Should I get my own cell phone and plan?

My parents currently pay for my cell phone service - Verizon America's Choice Familyshare Plan, with 400 shared minutes between me, my mom and my dad, and unlimited nights and weekends. Since I've moved out of the dorms into a condominium with my sister, I've been using my cell phone a LOT more (we don't have a land line, and both use our cell phones).

She (23 y.o.) pays for her own cell phone service (Sprint PCS 300 min./unlimited N&W) and I'm thinking that maybe I should do the same. Whatever I do will have to wait 'till fall 2003, becuase while I have a summer job now, it's gonna end on July 1, and I won't have any regular income until the middle/end of August.

Should I get my own phone/plan? If I got a plan, it'd be with T-Mobile (Get More $39.99/mo.). I don't know what phones will be out in the coming months, but I'll probably get the best FAR phone from Amazon.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I have this nagging feeling that if my parents pay for it, I should milk it for as long as possible.

 

[MacGaven]

T-Mobile Sidekick

Color version early this summer June/July.

 

[Jugernot]

Originally posted by: jumpr
I have this nagging feeling that if my parents pay for it, I should milk it for as long as possible.

Heh, I have the exact opposite frame of mind... I hate letting my parents pay for anything for me. They mean well, but I'm a man and it's my responsiblity.

 

Originally posted by: Jugernot

Originally posted by: jumpr
I have this nagging feeling that if my parents pay for it, I should milk it for as long as possible.

Heh, I have the exact opposite frame of mind... I hate letting my parents pay for anything for me. They mean well, but I'm a man and it's my responsiblity.

That's exactly how I feel - I mean I'm almost 19, and I'm fiscally responsible, and I love getting new gadgets and stuff, but I'm also really cheap.

I can easily afford $40/mo. for a phone, but I have a perfectly good situation right here, and it's free! I don't know what to do. But yeah, I feel the same as you, jugernot. I would much rather pay for something than have my parents pay for it. But my parents like providing stuff like this for me.

 

[RossMAN]

If you plan on calling your parents/sister a lot (more than 150 mins per month) I would consider sticking with Verizon. Because with T-Mobile you can't have "cell to cell" from T-Mobile to Verizon because they're different cell phone companies.

But if that's not going to be an issue, T-Mobile gives you the most bang for your buck.

$40/mo
600 anytime weekday with free long distance and free roaming
UNLIMITED anytime with free long distance and free roaming

This is for the Portland, Oregon market not sure about where you live.