The True Cost of a Phone · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What a phone really costs you

Life Skills · Money & Finance · ages 12-13
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A contract has a fixed payment of $25 per month for 24 months. What do these payments total, in dollars?

    Answer: ______________

  2. A contract has a fixed payment of $25 per month for 24 months. What do these payments total, in dollars?

    Answer: ______________

  3. Separate phone insurance costs a fixed $8 per month for 24 months. Ana says it adds almost $200 to the total.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which rule gives the total cost of a phone deal over a chosen period?

    • Only the monthly payment
    • Only the price of the handset
    • Every payment, counted once

  5. Leaving a contract 8 months early costs $15 for each month left. What is the exit fee, in dollars?

    Answer: ______________

  6. What should you check before picking how much data your plan needs?

    • The advert with the happiest actor
    • Your old bills showing real data use
    • Your friend's favourite phone colour

  7. Both deals provide the same phone and service for 24 months. Plan A includes the phone for $30 per month. Plan B charges $400 upfront for the phone plus $10 per month. Prices stay fixed, with no other charges. Which costs less in total?

    • Plan B
    • Plan A
    • They cost exactly the same

  8. Both deals provide the same phone and service for 24 months. Plan A includes the phone for $30 per month. Plan B charges $400 upfront for the phone plus $10 per month. Prices stay fixed, with no other charges. Which costs less in total?

    • Plan B
    • Plan A
    • They cost exactly the same
    • You cannot tell

  9. Plan C includes a phone with no upfront charge for $20 per month. Plan D charges $300 upfront for the phone plus $5 per month. Both provide the same phone and service for 24 months. Prices stay fixed, with no other charges. Which costs less in total?

    • Plan C
    • They cost exactly the same
    • Plan D

  10. Leo needs 3 GB this month. Two monthly plans have the same service apart from their data limits: $15 for 100 GB or $10 for 5 GB. Both prices are fixed with no other charges. The $15 plan gives Leo the lowest cost for the data he needs.

    Circle one:   True   False

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What a phone really costs you W1-mt_L_o7NzVuh5-s1

  1. 600 · Multiply $25 by 24 months to get $600.
  2. 600 · Total is monthly cost times months: 25 times 24 is 600.
  3. True · 8 times 24 is 192 dollars, which is almost 200.
  4. Every payment, counted once · Add the actual upfront charges, monthly bills and extras not already included. If bills repay the handset, adding its price again counts it twice.
  5. 120 · Multiply $15 by 8 months left to get $120.
  6. Your old bills showing real data use · Past bills show recorded use and help estimate your data needs. Check whether your use is likely to change.
  7. Plan B · At the stated fixed prices, Plan A totals $720 and Plan B totals $640. They provide the same phone and service, so Plan B costs less.
  8. Plan B · At the stated fixed prices, Plan A totals $720 and Plan B totals $640. They provide the same phone and service, so Plan B costs less.
  9. Plan D · At the stated fixed prices, Plan C totals $480 and Plan D totals $420. They provide the same phone and service, so Plan D costs less.
  10. False · The 5 GB plan covers his 3 GB need for $10. With other service and charges equal, the 100 GB plan costs $5 more this month.
Worksheet · LightMySky