you one when they feel you are ready. Just be grateful when they do finally give you one.

Sorry but i think your wrong, i got my first cell phone when i was 13 and it was a necessity especially around this age, i think at this generation everybody should have a cell phone at 13 so that your parent can keep track of you.

But i dunno your situation cause maybe your parents can't afford one at the moment, if they cant they can always buy you the prepaid ones, they are good cause they are cheap and you can put it money anytime. You should get the pantech from cingular its really really small and its only 40 bucks i think. But think about way which you can show your parents it doesnt always have to be expensive. prepaid is the way to go, lots of my classmates in my senior class had prepaid phones cause they simple dont need phones, they just do it to let their parents know where they are. The most that they spend is 20 bucks a month. Maybe you should print out a webpage from a mobile prepaid plan and just say hey mom dad take 5 minutes read this. Be nice about it, i am sure they will consider giving you one. Or you can always save up for one.

Here is a picture of the Pantech C300



I looked it up on Cingular and its $99 for a prepaid plan, you can maybe save up for a phone and then buy it yourself, you wont even need your parents to help you with anything, well maybe just the money. but there are so many solutions. If you go to walmart they will for sure have a selection of really good prepaid phones. But prepaid is the way to go in your situation.

[docsgirl]

Sorry but i think your wrong, i got my first cell phone when i was 13 and it was a necessity especially around this age, i think at this generation everybody should have a cell phone at 13 so that your parent can keep track of you.

Well as i said it depends on the situation.

But for the most part 13 year olds aren't going off on their own all to often.

Personally I did just fine at 13 and keeping track with my parents- aparently things have changed. For the most part me and my parents would talk about where i was gonna be and who i was with and how and when i would get home...i thought this was enough. But cell phones have been drilled into our brains that they are a must. Granted my cell phone is my life now because i live on my own and no longer have a house phone.

I know what it is like to be in high school and wanting a cell phone because all the cool kids have cell phones. lol. I know this generation is different, but not that different.

[*Uronacid*]

Why don't you just get a job and buy one yourself... stop beggin your parents for shit