When did you stop paying for your kid’s cell phone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it is that much more expensive to be on our my own plan, I’ve stayed on my dad’s phone plan but I send him the full annual amount each January. In my family we share things like streaming services and other membership perks one of us has to save money and resources all around. I especially respect my Dad for allowing this because in my mind it’s the one gift I couldn’t buy myself (a $25/mo grandfathered in amazing plan with 5+ users and all the perks)

This is what we've done for my DS. He graduated from college two years ago. Our plan breaks down how much each line costs so he pays us for his line. We started charging him when he started his job - about two months after he graduated. It might get a little tricky when he wants to upgrade, having to call mom or dad to give approval to the cell phone company for the upgrade. But we'll deal with that when he wants an upgrade.

He was still on our auto insurance policy until he bought his own car. Again, he paid us about $150 a month to keep him on our plan.

He'll stay on our health insurance until he's 26. It doesn't cost us anything since we're on a family plan and he has two younger siblings. I'm not sure what will happen when the youngest graduates from college because we will no longer need a family plan. But that's still several years away.

[Anonymous]

DD 25 still on the same line.

She graduated from college and is working full time as a Special Ed Teacher, but we don't mind paying it. She is making about $58,000 and move out, so she doesn't have enough money for anything.

[Anonymous]

I'm on my mom's senior plan but I pay the bill! We have a mobile phone reimbursement policy at work and I see tons of early/mid 20's folks who are still on their parents plans (they have to provide a bill to us).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:18:50 it was the first thing we "cut the cord" on. Then auto insurance. Last, health insurance when they maxed out at 26.

This was us exactly! They started paying for their phones around 18, then their car insurance around 22, and then health insurance at 26.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are three good stages to do that.

1. One year after kid gets their first job post college.

2. Once they are engaged.

3. When you retire.

Agree.
We plan on doing this for phone, car insurance and health insurance for our boys. My parents did option #2 for me. My husband's parents did option#1 for him.

Its very much income dependent, if its peanuts for parents, no rush. If its an inconvenience then as soon as kids are gainfully employed unless they are soon going back ti grad/professional school, then wait.

[Anonymous]

Are you making an economic decision or a supposed parenting decision?

[Anonymous]

Heck we pay for my in-laws phones. Why would we cut off our kids?

[Anonymous]

We still have everyone on the family plan. They are 25 and 27. Unless the pricing changes, we will probably keep them on our plan until we go on their plan. My sister and her DH have his parents on their plan ( they are 90) and their kids (22 & 24). Most of our friends and family do it this way too.

Car insurance flipped when they got their first full time job after college.

[Anonymous]

Stop room and board 6 months post graduation.
Stop car and insurance 1-2 years post graduation. The car from college died. The younger child's car died around year 2.
Stop healthcare 26.
Stop phone at 28-30. Depending if their work gave them a phone or when they got married.

It sort of just worked out that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you making an economic decision or a supposed parenting decision?

Both? My parents never paid for my cell phone (I’m 45 so they were uncommon when I was in high school). I never had my own car until I bought one myself when I got my first job out of college. Parents stopped paying my rent once I graduated from college (never paid it during the summer) and I never got food money (college didn’t have a meal plan).

I realize that my experience is not typical for the majority of DCUM, so trying to figure out a balance between encouraging independence and being a supportive parent. DCs will stay on our health insurance until they are 26, or have employer provided health insurance, whichever comes first. They don’t have their own car so no car insurance to pay for. The phone this the one I was most curious about.

-op

[Anonymous]

Op again.

I guess it will depend on their financial situation when they’re done with college. I just don’t want it to be a given, if you know what I mean.

[Anonymous]

OP, in the future when you have a preference, act on that preference. The reasonable adults, you have raised, will be fine with that, no complaining.

[Anonymous]

They should start paying a percentage of these bills after 18 and take over fully by 21, unless doing grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop room and board 6 months post graduation.
Stop car and insurance 1-2 years post graduation. The car from college died. The younger child's car died around year 2.
Stop healthcare 26.
Stop phone at 28-30. Depending if their work gave them a phone or when they got married.

It sort of just worked out that way.

Who relies solely on a work phone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know, I know, a family plan is much cheaper but we didn't want to be enmeshed. When kids went to college, they got their own plan. We paid their bill while they were in college. Yes, I know it was more expensive but that was ok.

IDK. Did you also take them off Apple Music, and Netflix, and Amazon Prime, and all the other shared plans?

I guess we’re an enmeshed family. 😄