Anyone here good with numbers?

[andrewducker]

I'm currently looking at the difference in price between going to a Samsung Galaxy Nexus by getting a contract (£35-ish/month) or by buying up front (£480+10/month). This works out to about £120-£140 cheaper by buying the phone myself, depending on exactly how I do it.

My question, then, is about discounting future costs. If I spend £480 now rather than in chunks then I lose the utility of that money over the next two years. How does one account for that?

I assume there's a simple equation I could plug in that would tell me to stop being so stupid and just buy the fucking phone, but I'd like to be sure...

Comments

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

One thing you haven't factored in is that the phone you buy is unlocked from day One. Financially ths is worth a lot if you intend going to the USA during the lifetime of owning the handset. I bought a PAYG SIM in NY, which I could use in my phone and thus not rack up my UK data charges yet have full access to email and Internet whilst there.