I use the AT&T $300 per year upfront prepaid plan with 16 gb per month, and I pay cash for a new non-pro iPhone every five years. So many people seem to actually believe the carrier deals where they get a “free” phone with monthly credits actually benefits them, as though the carriers aren’t in the business of making money. They done realize those monthly credits are the new three year contract.
Don't get me started on Door Dash! Going out to eat is supposed to be a treat that you give yourself on special occasions. There is just something very, very wrong about paying 4x what a home cooked meal would cost PLUS a delivery fee to eat lukewarm food AT HOME.
A big problem is liking food too much, as Scooby has mentioned before. If people just ate what they NEED they wouldn't entertain the thought of a $40 DoorDash order. In other words, just put 2 slices of cheese in your sandwhich, you don't need cancer-causing lunch meat also on it, nor do you need 4 slices, let alone fast food.
I have a feeling that in the next decade a lot more people will revert back to a simpler phone. Something along the lines of the minimal phone, or even just a 5G enabled brick. Having an iPhone is not only a financial trap, but a mental trap too, at least for me and many others who struggle with phone addiction.
Totally true. What is interesting to me is where the blame lies, is it the phone or is it the dataplan. Maybe if people had the cheap phone with the $20/mo 4GB plan from tracfone instead of the unlimited data $90 plan from the big four, they would not access social media from their phone. It would be a huge advancement in our populations health if we deleted all our social media from our phones and only accessed it from our desktop computers.
I’ve done that before. Not get the smaller plan, but deleted & screen time locked all social media apps & the App Store on my phone so I couldn’t use it. I ended up being more productive during working hours, but as soon as I was home I was straight onto the computer watching YouTube & scrolling instagram.
Unfortunately for me I think the only legitimate option I have is to get rid of all wifi enabled devices and set up strict protocols on my computer where it can only be used productively, and to have parental controls enabled to completely block any and all socials.
I see a world where people go back to having computer rooms in their house, with only cabled internet access. That way you need to make the conscious decision that you’re using the computer for something important.
I’ve had a similar thought with the Graphene loaded Pixel, however I just can not justify the price.
The issue with not having a phone capable of doing banking, maps, QR codes (restaurants and such), and basic web searching is I think coming to an end. Minimal phone look like they’ve solved the issue EXCEPT for the social media temptation. Their website only has “limit social media” not stop it entirely.
If you really want flagship performance and don't mind android, Chinese phones are really good value. If you can get global variant of Xiaomi, Oppo, etc. I just buy Chinese phone and try to make it last as long as possible.
One of my biggest frustrations is that life skills are not taught in K-12. How to use a crockpot to make a quick healthy and cheap meal. How to choose and use a credit card. How to make a spreadsheet to make financial decisions like chosing a car or deciding if renting your whole life long is better than making the sacrifices to buy a small condo.
I use the AT&T $300 per year upfront prepaid plan with 16 gb per month, and I pay cash for a new non-pro iPhone every five years. So many people seem to actually believe the carrier deals where they get a “free” phone with monthly credits actually benefits them, as though the carriers aren’t in the business of making money. They done realize those monthly credits are the new three year contract.
LOL! Very true. "Free phone" never, ever is.
Its actual imprisonment. Consumerism robs your freedom. Debt makes you a slave.
Well said! I also noticed you can buy the phone with Klarna which is even worse.
Don't get me started on Door Dash! Going out to eat is supposed to be a treat that you give yourself on special occasions. There is just something very, very wrong about paying 4x what a home cooked meal would cost PLUS a delivery fee to eat lukewarm food AT HOME.
A big problem is liking food too much, as Scooby has mentioned before. If people just ate what they NEED they wouldn't entertain the thought of a $40 DoorDash order. In other words, just put 2 slices of cheese in your sandwhich, you don't need cancer-causing lunch meat also on it, nor do you need 4 slices, let alone fast food.
The phone costs... $3199!? Whoa. 😲
Yes, if you get the 2TB!
The starting storage (256 gb) model is $2000, but that’s still a lot.
Right but few will get the 256GB option because a single vacation can suck up all that memory with your trip videos.
I have a feeling that in the next decade a lot more people will revert back to a simpler phone. Something along the lines of the minimal phone, or even just a 5G enabled brick. Having an iPhone is not only a financial trap, but a mental trap too, at least for me and many others who struggle with phone addiction.
Totally true. What is interesting to me is where the blame lies, is it the phone or is it the dataplan. Maybe if people had the cheap phone with the $20/mo 4GB plan from tracfone instead of the unlimited data $90 plan from the big four, they would not access social media from their phone. It would be a huge advancement in our populations health if we deleted all our social media from our phones and only accessed it from our desktop computers.
I’ve done that before. Not get the smaller plan, but deleted & screen time locked all social media apps & the App Store on my phone so I couldn’t use it. I ended up being more productive during working hours, but as soon as I was home I was straight onto the computer watching YouTube & scrolling instagram.
Unfortunately for me I think the only legitimate option I have is to get rid of all wifi enabled devices and set up strict protocols on my computer where it can only be used productively, and to have parental controls enabled to completely block any and all socials.
I see a world where people go back to having computer rooms in their house, with only cabled internet access. That way you need to make the conscious decision that you’re using the computer for something important.
That is an interesting concept. Start a social media trend of using phones that can call and text - thats it. No screens, no apps. Back to basics
I’ve had a similar thought with the Graphene loaded Pixel, however I just can not justify the price.
The issue with not having a phone capable of doing banking, maps, QR codes (restaurants and such), and basic web searching is I think coming to an end. Minimal phone look like they’ve solved the issue EXCEPT for the social media temptation. Their website only has “limit social media” not stop it entirely.
If you really want flagship performance and don't mind android, Chinese phones are really good value. If you can get global variant of Xiaomi, Oppo, etc. I just buy Chinese phone and try to make it last as long as possible.
One of my biggest frustrations is that life skills are not taught in K-12. How to use a crockpot to make a quick healthy and cheap meal. How to choose and use a credit card. How to make a spreadsheet to make financial decisions like chosing a car or deciding if renting your whole life long is better than making the sacrifices to buy a small condo.