He Said She Said: Should The Wife get a cell phone?
Her Fate in Your Hands
He Said
My wife has been bothering me about a phone for a long time. The thing is, she doesn’t only want a phone; she wants a phone that has computing capabilities. In addition to that, she wants a phone plan that includes data (ability to send email and browse the internet). This request has been in the works for about a year. She has given me all sorts of lame excuses to explain why this is critical to her survival. At one point we talked about it being a reward if she met some type of health goal (this goal would have been determined by her and would include points based on how much she worked out, how much weight she lost, etc.)
Perhaps because of my weakened condition and because I am taking some pain medication, today she tried to talk me into the phone again. I told her to write up a proposal outlining a few things.
- How will this benefit the family?
- What cost savings will be realized?
- How will a PDA/phone increase her productivity?
- How will she measure whether this device is worth the money?
She submitted a proposal to me within 2 hours (if I could only get those results for other things like cleaning the house and doing laundry!)
Her proposal is below. I would like you, the reader, to decide whether or not she has made a good case. Perhaps she has justified a phone, perhaps a PDA, perhaps both, or perhaps neither. (By the way, she has no idea that I’m posting this)
She Said
Dear Donkey:
Per your request, I am submitting a requisition form for a new communication device, specifically a Palm Treo with voice and data capabilities. Please consider the following factors and be ready to discuss the matter with me as soon as possible. Remember, a happy wife = a happy family.
Why a Cell Phone?
- Emergencies
-Roadside assistance
-Medical needs
-School, bus issues - Convenience
-I’ll be available to others
-I can call others when I think about it, want to, need to, have extra time - Coordination
-Making plans with you—rides, schedules, etc.
-Last minute changes (decide to do another errand, make another stop, etc.)
-Notifications (“Sorry I’m late,” “Can I drop by?” etc.) - Long Distance
-More likely to call family members and friends
Why a PDA?
- Sanity Saving
-Have lists on hand (to-do, shopping, wishlists…)
-Have calendar on hand
-Have contact information on hand
-With the time that we invest in getting my new system up and running this week (including you so kindly taking the kids out of town for me, etc.), it would be nice if the organization/systems could actually stay in place (meaning I need access to my info). - Time Saving
-Read & respond to emails at convenient times, instead of sitting down at the computer throughout the day.
-Use downtime (waiting for Tommy’s bus, in waiting rooms, etc.) more effectively—draft posts, write emails, proofread your homework and work documents, etc.
Why a Phone/PDA Combo?
- 2-in-1 device convenient, cost-effective
- Data Option: Live access to web, email, etc. A lot of the calendar/organizing applications I use are web-based. This would eliminate the need for me to have to plug the device into the computer and try to synchronize all my information.
$ -The Bottom Line – $ [here are the costs for her proposal]
- Phone/PDA is $300.
- Plan is $63 a month. 450 daytime minutes, Unlimited In-Calling, Nights, Weekends, Data
- We can eliminate all extra options on our home phone -$15 a month
- We can eliminate phone card and long distance calls -$15 a month (pay phone calls are now $1 each!)
Improvements You Will See
- I will know what is going on, what needs to be done, and what I am doing
- I will spend considerably less time in the chair in front of the computer
- I will not put things off, since I won’t have to wait to get upstairs to the computer
- I will enjoy keeping track of things, and getting things done
And finally, a few quotes from productivity guru David Allen:
“I’ve seen people go from resisting to actually enjoying sorting through their stacks once their personal filing system is set up and humming.” and, “I’ve done some of my best planning and updating for myself when I simply wanted some excuse to use (i.e., play with) my Palm organizer while waiting for dinner in a restaurant.”
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Your loving Wife
********
Please cast your vote and I will use the results to make my decision. Please consider the costs of the phone and plan ($300 for the phone and $63 per month!!!) compared to the benefits outlined above. After all, this will come out of funds used to buy food and clothing for the kids
UPDATE: Check out The Wife’s plea for help on her other blog.
UPDATE: The poll is now closed. See results here.
12 Responses to “He Said She Said: Should The Wife get a cell phone?”
I am trying to cast my vote on Nancy’s fate…cell phone/pda, but it won’t let me pick that one. I get an error message. Hmmm…sounds fishy Chris!
By Jolie Rodriguez on Aug 29, 2007
Chris,
You blllllllllew it, you should have just given this phone/PDA to Nancy as an anniversary gift for the many wonderful years she has given you (and for putting up with you all those same years). Let’s face it buddy she is way worth more than $300.00 plus $63.00 an month and you know it. Stop trying to torture her. Be nice for a change. What is this with written porposal? Don’t you KNOW when you are home, you are NOT at work? Wake up guy and smell the roses, they are growing in your backyard and you don’t even know it.
By Margaret AKA Mom, AKA Grandma on Aug 29, 2007
I direct this to Chris and Nancy.
First I am in favor of Nancy receiving a cell phone and I have voted the “phone only” option in the poll. The argument for safety is a compelling one.
Having said that, I understand that Nancy has a history of losing phones, not once, but twice. I do not think an additional investment in a Treo would be a good one until it can be demonstrated that proper care can be taken with a telephonic device that includes getting used to carrying one.
You can get a prepaid phone from Walmart for $18.00. Let me propose that Nancy get a cheaper phone for a time and when it can be demonstrated that the phone is in good hands, talk about an upgrade.
You don’t want to give someone a porsche if they are just learning to drive.
By Karlmalone on Aug 29, 2007
So maybe the plan is $63 per month, but if you subtract your savings, I say a BIG argument is that you get ALL of those benefits for only $33/month!
What kind of a moron wouldn’t jump on that?
By Anonymous on Aug 29, 2007
she has a compelling argument.
By mrs. everything on Aug 29, 2007
I am confused. She is proposing a new bill that would only be less than our mortgage,car payment, insurance, electric, and HOA (includes water, cable, garbage, and sewer).
By The Donkey on Aug 29, 2007
Hey Chris,
Has Nancy checked out the new iphone? Dan’s drooling for one of those–better than a treo and more money!!!! So be grateful she hasn’t happened upon the mac world.
Here’s a sample conversation between Dan and me:
Court: Hey Dan, I was thinking it would be nice to get _______.
Dan: That’s great.
The End–I guess because he knows I always check the money and know it will work. Hope you recover soon from your accident. Crazy.
By Courtney on Aug 29, 2007
I’m all for poor Nancy having a phone/PDA – I don’t know how Mom’s ever do without a cell phone (see my blog for a recent road-side emergency that would have been REALLY bad without a phone). As for the PDA part, if you prefer, Chris, she could buy one of those planners that cost about $150 plus a new calendar pages thing every year, plus any add-ons that she deems necessary. Those things can easily be $300 before you’re done. So why not get a digital one for her and score some points with the wife.
By Nancy Sabina on Aug 30, 2007
the only excessive expensive seems to be the monthly internet charge, which she had a very week argument for. so get the device and forget the internet option, it will be a nice compromise.
By phillyz on Aug 30, 2007