Boys' School Shoes/Mobile Phone Usage

[DoubleTwistingPike]

Have 2 boys 13 & 14 - tips please!

1. What do others do about mobile phones? Have avoided pressure to get them a 'contract' phone after reading too many horror stories in the papers, but generally allow them top up of about £10 a month, DS1 is complaining massively this isn't enough compared to what his friends get, and £5 goes straight on BBM. Bearing in mind all his friends are on BBM, I think the other £5 is enough for the odd text or call.

1. Big fan of ricosta shoes but now both too big for their biggest size. What school shoes do you get your teenage boys - about size 9 or 10?

Thanks.

I have a 14 yera old and have just got him a contract with Tesco as they can be capped - have had DS's first mobile bill and he has used nowhere near the amount i thought he would.

With regards to shoes, can't say i've ever noticed which brand they wear - i just buy what they like, what fits, and what is within my price range :)

I'm sure on t mobile you get unlimited texts if you top up a tenner a month?

Just got DS2 onto Giff Gaff. For £5 a month he can have just unlimited texts or for £10 unlimited texts, 240 minutes plus unlimited internet. Hard to beat I think. You need an unlocked handset but that's not too difficult.
My boys are 14 and 16 and both in size 11s. I just buy smart, black men's shoes from wherever.

I have a 14 yo DS who has a contract. Its for about £15 a month, and I suspect he gets better value from it than he would for £10 PAYG. Not sure what horror stories you've heard in the press, but I control what sites DS can upload anyway via my account on the Vodafone website

My dd has had a contract since she was 13. It has been fine and she has never run up a bill - they can keep tabs on how many minutes they have left. You would get far more value for a 15 quid contract than a payg. Make them take responsibility and scare them to death with potential sanctions if they ever go over their limit (with dd i said if she went over she would have to pay the excess and I would take her phone off her immediately).

The shoes - I have no idea but I feel your pain.

I'm on vodafone and got 'add on' contracts for both my boys - £10/mth each for unlimited texts and 600 minutes. I got fed up with pay-as-you-go, because however much credit DS1 or I put on his phone, he never seemed to have enough to phone/text me! With unlimited texts, they have no excuse whatsoever not to stay in touch!
As an added bonus, because they are contracts on my account, I can put temporary blocks on them if nec - e.g. if they don't pay their share, or fail to let me know where they are... (It's never happened with DS2 but it's been handy with DS1)

GiffGaff for phones.. £10 gets them unlimited texts and internet and 250 minutes..no contract you top up online monthly ..they use the 02 network. It has saved me a fortune!!

Shoes.. mine seem happy enough in Airwalk skater style shoes. Adidas only for xmas !

Ds is 14 and I'm still buying him Clarks shoes as his feet are so narrow, men's shoes just don't fit him. . Luckily enough ds is not really into image, so I can get away with this.

His mobile is payg and I top up about £10 every two months.

Thanks all.

Red Hen can you get Clarks in size 9/10 then?

Re: phones, I've now heard that to keep BBM messenger it must be vodaphone, does anyone know if that's right?

No, dd when she had a BB has messenger on orange.

My DS has school shoes from Clarks.

He was size 10 last year, and Im anticipating size 11 this time round.

Ds has size 9 feet and yes Clarks go up to size 11.

Mine are all on Giff Gaff too, works for us as to be fair we're not big phone users, DH is the only one with a contract as needed for work.

Re shoes, the last couple of years of school my eldest had Pod shoes. He's now finished and is waiting to start college in Sept and has got himself a p/t job in the local supermarket, hooray where they are asked to wear a sturdy black school type shoe, so took him last week to get new ones. Went to Clarks in the end where I got him some in the men's sale for £30. They also do online free delivery. So I would say check their men's dept.

Both have giffgaff sims - I think we top each up about £10 per month.

School shoes - whatever I can find that fits!! TK Maxx worth a look and also Brantano. Last pairs came from a local independant shop - leather, hard wearing and only £30 - no idea of brand as they were recycled at end of term.