Smart Phones

Cell phones create a little bit of controversy in my household.  Where we are currently at is my wife has had a regular cell phone (for this essay, perhaps I will call it a "dumb phone" as it is basically just a phone) for about 8 years with a big, expensive contract. The expense was ameliorated a "bit" by the fact that she was on a plan with her mother which "lowered" the cost a bit.   I have have had a  pay-as-you-go "dumb phone" for 7 years now, and in the full seven years, I have spent less than  $250 total on minutes for the beast.  It has been very useful, but I am not typically one to talk a lot on the phone.  Only three people ever knew my cell phone number... my wife, one of my sisters, and my mother.  The phone is for my convenience for me to call people if I need to while out and about.

My wife's mother decided to go with a different plan, and my wife now is in the market for a new phone and plan.  She really wants a "smart phone".  I have played around a bit with various smart phones of my relatives and my students, and I admit they are rather fun, and the convenience of being able to access the Internet and e-mail from them does have appeal.   There lies the conundrum.  I am very much a penny-pinching-cheapskate by nature.  While I would find it "fun" to have a smart phone to play around with, the idea of paying for the damn thing makes me apoplectic.  Here is the basic breakdown of what the options are that I can see:

1.  My wife gets a smart phone and a "plan" which will run roughly $80-90 every month.  I keep my "dumb phone".
2.  My wife and I get a smart phone and a "plan" which will run roughly $140-150 every month.
3.  My wife gets a "monthly" smart phone which will run about $50 every month.  I keep my "dumb phone". 
4.  My wife and I both get a "monthly" smart phone which will then run about $100 every month. 

My wife has worries about the "service" if she were to go to monthly plan, thinking that the coverage is not good and that she would not have the access she wants.  She would like a traditional (aka pricey) "plan" which she feels has better coverage and better access.  I think it would be kind of "fun" to have a smart phone, but the idea of paying $150 every single  MONTH for such seems too damn extravagant and a bit outrageous.  If my wife got the month-by-month smart phone and I kept my dumb phone, we would be paying roughly what we pay now for her phone, but I would feel a bit left out, I guess.  So, neither of us knows what is the best way to go.  It is still open for debate.  Part of me still feels cell phones in general, while convenient, are just a damn extravagance. 

Enough about phone nonsense.  I am thinking I may be able to visit my elderly father-in-law this afternoon.  If I do, this will become a "special occasion pipe smoking" Friday.  If I do not get to go, I will stick to my zero "non-special day" plan.  

PipeTobacco

Today's (Friday's) Goal =0, or 1, or 2 bowls

Yesterday's (Thursday's) Goal = 0 bowls
Actual consumption (Thursday) = 0 bowls

P.S.  Note to BBC:

For me, when I was smoking my pipe in my more typical rate before 11/26, the big one-pound canister would last me between 3-4 weeks  (usually 4, unless I was more stressed).  Of course, there were occasional supplements from my pouches of flavored pipe tobaccos and one or two cigars a month as well.  If my current "special occasion pipe smoking" mode sticks, I am estimating the pipe tobacco I have now will probably last through June of next year.