How can I explain to my parents to buy me another cell phone?
Question by Ella-Jane: How can I explain to my parents to buy me another cell phone?
Let me explain my situation, and please give your honest opinion about it and your help. I'm sorry my explanation is very long, and thank you in advance to those who answer. Also, I'm thirteen, but please don't let that make you judge me.
I'm a competitive swimmer and practice every day. After practice, I call my parents on my cell to get me. Yesterday, as I was calling my mom, but I slipped and my phone broke. It's the Palm Pre model from Sprint, and it is very pricey. I'm afraid to ask my parents to replace my phone. This is because not only of the price, but also because I'm afraid to loose their trust. My grades are straight A's with the occasional B and I have never broken any of their rules. I can't say I am completely responsible, but I know that if I receive a replacement that I will be careful. In truth, I was actually very careful with my last phone, but I slipped once. I need another phone. I know most teenagers say "I need it", but really I do. Before my cell phone came, my parents were burdened to wait at every practice (and the times vary from fifteen minutes to two hours) to pick me up. With the cell, they were able to do what they need to do and then when I was done, they just picked me up. I've been saved by my cell phone more than once and it really made my parent's lives a bit easier. I've been slightly more social since I received my phone, which is positive because I was an introvert person. I have planned ahead to how I could get my phone. My friend's brother owns a cell phone repair shop, and I was going to ask my friend if she could drop my phone, bring it back, and I'll pay the bill in whole and $ 50 for gas and their generosity. If that is not possible, I would be willing to pay the first $ 300 of the phone, and would work off the rest of my parents payment. The payment is slightly lightened because I go to a private school, but next year I will attend a public school. This saves my parents almost $ 40,000 for 4 years on school tuition and they can use a portion of that money for my phone.
There are problems. My parents warned me to be careful, and I know that will be one of there reasons they will not replace it. I feel terrible I broke the phone, and I know I will be punished for being so careless. They really believed the phone was useless, and they don't see what it has done for us. They see my social growth as a negative thing, because they only want me to study. The phone has helped me with homework, because I could ask friends for help and not wait hours. They would rather be burdened to wait for me during practice than to give me a cell phone again, just to teach me. They see times I was aided by the phone as minor, even though the phone once save me from getting lost. I did ask them for a cell phone protector because I knew I was clumsy, but they never listened. I know it was my fault the phone broke. I know my parents should be the ones who are right, and if they won't give me the phone it's only fair. I will accept their decision and try not to fight it. The phone isn't as big as a distraction as my parents think, and it really does help me. I know some of you are thinking "If she's so sure she right, then why is she asking us?" I'm not sure if I am right. That's why I'm asking for your opinion. I will accept my punishment. I just need the phone again, and if possible I want to preserve some of my parent's trust.
P.S.
I really like my phone. Even my father likes it a lot. He's even buying the Palm Pre for himself. If he will buy himself a phone and never use it, why can't I have one even though I use it every day? I'm sorry this reason is whiny.
Again, sorry for the length and sorry if its ignorant, whiny, annoying, etc.
To the person who said I should have bought the phone protector myself: That is a very good point. Only problem is that I'm not allowed to go to any store without a parent. Also, there aren't any stores nearby that have accesories for the Palm Pre, so nothing fit it right.
Another thing: If you believe I deserve a cheaper phone, can you think of some models for me? I need 2 requirements: a camera and a pop-out or slide-out QWERTY keyboard and it has to be a Sprint phone. That's all I need. Touchscreen will be nice, but the two above is the least I need with my lifestyle.
I know everyone is saying "buy the phone yourself". I am paying for the replacement. Well the phone is about $ 500, and I saved up a good sum of $ 300. It's Christmas, and I'll probably be getting about $ 100 all together. That makes $ 100 left for my parents to pay. My parents can then pay this by taking it out of my allowance. If you mean, get the phone myself, I can't. I'm not allowed out of the house, so I can't go to a store. There aren't stores around that even have the Palm Pre and I will never ever touch my parent's credit card to buy it online. It's one of their rules.
Best answer:
Answer by AMY K
just go ahead and explain or print out this n show it to them. parents will understand.
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Accidents happen. Explain to your parents that you tripped. It happens to all of us. You’ve shown that you’ve been responsible with your phone before. Offer to pay for some of the replacement phone. Since you’ve shown responsibility I’m sure that they won’t be mad at you.
If you can afford to pay for a repair to the phone plus fifty bucks, why on earth did you just not go and buy the cell phone protector at the time? It might have saved all this agonizing, no?
Oh by the way my phone cost 30 bucks off ebay.
No bells no whistles but it works perfectly and if I need it in an emergency the battery holds a good charge.
Love your prose, you will no doubt convince them. Merry Christmas
Those expensive phones with all those gadgets is great if you have $$$ to burn. I bet that you could find a way to keep track of that stuff using a paper planner. It may not be a flashy or stylish, but it is do-able. I would have them with-hold your allowance & use it to purchase an inexpensive phone. Then buy yourself a paper planner & use that. It seems that your parents have spent alot of money on you & are still going to do so, but even the idea of asking them for another $500 phone is a bit much.
I think that you can somehow find time to get a part-time job to earn that $500 if you want to replace that phone that you broke. Walking around on wet area holding a phone is a recipe for disaster.
You could have easily waiting until you were dressed & waiting outside or in the lobby for them.
Bad judgement call. I think that you purchasing a very simple cellphone with your own chore money or birthday money would be the right thing to do. IF in the future you earn enough money to replace the one you broke, then you could do so then.
Sorry, but as smart as you are intellectually, the common sense part of your brain was having a day off and your phone damage is the result. If I was your parent, I would not get your phone replaced except for the very simplest & basic phone available.
Damn , I am impressed ,and I am not a kid (Might be as old as your Dad ). I bet you end up a lawyer, (a damn good, one at that ) one day .
You might need, a cell phone (Palm Pre, ah,not so much) . I am sure they will understand if you just tell the truth .
My question would be, did you abuse it ,or use it as a rock, throw it at some body ? You understand it is not a toy . What do you have to lose ? They can only say no !
Damn I am good ,I just saved the day ,go here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2105570227%2050001091&name=Palm%20Inc.
Good Luck God Bless and Merry Christmas !
what I would do(if I were a parent but I’m not. I’m 13 like you). Is warn you when I gave you the phone is that if you ruin it and it will not work, you cannot get another nce cell phone like that. We will, because of the emergency situations a cell phone can help in, get you one of those phones where you go to like CVS and buy minutes and we will buy you some amount of set minutes per month or week or every other week or whatever. If you use up those minutes you have to buy more using your own money. If you break this phone we won’t get you a new one hut if you want to get one yourself we will continue supplying those minutes for you. And if you take really good care of it maybe well get u a new phone for an upcoming holiday.
Or I would say that you can go to the store and buy a new phone w/ your own money and we will continue to pay for your service.
If you had insured the thing (which only makes sense with the pricier ones), you could have had it replaced without any issues. I know this isn’t much help to you now in your current situation, but in the future if/when you get it replaced for goodness sake get the insurance. Anyway, you’ve made a pretty cogent and rational argument in your question (I’m quite impressed to see that this came from a 13 year old) — I’d just present to them what you wrote pretty much as is and tell them you’ll abide by whatever they decide.
My Phone has been abbused..(drowned it in a lake 3 times because i left it in my pocket) and what i did was..ask a friend or relitive if they have a phone they dont need anymor.(i just got one from a friend.not the newest, but has mp3…video.etc.
on the other hand, my parents want me to become more responsible, and i have to save up for one.
Because in the future, you will not expect everyone to pay things for you. I think its not too bad, and you feel good after buying it with your own money.
sorry for so much writing..but try the answers….Good Luck
You broke it, you pay for it. Part of growing up is accepting responsibility. Not letting people continue to bail you out.