I just signed up for a CITI AT&T card to get $650 back on an iphone 6s. I'll sell my 5s for between $150 and $200. I'll also upgrade to a 128G phone. On the plus side I got my plan reduced to $75 plus tax for 2G data, two phones, unlimited text/calls, and data rollover. We use 900MB a month. I have to spend $2k in 3 months (about $1150 after phone). Moving fios, cell bill, toll bill, netflix, audible, and a few other monthly bills should cover it.
Also the new phone will improve the performance of my kickstarter Hexo+ drone. Bought with profits from side gig of refurbishing and flipping bicycles. With a 360 degree camera on board it should take some interesting overheads.
I did hold out using a flip phone for 2 years while my family members had iPhone 3; my wife is now satisfied with her iPhone 5.
Ok, FI is a couple more months out, I'm to old for RE but should make FI by 2019.