To think a smart phone is an essential?

[picklecustard]

So every time I see the debate about free lunches for poor families on Facebook and social media, there are always people who comment about the same families being able to afford ‘non-essential luxuries’ sometimes it’s Sky Tv sometimes cigarettes and booze, but one example that consistently gets mentioned is having an i-phone/smart phone/phone contract.

Quite baffled that in this day and age people consider possessing a smart phone as a non-essential luxury. I know few people with a landline nowadays and a mobile is the point of contact for most. It’s also far more useful in the case of an emergency as you always have it with you. Access to the internet via a phone is also a necessity to most- when I needed a job most vacancies were advertised online and needed to be applied for online, I don’t drive so do my food shopping online (as well as finding recipes online), doctors appointments are booked much more easily online for my local surgery, my bills and banking are managed via apps and online, my children’s school only send letters via ParentMail app or email so all news/forms/payments and everything relevant to their schooling requires my iphone. And that’s just a few examples. My phone is genuinely an essential for everyday living and I’m surprised people don’t see it that way!

You say you have a laptop to get online which is fair enough and works for you. But some people use a phone instead.

again, it's a choice. It doesn't make a smart phone a "necessity", the opposite actually!

I think there is studies into this? Something like poorer people may feel disenfranchised and having these possessions (even on exploitative credit) is in some way a way of belonging?

@Doodiesbear Yes because the latest iPhone is NOT an essential!

I don't know how you've made the assumption that I am 'privileged' either. I have a basic smart phone that does everything anybody would need. I haven't been on a holiday since I was a child as we can't afford it due to our mortgage. There are things wrong with our house that we can't afford to fix. We very rarely go out as we can't afford that but do you know what? We always have food in the fridge and cupboards, regardless of whether its beans on toast or steak!

So please don't make assumptions about me being 'privileged' when you know nothing about me.

@Doodiesbear and by the comment about food in the cupboards, I'm referring to the fact I have prioritised a basic smart phone and other simple choices!

again, it's a choice. It doesn't make a smart phone a "necessity", the opposite actually!

Ah but a phone you can just slip in to your bag or pocket. I don’t fancy lugging a laptop/tablet/camera etc.. around with me when I can have it all in one small, compact device.

As a low income single parent my parents actually fund my smart phone

With the phone 're laptop argument. Phone is far more universal for meeting several needs so is the more important of the two

Yes because the latest iPhone is NOT an essential!

No one is talking about the latest iphone except for you.

OP said smartphone/iphone/on contract.

Many PP's mentioned having cheap smartphones or old/cheap iphones.

@TeamLucille

You say you have a laptop to get online which is fair enough and works for you. But some people use a phone instead.

again, it's a choice. It doesn't make a smart phone a "necessity", the opposite actually!

How is it a choice if you can only have one and either don't have the facilities for a laptop/pc or you need your internet/app access on the go?

If you can only afford one device a smartphone makes far more sense (note I say smart phone not iPhone. I wouldn't buy an iPhone if I was the richest person on the planet).
I was on holiday just after lockdown was lifted (a friend paid for it before anyone questions how a poor person dared to have a week away). At the time I was still employed, but had been off sick for over a year. On Monday I had an email from my manager telling me I had to attend a zoom meeting on Friday. If I didn't have my smart phone, with data, I wouldn't have even known about the meeting. Much less been able to attend! I've had notes in my online UC journal with similar.

Before I had to claim I was not tech savvy and was not on a low income, I had an basic payg no internet. When i had to claim i needed to apply for a number of jobs and you have to claim online. Yanbu an internet phone is a must mine has internet as I haven't got a laptop and is about £15 a month! They dont have to be expensive and I would have struggled without one, especially with covid where you couldnt go to places with free internet where they have computer access.

Work expect me to email and yes it really upsets me that some people can judge others and say its non essential, not all people who claim are living it up although no doubt there are some people that are!

Yanbu. Also worth people remembering smartphone may cost more than a second laptop upfront, but you can get a smartphone on a monthly contract which is more affordable for many people, despite costing more overall. It’s expensive to be poor.

@Doodiesbear Yes because the latest iPhone is NOT an essential!

And where have I said it is? You are the one making assumptions that poor people get the latest iPhone over food in the cupboards.
I have said a smartphone is essential, which encompasses not only the most expensive iPhone on earth but also a cheap PAYG job, is when you have no other means to access the internet and the various things needed on it for every day life.
The OP asked was a smartphone essential, not specifically a top of the range iPhone.
It was your comment about poor people prioritising iPhones over food that I was reacting to.
Then you have the cheek to say I'm the one making assumptions?
And yes, if you can afford to save up for a £99 phone then to me you're privileged, mine was £39 cheaper!

@Doodiesbear I didn't say all people. I said some people - including people I know - choose the latest smartphone over putting food in the cupboards. As I have said way up ahead in the thread, I understand that people's circumstances change and if that's the case, they should be supported.

I don't believe that any child should go hungry but I do believe that some parents - again, not all people - do prioritise things that they shouldn't. I also believe that there are a number of parents that will happily go without to support their child(ren).

Saving up for a £99 does not make me priveledged. That's just what I chose to save up for. £99 was the cheapest smart phone available at the time.

Have a nice day! :)

Just in case anyone is not clear, paying £30 a month for a phone contract is NOT cheaper than paying £100 once for a second hand phone plus £5 a month for a sim contract.
£30 a month for two years is £720. £100 plus £5 a month is £220.
It's quite simple maths.
If you literally have only £30 for the month and can't borrow from anyone you would only have to wait for 2 - 3 months to be able to afford a second hand phone. And save yourself £500 over two years.

I do not think smartphones are essential, they are a nice-to-have and can be useful, but life would go on without them.
Mobile phones per se are quite useful, but again not 100% essential.
People forget that there was a time before 2007 or thereabouts, when smartphones did not exist, somehow the human race survived.
I rarely use my smartphone to go online, I have other devices for that. I am also aware that a smartphone is as good as an electronic tag ;-)

Ha ha ha
What's a library?
We've lost our local one & the nearest is a bus ride away. Fortunately for me this doesn't affect me but does others.

Why do some people think an iPhone any iPhone is the most expensive phone on the planet? It isn't.
For years I always had Samsung Galaxy but after the last 2 went wrong I decided to switch to iPhone.
One of the best decisions I ever made as the iPhone is so intuitive & far easier to use.

Now back to the main question.

Yes a smart phone is essential. I work part time and get a top up from uc. I have an iPhone XR with a sim only contract the phone was passed down to me from my mum when she got an upgrade. I pay £10 a month for the contact. I do have broad band and with that comes a landline that I don't use (I don't have a home phone and I don't even know the phone number) I don't drive so get all my shopping online from clothing to food shopping. Don't own a tablet/computer or laptop so everything is done from my phone. Uc, job applications and school info. Just because someone has a smart phone and seem poor doesn't mean they have a £70 a month contract for that phone. It could quite easily be a hand-me-down.

How do you complete your uc commitments for those 3 months you are saving for a phone? If you miss anything at all you are sanctioned. They don't gif that you can't get online.

Pre smart phone, well even more recently than that, benefit claims were done by post/phone/in person. Now its all online. Comparing 2020 to 2007 is not helpful.

@Doodiesbear I didn't say all people. I said some people - including people I know - choose the latest smartphone over putting food in the cupboards.

Do they really? It’s amazing how their problems all boil down to a smartphone. You don’t know the ins and outs of their budgets.

I think internet access is essential but you don’t need to have your own. I have a phone. I hardly use it. Its on but rarely rings and I rarely use it to make phone calls. I could easily live without it. I do use my iPad a lot though. However if it was a choice between feeding my kids and internet access I’d obviously feed my kids.

But is a top-of-range 60 quid a month iPhone an essential OP? If a smartphone is needed that badly but you're on a budget, why won't a cheap model suffice?
I think people get confused and angry when they hear of parents complaining they have no money for food yet can fork out in excess of £50 per month for a phone.

@BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter

But is a top-of-range 60 quid a month iPhone an essential OP? If a smartphone is needed that badly but you're on a budget, why won't a cheap model suffice? I think people get confused and angry when they hear of parents complaining they have no money for food yet can fork out in excess of £50 per month for a phone.

Nobody is talking about a £60 a month,top of the range anything,Iphone or not.

So why are you?

@Greyshaggyrug

I think internet access is essential but you don’t need to have your own. I have a phone. I hardly use it. Its on but rarely rings and I rarely use it to make phone calls. I could easily live without it. I do use my iPad a lot though. However if it was a choice between feeding my kids and internet access I’d obviously feed my kids.

And if you didn't have an ipad?

Internet access means people can access benefits,have the necessary meeting if online, apply for jobs, access whatever is needed for school etc.

You might feed your kids this month ,but what will you do the next month when your benefits are cut or you get sanctioned because you didn't apply for jobs,filled in your diary or attended x meeting ?
How will your kids access their FSMs when the ordering and menu is all done online?

Given some examples on this thread it's not the poor people with a smartphone (iphone or not) that are wasteful-2/3/4 devices,some of which are barely used - or thinking short term -eat this month ,and who cares if you'll even be able to access the support you need in two months time.

For us yes.
I've needed a connection because of benefits to log onto their system and a way to receive emails from them.
During lockdown, mass communication from the school was through text/email.
Blood tests have been made using a texted link to an online portal for the appointment.
To "talk to the my gp, to keep phones open, its online portal, and email for repeat prescriptions.
To find out what's happening in the area, online access is required, never mind on a global level.

If we go down the route of blended learning, online access will be needed.

I don't understand the big tv thing tbh and low incomes shouldn't have them. When flat screens first came in they were bloody expensive. My first 42in roughly 14 years ago, cost me around £800 with the only added extra, full HD. Now they around £300 and its a smart one and/or 4K!!