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We saw it as a luxury for a year or so and cut mine when times got tough. We recently both upgraded to smartphone from really, really basic phones and we are only paying $40 more a month. Though if I were on EBT, that $40 could go a long way to feed my family. So, I do still think that they are a luxury. You can get a prepaid phone for emergencies for as low as $10 a month. So, my opinion still stands.
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Personally, I do think of my iphone as a necessity and not a luxury. That said, were my budget different, maybe it wouldn’t be. Although, since I also pay $70 just for internet at my house; it isn’t like having a smart phone in place of paying for home internet + home phone is that much more expensive per month anyway.
In addition to some of the other responses and points people have made about food stamps, you never know that the person using EBT didn’t have a great job and was responsible and then was laid off and is using food stamps for a short period of time (like the vast majority of food stamp users). Also, as a foster parent, you receive food stamps as part of the “package” from the state. A friend of mine who fosters has gotten plenty of nasty comments from people about her iphone or her “nice, new” (used) car and about her scamming the welfare system. Uh, nope.
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It definitely depends on the situation but I consider it as a luxury in our household. I would give up my iPhone (referring to all the bells and whistles and unlimited data plan that we have) without hesitation if it meant being able to put the food on the table for my family but then I guess if food stamps provide food, they are able to keep the iPhone plan. I guess this mentality would apply mostly to those that are really in a tight jam, lower middle class Americans, who just barely get by and don't qualify for public assistance.
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I wish this question could be asked without the reference to food stamps - even if it wasn't included with any malice! I know several young adult who were homeless and using assistance who were helped with their smartphone bill because they used the internet access for classes, etc.
I think many people use smart phones for job searches, homework, etc. not just games and shopping. I also know several people who purchased phones/plans before losing their jobs and eventually needing welfare. It could be paid for *by* their work.
We would cut a LOT of things before we cut our smart phone but at the end of the day, yes it is a luxury for us. But I have no idea if it is a luxury for anyone else, or how they pay for it.
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@scg00387: I agree completely. There seems to be a huge attitude that people can judge food stamp recipients by looks alone.
If I held different immigration status, DH and I could qualify for food stamps once baby is born. We both have smartphones. We bought them outright when times were better (We have fallen on horrible times, and have lost about 70% of our income in the last 2 years. We are fortunate to have some savings, but with some medical bills, immigration fees, me being not legally allowed to work for some time etc, those may not last long). For us the price of staying with our smart phones versus getting a flip was similar enough we continued smart.
Incidentally, DH went a year without a phone at all, so we aren't against cutting corners when need be. Because of excellent family support and the income DH does make, we are still (just) above water, but I will never begrudge someone who isn't, and I will never judge someone because I percieve that they don't appear to be poor and desperate enough (which, judging a person entirely on the assets you see without knowing their back story, is basically judging them on that).
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I don't think a smart phone is a luxury, either. I don't like to judge people because it could have been a hand-me-down phone. They could have gotten it as a present. Iphones can be cheap if you get the cheapest version Iphone 5C, too. Yeah, the data plan is an extra expense, but what if they don't have internet at home and they use their phone for internet. If they got grandfathered into AT&T unlimited data plan for $30 a month, it's not bad at all. I think having internet is also a necessity nowadays. Though, you can use wifi at internet cafes and such.
Also, there are iphone plans that are not on a contract and reloaded with minutes.
As for non-iphone phone, I know they can be super cheap. Some smart phones are free at the cell phone stores, as long as you get some kind of data plan. It's the dumb phones that I have to pay for. I had to pay $100 for a dumb phone for my mom.
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I see it as a luxury. It isn't a necessity like food and water. #firstworldproblems
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Agree with PP, the data plan is a luxury, the phone not so much, although I don't think you can have one without the other. Having a phone is a necessity, but not a smartphone.
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Don't have a smartphone and it's so nice to have, but definitely a luxury.if I were using food stamps, I'd use the money for smartphone and data plan on something else, but that's just me.
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For me personally, it would be a luxury. I don't have a smart phone. But my MIL is able to afford one - she has a set income, very small - because she got on the Walmart plan? Or something like that. She was super excited because its something like 45 bucks a month with unlimited data/calls/etc.
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