How can I persuade my overprotective parent (mom) to buy me a cell phone?

Question

I am 12 and really want a cell phone. I am responsible but my mom won't let me get 1 till im 18. 50% of my friends have them and the other 40% is getting them when they turn 13. I am almost 13, but my mom won't budge! I don't have a real job, I am starting to babysit for 4 bucks an hour, but that's not enough to pay the bill. What should I do?

Answer 1

My daughter has a cell phone. She used her babysitting money to buy the phone and her dad has cingular - he added her to his account for $10/month. I think its great that she has one. Whenever she goes to the mall, a friends house, ANYWHERE I have a way to get in touch with her and she has a way to call me if she needs anything. I also ground her from it if she doesn't keep her room clean or something but if she goes somewhere I give it back to her - It's a great disipline tool! When she was 11 she bought a prepaid phone. As long as you buy new minutes before you run out then you keep the same phone # but if you run out of minutes and then buy more it changes your number. If you'll be babysitting and your mom is overprotective then she should WANT you to have a phone in case of emergency.
Good Luck - If your old enough to be responsible for other children you should be old enough to have a phone! PS - my daughter isn't allowed to take hers to school unless its a dance or something

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

First off.

Take this advice, Just because your friends have one or do it, does not mean you have to or its right for you. Make your own choices.


Now for the good stuff.

Do not fight with her. Simple things you can say.

1: If your mom has a cell phone, say mom i can be on a family plan with you and you can save some money.

2: You can always limit my services so i do not ever go over on the bill.

3: When im out with friends and family, you can get a hold of me easy, anytime.

4: It's a safety issue you should explore, if something was to happen to me or you we could get in contact right away.

5: You can make this my next 3 xmas gifts

6: Im starting to babysit and i will help you pay all i can for the bill.

7: There is (Cricket, Boost) service that is really cheap and it has unlimited text and calling.

8: If you and I both as cellphones we could cancel our house phone (land line) and save money on phone bills as well as have free long distance.

Answer 4

I persuaded my mom into thinking about buying me one. I had a project due to persuade our parents into getting something they won't let us have. Of course, it was a letter. :-( I wanted a cellphone, like you. I showed the reasons it was necessary to have one. For example, you might come home one day and discover your mom isn't there, and all of the doors are locked! You have no way to contact her, so your stuck, and it's possible you may get kidnapped. How would your mom feel about that? Trust me, there are a bunch of stories about people home alone. It's not safe. We also had to write an opposing point of view, to show them that we understand why they won't let us have one. Don't go overboard on those reasons, it might convince her NOT to buy you one. If she says she'll let you have one if YOU pay for it, I'd save up your babysitting money to pay the bills first, then buy the phone. That way you're prepared for them, and once you buy it, you can pay them off with no worries. Oh, and it doesn't have to be a letter, you can have a discussion about it instead. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I'd tell them that and maybe elaborate a little. I have a cell phone but I'm over 18 and have to pay for myself. Personally I liked TracFone, if you're looking for providers. I have US Cellular now and they're not too bad. I had no dropped calls with TracFone and only one dropped call out of many calls made over a period of maybe 2 or 3 years with US Cellular.

Answer 6

My daughter had a cell phone at your age because I insisted on it! If you have one and are in any kind of danger or ill, you can call for help. Your Mom can keep in touch with you and monitor your safety. There were a couple of times that my daughter was able to call me for help and I'm thankful that I was smart enough to make her carry a cell phone. Your Mom is just not thinking logically. I really hope she changes her mind.

Answer 7

Tell her that you are responsible and also the good uses of a cell phone.


However, I do know how you feel bout asking your folks in getting you a cell, but I feel that there is more satisfaction in getting your own stuff, cos I did!

And not all is good when you get your own cell, cos you gotta pay your bills and look after your usage.

Also, it doesn't mean that your friends have a cell, you must have it.

Cos I got my cell on my own at the age of 17.

Anyhow,

Good luck!

Answer 8

A couple of things: First of all, you can get phones practically for free. I bought one for $50. I can't download ringtones, I can't insant message and it dosn't take pictures but you don't need any of that! secondly, you shouldn't try to persuade your mom or anybody else to buy you anything, you should get it yourself because if you can't afford to buy the phone itself, you can't afford to pay the bills which can get over $100 a month. Can you afford that? If not, forget it for now until you can. And another thing: Don't get anything JUST because our friends have it.

Answer 9

Stop bugging your mum! Save your 4 bucks an hour, buy your own phone - and pay the bills yourself. This is the only way you will really appreciate this little piece of technology and how much it really costs for artificial connection to the human race.

Answer 10

Tell her you may need it to get in touch with her when you need her. Tell her she use it to check up on you and make sure you are safe.