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Would you lie to your parents to get the iPhone 4??

I expected the OP to be 14 when I read the title. He's about to go to college?

Good luck kid, real world is going to shock you. And no, thats not college either.
 
Someone can correct me if I've missed something, but are we sure this guy's in college? He calls himself a kid, and I didn't see anything in the OP about college...just that he's an international student. The high school that I went to allowed foreign exchange students. Maybe that's the situation?

He said that public schools don't offer a work study program. Public high schools may not, but public universities do.
 
Badandy said:
Contrary to other posters in this thread, there's nothing wrong with receiving stuff from your parents. Some people call it being spoiled, but it really only becomes a problem when you don't appreciate the gift and get a sense of entitlement. Just because someone else worked 40 hours while in school to support themselves doesn't mean that someone who didn't work while in school and had their parents support them is somehow a worse person.

The problem, however, is when you start lying to get money off of your parents. That's extremely rude and offensive. The fact that you would even consider it is very telling about the type of person you are.
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I don't think anyone is saying he is a worse person because he doesnt work - instead, he requested and received a gift, which he clearly didn't need and now wants another one because its the new cool thing to have.

The reasoning is terrible to begin with.

Then comes the "should i lie" which, agreed, is flat out rude.

Ferrd said:
As a parent, I will tell you that if my son did this to me; that iPad would be the last thing I ever bought him. Appreicate what you already have!

My son wants an iPhone. And I will get him one........right after he brings me a 3.5 gpa on his first quarter report card. Doesn't get a 3.5 gpa, doesn't get an iPhone. Even tells a small lie to me about this topic.....doesn't get an iPhone.

Truthfully, I could care less if my son doesn't have a 3.5 gpa on his report card. All I care about is that he is HONEST, and works HARD. I know my son well enough to know that he'll get that 3.5.

I think you need to reevaluate what your parents have done for you in your life.......

Want an iPhone 4, sell your 3gs. Take that $, and buy an iPhone 4. Selling the 3gs doesn't cover the amount you'll need..........simple, sell more of your belongings (which your parents paid for anyway).
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More parents should teach their kids values like this.

My parents used to do the same thing - straight As in HS, or i wouldnt get what I asked for.

granted, things that I asked for were not expensive ... like a speed ladder for training, or a new soccer ball that costed $30.

either way, more parents should do this to teach their children the value of money. otherwise, once the kid is grown up, it is going to be a rude awakening when he wastes his paycheck away, piles up mountains of debt and cant pay next months rent.
 
I assume the OP is in this country on F1 student visa?

If yes, then the OP is NOT eligible for any work outside his/her campus. I was in F1 visa as well until recently... (Finally got my H1B work visa).

I worked as Teaching Assistant for one of my professor and I've worked at the school dining hall as well.... Sad to say these places usually pay very little (minimum wage). I am quite sure 7 dollars per hour part time job won't be enough to purchase iPad/iPhone + Paying for service plan. I continued with my TA employment but quickly stopped working for the dining hall. I love trading stocks and this is precisely what I did to supplement my allowance during college... Oh and selling Nintendo Wii on eBay used to be good too but queueing up at 5am in the morning is taking its toll :)

Some people here suggested to take up job outside the campus and yeah that's great and all except if they found out about it, your F1 visa will be revoked and you'll be deported. I advise strongly against this... especially if you're on F1 visa because well... it's stupid to take the risk of deportation so you can purchase gadget, heh :eek:

I'm not sure about you, OP but when I was in college, my parents send me a lump sum for 6 months allowance and rent (usually coincide with my semester tuition fees) and it is up to me to manage those allowances. If I spent them all in 1 month, well I'm SoL... However, the good thing about this is that I can manage the money... I also made 1 (ONLY 1) Credit Card to help me manage my money better...

Don't forget, if you're getting new gadget, sell off the old one!!!! I sold my Nexus One for $450 before purchasing my iPhone 4. This is a mere $80 reduction from the price I paid Google for the phone. $80 depreciation for 6 months use is not that bad for a phone.

Again, I'm not sure how you manage your money but I was able to use iPhone (and other gadgets) back then ;) Without lying!!!!
 
I recently turned 18 and have a full time job for the summer (before i attend university). I was able to land a really good job ($17/hr), with the help of my father. So ive saved around 5000 dollars, i bought an iphone and my dad says "i feel bad that you spent that much". so he gave me a check (which i never deposited). I check my balance online and he deposited straight into my account saying "you must have forgot to deposit the check". I put all the money he gave me into my saving for something more important than an iphone. Taking handout from your parents isnt bad as long as you understand the value of money. The OP should defiently not like to his parents, no matter how much cheaper he can make his monthy plan. When i bought my iphone i my only ipod, my psp ect, even though i had the money. Anyone the moral is, talk to your parents, if they say not then sell some stuff, work part time and buy it. its MUCH more rewarding to purchase it yourself.
 
Steveo47 said:
I recently turned 18 and have a full time job for the summer (before i attend university). I was able to land a really good job ($17/hr), with the help of my father. So ive saved around 5000 dollars, i bought an iphone and my dad says "i feel bad that you spent that much". so he gave me a check (which i never deposited). I check my balance online and he deposited straight into my account saying "you must have forgot to deposit the check". I put all the money he gave me into my saving for something more important than an iphone. Taking handout from your parents isnt bad as long as you understand the value of money. The OP should defiently not like to his parents, no matter how much cheaper he can make his monthy plan. When i bought my iphone i my only ipod, my psp ect, even though i had the money. Anyone the moral is, talk to your parents, if they say not then sell some stuff, work part time and buy it. its MUCH more rewarding to purchase it yourself.
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The OP stated he is an international student and you can't get a full time job outside your campus as international student (unless you're getting paid under the table and the employer do not report to the government that you're working with them)... You can only get job in your campus/institution.

But otherwise yeah, i think it's just a shameful thing to lie to our parents for a gadget ;)
 
Tell your parents the truth, and explain it all to them, better to be upfont, honest and either get accepted or shot down, then have the guilt of lying to them all the time.

Trust me we have all been there in one shape or form, and Guilt will eat at you forever :(
 
Sell your ipod since you don't want it. Also any other gadgets you don't use/need. Shoot for trying to come up with the money yourself first. If not possible at least get as close to it as you can, then ask them to help you out with the rest.
 
i cant believe people discussing if you could get a job or not. Who cares?
The point is: You like to have yet another luxury product and think about lying to your parents to get it. Not that you need it or something, no you are just to lazy to carry around your other two luxury products.
That makes you an ass. Period.
 
Wicked1 said:
Tell your parents the truth, and explain it all to them, better to be upfont, honest and either get accepted or shot down, then have the guilt of lying to them all the time.

Trust me we have all been there in one shape or form, and Guilt will eat at you forever :(
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Indeed... Lie creates another lie. Soon enough you'll be drowning in lies
 
You wish it was in the high $40s.

The cheapest phone plan alone is $39.95 and cheapest data is 14.99
 
Scheming is exhausting. If anything, stop now, catch your breath, and figure out a more direct way to do what you want to do. And do NOT get involved with friends in order to get a family discount. If anyone bails, and the account is in your name, you're left holding the bag.

I'd start here...

What does your current cellphone cost per month? Are you parents paying for it? I'm going to assume so. I'm also going to assume you're not under contract, because if you are, stop now and suck it up until you contract is up...

Take whatever your parents are paying for your current cellphone, and subtract it from whatever your iPhone bill would be. And make sure you consider tax, don't lowball it in order to convince your parents. Be honest. it'll pay off in the long run.

So, now, consider you're going to be getting into a 2yr contract. So take whatever the difference is between your current bill, and the iPhone bill, and multiply it by 24. This number is how much extra loot having an iPhone is going to cost you. Now, think about what you gotta do to save up this money. Stuff you'd be willing to sell to make it up. Maybe also an off the books part time job? Mow lawns, do what you gotta do. If you can come up with the money, you can present your parents with the idea that you're going to cover the difference in the bill. It may even show them you are willing to work a little hard and make a little sacrifice to get something you want, instead of just asking them to absorb this new expense.

Aside from that, you might have to just deal with it and use your phone and iPod touch. Honestly, having both, you got it pretty good already.

I'm an adult, and that's exactly what I plan on doing. I can't justify having an iPhone just so i don't "have to carry around two devices". The iPhone 4 is awesome. I'll give you that. I can see the desire. It's hard to just man up and do the right thing and realize what's needed and what's not.

If you can't cover the difference in the bill yourself, know you're still lucky enough to have a badass iPod and a phone. You're doing pretty well.
 
are you sure you can't get a job at your own school? some options might be available to you even as an international student.

if you are old enough to be in college then you are too old lie about such things.
 
Bandolier said:
You wish it was in the high $40s.

The cheapest phone plan alone is $39.95 and cheapest data is 14.99
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A FAN discount can provide you up to 28% off of your bill. That brings the cheapest iPhone plan to $43.80+tax or $46.80+tax for 450 minutes and 2GB of data.
 
I agree with what others are saying, but I'm confused exactly about what lying to your parents is going to do. They presumably already bought you the iPad? Where is the money for the iPhone coming from? I mean, if your parents to offered to buy you one and you want both, they're going to notice the additional $400.00 along the way somewhere. Regardless, if you're going to college is time to grow up and start supporting yourself. Work in your own country for the summer to get the funds if you need to, but what you're trying to do is proof that you are in no way close to being mature enough to handle yourself in real world situation.
 
I'm surprised at all of the "in the real world" comments. This kind of crap happens all the time in the real world unfortunately :(.

Either way, you should be honest to your parents OP, there are smarter and more morally satisfying ways of obtaining an iPhone.
 
OP needs to grow up and think about his future instead of ways to trick his parents into buying him more toys.
 
Nykwil said:
Some of you privileged kids with golden spoons in your mouths don't know the 1st thing about work.

Should you lie? No

Should you be accepting your parents money to help you get by? No

You want something? Here's a novel idea...find a way to do it that doesn't involve lying, taking handouts from your family (who actually worked for it), or whining about it.

Sell your ipod touch, sell your ipad, sell your material possessions. It's still your parents money, but at least you learn an important lesson of give and take, maybe even learn to appreciate the value of money.


*on a completely different topic, while your parent's money enter our economy while you're in school, I find it ****** that most international kids take away an education from the US only not to stay and give it back to us by joining our workforce.
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Ummm you shouldn't refuse the monetary help of your parents while you're in college, especially if it can help you focus more on academics and less on making money to pay for it.
 
Nrwrit3r said:
Ummm you shouldn't refuse the monetary help of your parents while you're in college, especially if it can help you focus more on academics and less on making money to pay for it.
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I partially agree with this. You are in college so that you can maximize your learning experience. The reason why you are paying a premium over other forms of extended education is because it gives you the opportunity to engage in challenging research, meet and work with some of the brightest minds in the industry, and to develop and expand your network. If you are just going to spend the bare minimum amount of time to get by in classes and then spend the rest of your time working for money then you would be better off expanding your education through different means as you aren't making the most of your college one.
 
Lies beget more lies.

Once you start lying, your self image crumbles as you see yourself as having no integrity or character.

It can set into motion a spiral down to misery.


Tell your folks you lied. Ask what you need to do to make up for it. Don't lie anymore. ---> a successful life.
 
What's left to be said after all the crap you've already gotten.

Oh. I know. How about this?

It's just a phone. You don't NEED it. You WANT it. And therein lies the difference.

Get over it. Getting a brand new phone isn't a right or something you're entitled to - it's a privilege and one that you should be earning/paying for it yourself.

Try respecting your parents enough to accept their decision and their already generous offer to buy you either the phone or the iPad.

You want to lie to them? How would you feel if they told you that they would buy one or the other and then DIDN'T because they lied.

We've all lied to our parents. I don't think anyone here will admit that they haven't. But this isn't just lying. This is abusing the generosity of your parents initial "offer."

If you are able to BUY the phone now - you should have offered/bought the iPad or phone to begin with. And it's ok that you didn't. Your parents made you an offer. But now you want to abuse that offer by lying to them and buying something behind their back.

Wow.
 
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