Do You Have Your Own Rules for Your Children's Phone Usage?

How closely do you monitor your children's use of technology?

Janelle Hoffman, a mother of five, presented her 13-year-old son with an iPhone for Christmas, along with a list of rules and regulations for its use. Not the Apple list; the mom's list. Rule No. 1 is, "It's my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren't I the greatest?" And No. 2 is, "I will always know the password." The contract has 18 points of requirements for usage that range from proper phone etiquette to sage advice for the future, such as No. 12: "Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else's private parts. Don't laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea." …

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Frugal Family

Frugal Family: Cutting Your Cell Phone Costs

Unused minutes and overage fees add up to wasted cash.

How many among us signed up for a cell phone plan and then never gave it another thought? Depending on your needs and your usage habits, it may be time to reevaluate your plan and your practices. Here are a few tips for saving on cell phone costs: 1. Be realistic. Call your service provider or go into the store to make sure you're on the right plan. If you have a high number of unused minutes or text messages each month, you're paying for more than you need. Downsize your plan and save some cash. Likewise, if you're paying high minute or text overage fees, upgrading your plan to one with more or unlimited minutes or texts may save you money. 2. Use the same plan as the friends and family you talk to most, if possible.  Depending on your …

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