By: Marya
I’m embarrassed to tell you that my cell phone is a little outdated. Oh, who am I kidding? My cell phone is archaic. Old fashioned. Comical.
In fact, at a recent conference, a speaker asked if anyone owned “one of those old school flip phones.” I am not exaggerating when I tell you that, of the 100 plus people in the room, I was the only person who raised my hand.
I’m due for an upgrade this month, and I’m facing a real dilemma. Should I, or should I not, get a smartphone?
Truthfully, I don’t really want a smart phone. I don’t need to check-in on Foursquare whenever I go to Target. I don’t want to turn into one of those people who Facebook message you while you’re at dinner… with them! And I can’t think of any time I needed to check my email outside of work.
But I am a little tired of the funny looks I get when someone sees me talking on my teeny tiny phone. I’m tired of not being able to get picture messages and group texts (although frankly, I’m not even sure what that last thing is). And that Siri character seems nice. I bet we could be friends.
Me, the cheapskate, posing for a picture in San Francisco before attending a 49ers game.
The real problem here though, the reason for all this back and forth, is the moolah. The dough. The greenbacks. I’m a bit of a cheapskate, and this cheapskate really, really, really doesn’t want to buy a smartphone and then have to pay for a data plan every month! And yes, I was whining while I typed that last sentence.
So over the course of the next few weeks, I have to answer some tough questions.
Is it really so important that I have the latest and greatest gadget? No. The logical part of me knows that I just need a phone to make and take calls.
Am I tired of being the only 28 year old on earth that doesn’t use Instagram? Yes. Those pictures turn out amazing!
Is this about peer pressure? Duh! I wish I could say I’m above it. Even though I shouldn’t, I still care about what people think.
Would I enjoy the handiness and accessibility? A little bit. And I know that, like most users, once I got it I wouldn’t be able to imagine life without it.
But I have to decide if I’m willing to sacrifice something else to get a smartphone, because that thirty dollar a month data plan has to come from somewhere. So that means less money goes to retirement. Or vacation. Or designer purses (maybe I’m not so cheap after all).
I have a lot to think about over these next few weeks. Too bad I can’t ask Siri for help…
