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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

DC 14yo wants an Iphone!

111 replies

DamnUserName21 · 18/02/2024 16:17

Just a vent really.

My 14yo has been nagging me, bombarding me, arguing with me, throwing strops, tears and the odd tantrum because she wants me to get her a £600 Iphone on finance through Apple. She said she'd give up her allowance (which is more than the monthly payment) and will do more chores to pay for it.

The thing is - we aren't an Iphone family. I don't buy into all the new or Apple tech. DC is generally unspoiled and not into gadgets and 'stuff' and does not usually ask for much. She has a Samsung currently, which was second-hand from another family member as she broke her previous mobile.

I'm at my wits end and find it all so wearying. I don't know -- am I being unreasonable? I just find a 14yo with an expensive mobile phone so unnecessary. Plus the chances of damage are high!

For those of you that have been through this--what are your experiences? How did you handle things?

OP posts:
MariaLuna · 18/02/2024 20:19

Youre not into Apple or new tech. But she is. She doesn’t have to do what you believe in.

She also has to be aware that you cannot buy stuff till you're earning and able to pay for it.....

CuntRYMusicStar · 18/02/2024 20:26

@New2024 - that's strange that that is your experience, dh has the same phone and it stands up to his busy work day where he is calling and texting pretty much none stop!

Abouttimeforanamechange · 18/02/2024 21:32

No to getting it on finance. She's not old enough to sign up to a contract herself, so the agreement would have to be in op's name, and she'd be the one lumbered with the payments if dd couldn't or wouldn't pay.

A useful lesson for dd - never sign your name to any finance or credit agreement for someone else.

And if she says she'll use her allowance to pay, what happens when she wants to go out with friends, or buy something else for herself, and most of her money has gone to pay for the phone?

(Personally I think £600 is a daft amount to pay for a phone for anyone, never mind a teenager.)

HauntedPencil · 18/02/2024 21:48

ComfyBoobs · 18/02/2024 19:13

We get second hand iphones for our kids from backmarket for around £100-150. They are like new.

Back market is where I was thinking I'd seen some really reasonable ones.

Did you have a good experience there?

Mumofteens4892 · 18/02/2024 22:35

Refurbished - Backmarket or GiffGaff are great. No need to spend £600.

boredybored · 19/02/2024 07:06

Go to cex and get a second hand one . Thy have warranties . Too bad if she wants a brand new one .

Original poster
DamnUserName21 · 19/02/2024 19:07

Thanks for the ideas. I'm making a note of all the second-hand and refurb websites. DC doesn't need a £600 mobile phone, and whilst I briefly considered it-because she doesn't usually ask for anything- it's a lot of money to shell out even on monthly contract especially with sim and insurance on top. As a few PPs have said, we will work on a compromise.

@Abouttimeforanamechange spot on. It is a daft amount of money and DC will use up all her monthly allowance to the point she will have next to no money to do anything with friends.

OP posts:
harveyluna789 · 19/02/2024 22:34

I am with you on this one. £600 for a phone for a 14 yr old is ludicrous. My DD wanted an iphone at 13 just like all her friends but all friends had their parents old phones when they upgraded. We have androids so there was no option for a hand me down. We stuck to our guns and said no but got her a samsung on a contract I think it was about £250 upfront with a £5 a month contract - an apple iphone would have been £500 and £20 contract. At 13 she wasn't earning money and as she was still a child we expected her to follow our rules. We weren't stopping her having a phone but we refused to let her have something that we felt was very overpriced for what it is and were worried about it getting lost or broken. Admittedly she felt left out and at the time really didn't like us for not letting her have the iphone but she did get used to it - she could still do instagram snapchat etc. When she was 15 my BIL upgraded his iphone so she got his old iphone 10 - the joy on her face and the pure gratitude she had to us for making it happen was so lovely she is 17 now and still has this phone but has a part time job now and is busy saving for an iphone 15. It didn't harm her making her wait until a reasonably priced model came along and it is has taught her the value of money and the fact that she can't always have what she wants just because everybody else does. A good lesson is life I feel. She is so good with money now because she has always been taught - you can't always have what you want instantly.

ComfyBoobs · 20/02/2024 08:34

HauntedPencil · 18/02/2024 21:48

Back market is where I was thinking I'd seen some really reasonable ones.

Did you have a good experience there?

Show quote history

Yes - we’ve had three so far and all perfect. Coupled with a GiffGaff £8/ month rolling plan, it’s much more affordable than a new one on contract.

Scarlettpixie · 03/03/2024 13:38

Personally I would be saying no to getting anything on finance until they are old enough to do so in their own name.

My son has had iphones since he started secondary. We are an iphone family. That said, he had a 6, 7 (refurbs off ebay) and now has an 11 at 17. He had my old one for his birthday when I upgraded to a 14.

Why not get her to look at second hand/refurb ones. She should be able to get a decent one for a couple of hundred and then could have it for a birthday/xmas gift or save up for it.

Scarlettpixie · 03/03/2024 13:39

Just to add, I pay £10 per month for him on contract with Smarty with loads of data.

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