My husband wants an iPhone.

[Nishu]

Yuk!

He just emailed me and said he wants an iPhone 4 with verizon coverage. He could have told me that he wanted an open relationship and it probably would have gone down smoother.

My husband has been so outrageously busy the last 3 years on sea duty and with deployments that not only has the money managing fallen on my shoulders, but the money spending as well. The guy just doesn't have time to be a spendthrift. So when he comes home from deployment we'll be getting ready to move right away and he'll be somewhere he can actually take a phone and his hours will be easy breezy in comparison. So he wants an iphone. He doesn't even know how to text!

This is going to sound stupid, but I'm afraid we're going to have issues when he gets home just because he'll suddenly be able to spend money again. He's not one to go around blowing money, but just the fact that he's going to getting to my account for his personal spending is going to mess up my whole system. He's agreed with me. We're going to have to work something out.

I think I might have to set him up a dependent allotment so that he won't be getting all up in my system.

[stinkbug]

Not to make light of your situation...but this is a joke between dh and me. :-)
Whenever people are whining about *wanting* stuff.....we look at each other and whine....*But, I want an iphone!* :-)
We have cheapo bottom of the line cell pnones with no extras. We don't text.
We also have no debt ('cept the mortgage for 7 more years) ....

It's our little joke about the "Wants".

[craftypam]

I'm with you stinkbug. We have low plan cell phones, no mortgage, but we do have a h/e.
The problem with the phones with all that stuff comes a large monthly bill and if they "give" you the phone to sign up for the plan you cannot change the plan back to the cheaper one.

[Nishu]

Not to make light of your situation...but this is a joke between dh and me. :-)
Whenever people are whining about *wanting* stuff.....we look at each other and whine....*But, I want an iphone!* :-)
We have cheapo bottom of the line cell pnones with no extras. We don't text.
We also have no debt ('cept the mortgage for 7 more years) ....

It's our little joke about the "Wants".

I have ever intention of making light of this situation. I'm not sure how else to handle it.

I really think he'll change his mind, but if he doesn't I'll just have to get over it. We're not quite debt free yet but we will be by the end of the year, with or without an iphone. He's also agreed to consider an apartment when we move if we find a decent one, which was my idea because I don't want to mow and we'd pocket several hundred a month of our housing allowance.

So, I dunno, I definitely have no intention of putting up a fight but I will pout over it. I really just do not understand why he wants one. He doesn't even talk on the phone all that much.

[ravenmaniac]

I want an iphone tooooooo. Seriously, I do.

But not to make light of your situation. I wish I had some good advice for you. It has taken years for my husband to finally stop spending money and get with the budget.

I wish you the best.

[OOwl]

Ahem, I have an iPhone, and I use every single feature on it, and I had it the entire time I was getting out of debt (never even considered whether it fit the DR plan or not, but I'm guessing it probably didn't help). It serves as my computer away from home (and mostly WHEN I'm home), my address book, date planner, menu maker, GPS, camera, radio, iPod, and phone. The data plan isn't THAT expensive. I do not, however, have premium cable or Redbox or Netflicks or any of the many other entertainment options I see on even those most basic budget, so, I guess it all depends on your perspective, as in all things.

[flashyMcGee]

I don't have an iPhone but I couldn't survive without my smartphone. I use it for so many things: e-coupons, GPS, daily planner etc. I get a discount through my work and went with the highest data package.

[Ashley01]

Absolutley love my iphone4! Worth every penny in my opinion!

[madhen]

I got my iPhone about a year after they came out on the market, and my only regret is that I waited so long. I use mine as PDA, MP3 player, PlayStation, library, Internet browser, GPS, calculator, flashlight (yes, there's an app for that!) and sometimes even as a phone.

I also have a Blackberry, issued by my work, and I hate it. And going back and forth between the two is like trying to drive two different cars - it always takes a minute to readjust. I can always spot a fellow iPhoner using a Blackberry, however, because we keep trying to move the screen with our fingers instead of using the trackball.

[Telephus44]

My DH wanted an iPhone, but the plans were way too expensive for me. Ironically, he ended up getting an iPad a few months later, and that is WAY better. Data plan is only $25 a month (no extra taxes, either!) and he can still surf the web, text, pull up maps on GPS, and yes, entertain DS with Angry Birds. It's more money up front, but the recurring costs are a lot cheaper. Would that fit better into your budget?

[Nishu]

It actually might, Telephus. Thanks for the idea. Can you explain the ipad to me? You can just browse the internet all you want for 25 bucks a month?

[frugalwarrior2]

My DH gets his phone paid by his job and $40. spending money.
no toys. I just let the kids get texting-no internet access.

[Droppedonmyhead]

I never had an IPhone, but did have a smartphone. At the time I worked and would be tied up for hours working overtime. I considered it money well spent even though it was $150 a month. It was my only way to communicate with the outside world. (Couldn't even talk on a phone). But now that I'm retired, I went to Straight Talk. $45 a month for Ultd talk, text & internet. Suits my new lifestyle just right!!

[mndtrp]

I haven't had a cell phone in years, but still feel the allure of the iphone. For quite a while, I was determined to get an ipod touch instead. When I finally had the money for it, I purchased it, and then returned it the next day. While it as incredibly cool, I realized I wasn't going to use most of the features very often, and I was having a hard time figuring out what music to store on it.

Anyway, if he gets an allotted amount of spending money a month, he can save up for the iphone. As someone else said, though, recurring costs are pretty high. If all he wants is the toy aspect, an ipod touch is the same thing, minus the cell part.

[Libby]

Since you both agree on needing to work out a system to manage the finances - blow money vs household money - maybe start a lil 'pot' for his blow money? (I hate to say it - give him an allowance?) Maybe make an agreement to wait til you've moved and gotten settled - and have saved up for the phone - before going and getting it? You did say he doesn't use the phone often. This way its a bit of a win-win situation.

Not sure how much the phone nor plans are down in the US but DF bought me the iphone 4 outright as a birthday gift. This way no service provider could hold us hostage with having to pay off the cost of the phone via cancellation fee should we switch providers. Also, by buying it direct from apple the warranty was way better for half the price that all the providers were offering. All providers are able to sell the iphone, no monopoly on it allowed here in Canada.

I thought the same as most frugalites - I had a prepaid cell and barely used it to talk and was waiting for it to die its slow painful death before considering a new phone: blackberry or iphone. Basically I used it to text mostly b/c it was free & unlimited. Since having the iphone, I use it non stop with all the apps - cash tracker, calendar, gps, games, email, camera/video, sticky notes, surfing the web while out and about if need be. As someone else posted, I don't know how I could've gone so long w/o it. Its totally a mini computer/PDA. Its not needed but its sure handy to have!