Steps :
1)Assess your parents. Casually drop the idea in a conversation, say something like, "Melissa sure was lucky she had a cell phone at that party or she'd have been stuck there all night." Drop some hints you might like one. If there is a reaction or an agreement, then all is good. If not, identify the problem parent. If both parents are opposed, then there is little you can do.
2)Let us assume that one parent is opposed and the other is either neutral or on like it's stabbing yourself with an icicle.
..You need one to coordinate events with your parents, pickups, friends coming over, study sessions, etc.
...Whenever you find yourself in a situation where having a cell phone would be a major advantage, casually and calmly drop a hint about it. "it sure would be nice if I had my own cell phone right about now..."
Tips:
Have a calm and mature attitude about this. Don't burst in to a room and yell, "Mom, I like need a cell phone now! Everyone has one!" Plan out your conversation for a few minutes by yourself before you talk to your parents. Explain to them why you should get a cell phone in a calm and mature way.
Go for the prepaid phone plans like Virgin Mobile, Kajeet or Tracfone. Parents will probably be more likely to spring for plans that eliminate running up a huge bill. True, they may not be the coolest or nicest phones, but, hey, isn't it better than not having a phone?
Any Verizon phone is compatible with thier Pre-Pay plan. If other pre-pay services do not offer the phone for you, consider Verizon's prepay.
You parents may offer to get you a FireFly, or JitterBug. While the latter is for older adults, a cell phone is better than nothing, and you can always negotiate a better phone a couple of months into the future
Tell your parents you feel left out because you can't go places with your friends.
If your parents decide to get you a phone, offer to pay for the phone or part of the bill. This will most likely make them realize that you are mature and responsible and that they made the right choice.
Take very good care of your phone if you get it, even if it isn't the most expensive or cool phone ever. If you aren't careful, you could end back where you started, and your parents will see that you weren't mature enough for the responsibility if you lose your phone or break it.
Respect your parents decisions and restrictions when it comes to texting, etc.
They may let you have it if you pay towards a portion of it.
There are some very good reasons that you shouldn't get a cell phone that your parents will come up with, and some very good ways for you to argue with those reasons. Here are a few:
Q: Whatever parties you'll be going to will be at your friend's house. Don't they have a land line?
A:Your friend asks "Don't you have a cell phone?" as you are walking towards the regular phone.
Q: Embarassing not to have a cell phone? What horrible names will they call you if they find out that you don't own one?
A: Geek, Baby, Hobo, etc.
Q:How many generations survived without cell phones?
A:Many generations... without as many drugs, gangs, and(if your mom is the dissenting one) violence inspired by TV and videogames. (She can't disagree.)
If they say "you don't need one. There's bound to be a phone where ever you go." say something like "where? pay phones are practically extinct now! when was the last time you saw one this year?"
As a last resort, offer to change your ways (trust me it's worth it). Offer to do more things for your parents: chores, eating whatever they serve for dinner, practicing an instrument that you don't practice enough, just think of things your parents want from you that you don't give them.
Another last resort is to rack up the bill by texting on your parents' phones a lot and offer to have them get the unlimited texting plan and add you to their plan while still saving money. For example, if you have a two line plan on Verizon without unlimited texting for 1400 minutes, get the bill to 125 bucks. Find an excuse, like your friends texted you, you didn't text them. If your parents tell you to tell them to stop texting you, tell your friends to text you a little more. This will prove that you need an unlimited texting plan, and if you combine this with the previous last resort, you will almost definitely get a cellphone.
Your parents might want to get you a cheap cellphone like at $49.99. Try asking for one for your birthday. If your parents don't have enough money to get one for your birthday, try waiting for Christmas. If you ask "Mom, can I have a cellphone for Christmas?" and they say no, and you don't throw a fit, then they may think you're mature enough for one, and will get you one for Christmas. If they only give you a cellphone under any conditions, just follow them! At least you get what you want.
One way to do it is to go somewhere after school and then come home. Once there, they'll ask where you were. You can say "I w
