Sense About Dollars

I was in our local Radio Shack yesterday, when a 13-year-old walked in, and asked the salesman how much the new Evo phone (available today) would cost. Five ninety nine, the salesman replied.  I gasped. The boy nodded, nonplussed, and left.  Six hundred dollars...for a cell phone? Yes, I know it does all sorts of neat things. I know it's "more" than a cell phone.  I also know it's capable of running up a disaster  of a phone phone bill, and it gave me pause.

Adults use these gadgets all the time. Some of us actually need the tech for our work...no argument. But why does a 13-year-old need one, exactly? A few years back, I interviewed at Verizon. There were several candidates waiting, and we got to talking. One young man said he wanted the job because his monthly phone bill was $489. I nearly swallowed my teeth. "You have internet, or something with that?" Nope... JUST his cell. He was living at home, and his parents insisted that he pay for his own phone bills. I believe he was maybe 22 at the time.

Some of my friends just shrug, and tell me "that's what things cost".

Leading me to wonder...have we actually prepared our kids for real life? Is "Budget" a dirty word now? I know the fancy phones are just wonderful...I get that. But I know enough 20-somethings to know that they are also a status symbol with their peers.  A "cheap phone" marks you as a "loser". I know a lot of parents who gave their kids cell phones for "safety". I understand the concept. My daughter has carried one since she was 16.  But since I cover her bill, we have rules.

Last year, she asked for a phone with a keyboard (QWERTY, of course) and a camera. That's pretty basic these days...so I agreed. But pics are saved to be downloaded at home, and the internet is not to be accessed. She can do that with her i touch, without costing any extra, and there are dozens of places now with free wi-fi. We both use cell phones for a combined cost of about $50 a month. That's it...no extra fees, or charges.

My question is, how are getting our kids prepared for paying their own way when their cell phone bill is over 5K a year?  Am I shamelessly thrifty? Old fashioned? Or do I just remember when your dad would KILL you for using the house phone (just one) too much? Thoughts?