Just pay it off and be done with it, life is too short to spend time every month making payments. Do you buy bubblegum on an installment plan too?
As long as you are not late on your installments, it doesn't effect your credit score at all.
You still pay the full amount, if not more. If you have the cash and it’s not going to cause any financially strain, why not just get it over with and not have to worry about it? The phone will be fully yours and paid for, and not cost you another dime.
Obviously this is on a small scale, but this is why so many people are in debt. If you cannot afford a device, don't buy it. The only thing you should finance is a house and maybe a car. People always turn $27 a month into $50 into $100, etc.
What do you mean? You pay taxes on the $648 whether you buy it outright or you do the monthly installments... so what's the difference?
I strongly disagree with this. You are financing the phone at 0% interest. You should ALWAYS take 0% interest payments over a lump sum, simply due to inflation if nothing else.
If you buy the phone because you CANNOT afford the lump sum, and view the monthly payments as a way to “afford” it, then i see your point. You should not do that.
But if you can buy it outright, you should take the payment plan.
Does it hurt your credit score? I guess that'd be a reason why you wouldn't do an installment plan...
read the fine print
on the Barclays / Apple plan if you just miss one payment you owe a huge interest penalty.
I strongly disagree with this. You are financing the phone at 0% interest. You should ALWAYS take 0% interest payments over a lump sum, simply due to inflation if nothing else.
It leasing it. Apple and Citizens Bank are making a lot of money from people playing the phone merry go round game.Paying an installment plan and then upgrading every year means you are always paying off a phone. It is a lot like leasing it and never owning it.
How can you be late on your installments if you are using the iPhone upgrade program? Afterall, your credit card is being charged so the financers are guaranteed their money.
Paying an installment plan and then upgrading every year means you are always paying off a phone. It is a lot like leasing it and never owning it.