How do you convince your parents to buy you a cell phone?

[pokapink17]

Please help I want a cell phone but they are totally against the idea of getting me one, they have cell phones but they won't get me one

Please help?

[American Woman]

I bought my 12-year-old son a cell phone about a month ago. I did it because it makes me feel more secure knowing that he can reach me or I can reach him immediately.
I also like it because when he goes to a school dance or the golf course, he can call me when he's ready to come home. When I arrive to pick him up, instead of waiting forever for him to find me, I can call him when I arrive and he can come straight to me.

For me, it's a matter of safety and convenience.

[kknighten9]

if your parents are finacially stable an they won't get you one maybe you should show them that you are responsible.

[ADAM I]

let them know that it is a way for you to be reached at all times

[courtney k]

Having a cellphone is not a big deal....as soon as you get one you'll be in love with it after a while you really won't care. there is different ways to persuade your parents. if your the type of person who hangs at the mall a lot and goes places with your friends and you are very independent than a cellphone is a good choice. explain to your parents that you are very responible and that you wont over text and just call for emergency or when you have there permission. also after a while you'll be able to talk on your celphone more freely.......

[K Cacas <ksolaris>]

I think your parents would first like to see that you're responsible enough to own one. Afterall, they'll be paying for it, and they want to make sure that it will be worth their investment. Just assure them that having a cellphone will be beneficial for both you and them ("Mom, you can check on me after class and know I'm okay. You'll know if I'm at the library or the bowling place, etc etc. I can call you if there's an emergency."), otherwise, they'd be paranoid that you'd just be using your phone to flirt with boys or people they don't know about!

[tab1]

Get a job and pay for it yourself.

[mekobuddy1]

tell them the story about a girl who was kidnapped from the store and used her phone to text the police and she made it out.

[nursemom]

As a parent, in this day and age of needing to know the who, where, and when of my kids, a cell phone just makes sense. They are so much more affordable than they used to be (trac phones) and my kids wont ever be able to say "I would have called but I wasn't near a payphone", or "I didn't have a phone card or change". Plus, I don't ever want to risk them being stranded anywhere with so many predators in the world. I'm not saying I'd buy them a BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) or anything, but just a good basic cellphone for practical use. Good luck.

[lord_darkclaw]

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't own a pay-as-you-go phone (PAYG), I presume you have those in the US.
If you're prepared to pay for phone credit then tell your parents that it's a good way for them to keep in touch with you (perhaps a good reason to NOT want one?) and allow you to make emergency calls if you need to.