So Glad I Cheaped Out on Electronic Accessories

I will never tire of bragging that I kept a cellphone intact for over 7 years - especially to my iPhone buddies. My next brag is going to be how I cheaped out on some accessories.

When I got the S8 Plus way back in the olden days, I also got a Gear watch as a "bonus freebie". The watch was not much of a freebie since in order to fully use it, I had to pay for a line. I did end up getting rid of the line after about a year and just used the thing with wi-fi. That watch still works but it won't work with any devices newer than 2023...

As I was trying to chose a phone this time, I was momentarily tempted to get the S8 Ultra instead of the S24 Plus - just because the Ultra comes with the S-Pen. I realized how silly a decision that would be. I loved having the S-Pen with the Galaxy Note - this was a really long time back - but while I did use it to take notes, I mostly used it to play games and to, well, just have the fancy pen. So silly.

Well, I did not get the Gear watch or the S-Pen. But I did get a watch and a stylus. All together, the two cost me under $35. Guess what? I love them both. I think I love my cheap smart watch more than the Gear. The stylus works as well as the S-Pen (for my needs) and I actually got a 3-pack with extra nibs. (Side note: the cheapest Gear watch is currently running about $350 for the watch and at least $7/month for the line.)

The watch is what I use the most. It does everything the Gear did and it works smoothly. I mainly use it to track my fitness, read messages, monitor sleep patterns - you know, snitch on myself to Big Brother.  It does keep me motivated to move more during the day. I am also going to be able to show my doctors how poor my sleeping routine is. I don't think they realize how bad my insomnia has gotten.

I love having a stylus (or 3) only because of all the freaky AI stuff that is on the new phones. I think I spent more time the first day playing with the AI drawing apps than I did using the phone for anything else. I'm such a child. (And, yes, I know that this whole cool AI thing is another stage in the boiling frog situation that will be our demise as citizens.)

Honestly, I am tempted to stand right outside a cellphone store to warn people against getting expensive watches and pens for their devices. Most phone accessories are "Gotcha" buys or temptation buys - especially when you get them from the service providers.

When I was checking out during the phone purchase and having to nope through all the teaser sales, I noticed how expensive everything was. An Otterbox case cost more that part of my monthly grocery budget. The extra chargers and cables and SD cards... All so ridiculously priced. The first thing I buy for a new phone is a case and the second thing is a screen protector. I got both for under $40

Going back and looking at the accessories from the service provider (and this is with their "special sale pricing"), the total for a phone case, 1 screen protector and 1 charging block (cable not included) is $98 (or $135 without the sale). 

I have not gotten everything I need yet (I will stagger the purchases for my budget!), but the total for:

• the case (I got it) with a sliding camera cover
• 2 charging blocks with 2 cables
• 3 multi-nib stylus' with additional nibs
• 2 screen protectors (from the IQ Shield brand I used with my last phone)

... that all comes to around $65. My brother gave me a charging block and the phone came with a cable so I don't have to sweat that for now.

Once I get everything I need for my phone, I am at the very least about $500 ahead of what my provider would have charged me. I'm already mad about having to pay off the phone in installments. The next time one of my credit cards makes an offer, I will be paying off my provider and making the payments to my card...

As always when I think about the cost of things, I come back to dear Katt Williams.

You have to laugh about it to keep from crying.

Cellphones are no longer optional. They are no longer something that people get just as a status symbol (well, I can't speak for my iPhone brothers and sisters!); they are a necessity. My phone is my connection to my family, doctors, creditors, etc. I can't even buzz visitors into our building without a phone.

I prefer a chunky look over a girly style

Even though I have to have a cellphone, I realize that I don't need the fanciest one. I don't need the cool watch or pricey earbuds or blinged out case. I need the phone and for everything else I want, I can cheap out. For instance, if I have to, I could replace the cheap watch at least 10 or 11 times for the cost of the Gear. And that's if I get a really decent budget watch... To be fair, if the watch lasts me at least a year, I will be happy.

I am really glad that I cheaped out on everything about my phone this time. Here's looking forward to another 7 or 8 years!

Peace

--Free