The other worse part is the fact that smartphone prices are skyrocketing and carriers are starting to signal they're no longer willing to bear the burden of 0% financing the phone to you based on the risks involved.

T-Mobile stepping out declaring "nothing" with their EIP Flex 36 that has a 0-24% creditworthiness-based interest and Klarna stepping in to do Apple leasing is a bad sign ahead.

So now it's not only thinking about "buying a new phone"... it's "how are you paying for it now"... will that be cash, a credit card, carrier finance, carrier lease, or your next of kin?