My 15 yr old daughter wants a digital camera and a cell phone. Teen is not very responsible or good at managing my money.

I'm leaning towards a TracFone that takes pictures (not a millionaire).

Any suggestions or bad experiences would be very helpful. Thanx

The most important thing here are the charges. Internet time ,minutes etc..
How will you be charged for every picture,text message (thats sent and received)
and non in your plan phone calls. These charges can be brutal. I've seen excess charges of 300 - 800 USD.
Pay sharp attention to these segments of your calling plan.

This post has been edited by boopme: Dec 4 2007, 02:15 PM

Not sure if you have pay as you go phone's in the state's,but for a teenager that is the way to go ,then they have the phone they want, but also are responsible to pay for there call's without having a contract to honour.

You can block certain features of a phone through the cell phone carrier.

For example, I use Sprint, and I can contact Sprint and have them lock out web access, text mail, etc. so there is no way it can be accidentally used and run up charges on my account.

Further, some new camera phones are capable of using a flash memory card enabling you, or your daughter, to take pictures on the phone and copy them to a PC without incurring any additional charge.

Hi Vicki,

I'm with mz30 and his great advice re a 'pay as you go' plan. (Simply because I read carefully your words about, "not very responsible or good at managing" your money - huge smile!).

You can buy great, lovely phones that do everything your daughter could wish for - but simply opt for the ones that can be used 'pay as you go' through your phone company, for example. For instance, it could be pre-activated by you prior to wrapping it in pretty paper - and simply tuck a 'gift' card' for $50 or whatever amount you choose in with the phone. It just means that she can use the phone until that $50 amount is used up ... and then it's time to get another card or stop using the phone for awhile.

I think she (and you) will be horrified to see how quickly that $50 is gone - poof! Have my fingers crossed that 'Santa' hasn't promised her she'll pay for other than the actual phone - eep and another huge smile!

Anyway, regardless of what you decide, hope your daughter loves it and you too get something very special on Christmas morning.