Financial Pull-Ups: Do you need that iPhone 4S?
Everyone is excited because of the iPhone 4S release, and rightfully so. Its a pretty nice peice of technology, and as always Apple’s products look great. Steve Jobs would be proud. But times are rough, and a lot of people simply cannot afford the phone. But in a few days, I’ll see a bunch of them holding it.
I am not criticizing where people spend their money, that’s not my place. I am not you, and I can’t judge how you spend it because we have differing priorities. I have a year old android phone that I am due a replacement for, but I honestly don’t think its worthwhile to upgrade. The phone still works. There is a great modding scene out there for it, and they’re squeezing every last drop out of what it can do. I’ll probably use it for at least another year.
Likewise, Jen has used the same phone almost as long as we’ve been together. It simply works, and it isn’t busted yet. Any added utility simply isn’t worth the price of a new contract and a big bill.
Before you rush out to spend 6 hours outside standing in line for a phone you’ll pay $400 for, just ask yourself what the added value is over your current phone. Is that added value worth the price you’re paying? In one month, will you still be just as excited to own it? Will you still be posting pictures on facebook to show the world you have one?
Or are you just letting your emotions and the marketing control your spending. Or even worse, are you letting your emotions and the marketing drive you into debt by using a credit card for something you can’t really afford?
Try to think about it for all of your decisions – it only takes a moment. Think before you buy, always.
posted by Kissa on October 14, 2011
Here here! Todd and I each just got an iPhone 4. Since the 4s is coming out, the 4 is now $99 – much more affordable! We previously each had the 3 (not the 3gs, the one before that). You can’t even buy cases for those any more, they’re so old (mine was 3 years, his was 2.5). I think when we recycled them they probably went straight to a museum! Anyhoo, since we’d had them for so long they were starting to lose functionality, and it made the 4 a huge improvement. We decided we didn’t need the newest thing, since an older, cheaper thing is still a huge improvement over what we had! And, the iOS5 is a free software upgrade so…. score!
posted by Matty on October 14, 2011
This whole post was based on two people talking on the R5 (the train into Philadelphia) this morning, who had been out at the Apple store waiting to get theirs. They were swooning over their new phones, and how they had to pay full price because they were still mid-contract. And then, about a half hour later, they were muttering about how hard it was to make ends meet. There’s something wrong with those priorities.