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

[Anonymous]

They can stay on our plan as long as they want. It's easier and much cheaper to have a large family plan. We still have all kids on it, and my parents phones.

I suspect once my kids get married they might get their own plan. Until then, we happily just keep them on the plan.

If you feel the need, you can have them pay you for it. For us, it's $50/month (plus cost of new phones every 2-3 years) and we don't need the kids to pay.

[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.

What about having a family phone plan is "enmeshed"? I don't look at my kid's phone calls/texts/etc. I just pay the bill. Why pay more?

Hint: one kid is out of college and a fully functioning adult. Even if their cell phone is still on our "family plan"

[Anonymous]

Our kids started paying their car ins once they got their first job post college, stayed on our health ins until 26 and are still on our phone plan. They pay for their own phones. We also share a Prime acct and streaming services - they pay for most of those.

It’s a practical solution that works for us.

[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)

Same. We have our DS on our cell plan and Apple Family ICloud storage membership and he reimburses us for his portion.

[Anonymous]

The last bill I ever paid for them was their final semester's tuition in college. After graduation they were responsible for rent, phone, car insurance, health insurance, etc.

If they hadn't gotten jobs before graduation, we may have had to reconsider but both had employment starting in June.

[Anonymous]

The family plan "cost savings" aren't all that real anymore. There are plenty of $25-40/month unlimited everything plans out there now. Visible, mint, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still pay post college. It is cheaper overall. They are totally self supporting otherwise so it like an extra gift. At some point we will stop but no specific time planned.

Adding I do not pay for their phones just the service.

Same. My kid is 24, and in grad school. She has insurance through that. She pays for her own car insurance but on my policy (which is much cheaper than her going it alone).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Presumably, we’d keep our kids on our family plan through college. Then what? Tell them then need to get their own phones and cut them off? What have you done?

When they graduated college. They went to work and got paid cell service there. And went off our plan forever, and paid their own bills when in grad school. And their own healthcare.

[Anonymous]

When they were teens, I told them them I'd pay for data only if and as long as they never turned off location services. They not only agreed, but have held me to that. They are 20 and 23 and have never turned off location services.

[Anonymous]

Who are these Boomers kicking their kids off the plan? My kids can stay as long as they want. I imagine by the time they are married they'll get their own plan.

[Anonymous]

I love looking at my adult kids’ itemized phot and text bills!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The family plan "cost savings" aren't all that real anymore. There are plenty of $25-40/month unlimited everything plans out there now. Visible, mint, etc.

So kick your kid off if you want. I've priced it, with Verizon the savings are real. And it's simpler to just keep it the way it is. I just pay the bills, I don't look at their "phone calls/texts/etc". My kid is a fully functioning adult, despite not having their own independent cell phone bill monthly.

[Anonymous]

I don't want the family decision of: who gets an upgrade, what features everyone wants. Adult children have been off our plan since going to college.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I were on his parents plan until our own teen got her first phone. Then we transitioned to our family plan. I’m happy to do that for my child too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The last bill I ever paid for them was their final semester's tuition in college. After graduation they were responsible for rent, phone, car insurance, health insurance, etc.

If they hadn't gotten jobs before graduation, we may have had to reconsider but both had employment starting in June.

They must have had big job offers to afford all that just starting out after graduation, considering most decent rentals set salary requirements at 3X monthly income or the nicest ones want 10x monthly income.