I have wanted a Samsung Galaxy III for months now. I am not eligible for an upgrade on my contract for a year or so, and if I were to buy one full price without the benefit of the upgrade, I'd spend about $650. Even with the upgrade, I'm still spending $400. After that, factor in the data plan- for a single person, after talk-time, texting and the required data package (unless you get an unlocked phone- which is even more expensive every major cell phone carrier requires a data plan when you purchase a smart phone. Doesn't matter that the device is Wifi capable)- you're looking at a MINIMUM of $100/mo for your phone bill. Add the iPad's data package to that, and you're looking at what, $140-$150 a month? This is if she's only covering herself on the plan, and not her husband and/or anyone else. I have 3 phones on my plan, and my bill is just over $200/mo. Regarding the iPad, she could have had an iPad mini, which doesn't require a long-term contract.
All that said, though, I am AMAZED at how many people have these devices that I never would have thought had the means to purchase them. My DH is a mentor for an organization that pairs successful black men with troubled youth. The 14 year old boy he is currently mentoring has 5 siblings that are all younger than him, his mother is a struggling single mother, but he has a Samsung Galaxy III and a whole lot of other electronic playthings.
If this particular type of photography meant that much to SS, she may have made the sacrifice to purchase the devices she'd need to make it happen. While crazy-expensive for a phone, it is not much different than a nice camera- but unlike a nice camera, she has calling, texting, internet capabilities to boot.
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