People making an average hourly don't think of things that way. Paying $28/month for a phone provides much more liquidity for the unexpected, when the other opt

People making an average hourly don't think of things that way. Paying $28/month for a phone provides much more liquidity for the unexpected, when the other option is spending over 25% of your months income, you're SOL if your car breaks for whatever reason, or you get a flat tire, or your water bill was unusually high.