Best way to manage family mobile phones

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StarBlazer

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#129593 20-Sep-2013 20:35

I was wondering if there is any way to manage multiple mobile phones. You've probably guessed I'm a bit of a skinflint.

At the moment I have a company phone on a Telecom contract. Phone and txt are not a problem and I don't use that much data. Wife is on VF prepay - doesn't send many texts or make that many calls but it is increasing spend about $20 every 6 weeks. Eldest daughter is on telecom smart prepay - she has txt 5000 for $12 per month. But uses around 500-1000

Next daughter is getting a phone soon so what options do I have? Are there any prepay options that are better for the three or even are there any accounts that share txt and minutes?

Procrastination eventually pays off.

PaulBags

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#899247 20-Sep-2013 21:34

I was looking at telecom prepay bundles the other day, logged in online, and saw 30min plus 1000txt for $9. Hadn't seen it anywhere else on the site, only when logged in. Made the $9 for 500txt option below it seem rather silly. $12 for 5000 is too much anyway, especially if she's not using nearly that much.

There may be better options, that's just what I already had in my head.

[edit]
Picture of mentioned Telecom bundle.

StarBlazer

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#899248 20-Sep-2013 21:39

I should add that they will be getting smartphones at Christmas so data usage will increase.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

Kim587

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#899272 20-Sep-2013 22:38

I would've thought Skinny's $16 prepay plan would be the best deal for your daughters once the smartphones arrive.
Is your wife on Vodafone freebees? that might be the best deal for her.
I don't know of any way to share txts/minutes across devices.

michaelmurfy

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#899288 21-Sep-2013 00:27

Most parents give their child a $20 topup each month, this could cover the Big Value Pack which includes 100mins of calling and 500mb of data as well as unlimited texts. It's a good way to get your child into the whole plan thing whilst still capping them at $20 per month, show them how to track their usage via Your Telecom (http://m.telecom.co.nz/yt) and make sure they're aware that if they go over there's no more data ;)

There's Skinny too but the thing is, you're topping up $20 anyway, your child will end up using this $20 somehow each month so for you as a parent it's the same price.

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eXDee

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#906819 3-Oct-2013 00:18

michaelmurfy: Most parents give their child a $20 topup each month

Is this a fairly common thing now? Curious as to how many kids these days get given money for it, or are told to go work in retail and pay for their own phone plan

psychrn

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#906822 3-Oct-2013 00:40

OMG is this the expected norm these days.?????
Thank God my 3 kids have left home now.
But this is certainly an interesting question

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michaelmurfy

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#906835 3-Oct-2013 02:26

eXDee:
michaelmurfy: Most parents give their child a $20 topup each month

Is this a fairly common thing now? Curious as to how many kids these days get given money for it, or are told to go work in retail and pay for their own phone plan

It appears to be the norm, I know a few parents who provide their kids with $20 per month for their mobiles ;) heck my sister was getting her mobile contract paid for by my father at a cost of $89 per month, maybe my parents are a tad too generous so that's possibly a bad example heh.

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Inphinity

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#906862 3-Oct-2013 08:09

eXDee:
michaelmurfy: Most parents give their child a $20 topup each month

Is this a fairly common thing now? Curious as to how many kids these days get given money for it, or are told to go work in retail and pay for their own phone plan

Once they're old enough to get a job to pay for it, sure, but prior to that, most people I know build it in to their kid's pocket money for doing chores etc.

StarBlazer

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#907002 3-Oct-2013 12:20

My eldest is 13 and she is on a VF prepay text pack that costs $12/month - she gives me $6 from her pocket money - too young to have a proper job.

I'll be moving her and my wife (and eventually my other daughter when she gets a phone) to Skinny prepay as they have a plan for $16/month which gives 90mins/500MB Data and unlimited texts. They just have to use up their credit first before I move them and their numbers.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

NonprayingMantis

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#907007 3-Oct-2013 12:23

if you were going to pay their bills, you could put them all on Telecom 'one bill' which is the same as the prepay plans and rates, but you don't need to top up or mess around with cash etc. It just goes on your normal bill.

There is the danger with this that they can blow their pack minutes/data without realising and end up costing you lots of money

old3eyes

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#907013 3-Oct-2013 12:31

NonprayingMantis: if you were going to pay their bills, you could put them all on Telecom 'one bill' which is the same as the prepay plans and rates, but you don't need to top up or mess around with cash etc. It just goes on your normal bill.

There is the danger with this that they can blow their pack minutes/data without realising and end up costing you lots of money

Shouldn't you get a SMS saying your 80% of current usage as you do on Prepay??

Regards,

Old3eyes

NonprayingMantis

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#907044 3-Oct-2013 13:04

old3eyes:
NonprayingMantis: if you were going to pay their bills, you could put them all on Telecom 'one bill' which is the same as the prepay plans and rates, but you don't need to top up or mess around with cash etc. It just goes on your normal bill.

There is the danger with this that they can blow their pack minutes/data without realising and end up costing you lots of money

Shouldn't you get a SMS saying your 80% of current usage as you do on Prepay??

if you put them on a plan, yes, but they would get the txt, not you as the bill payer, and we all know how cpncienscious kids are with data usage :P