If you are deciding between feeding your family or getting a phone, by all means, feed your family.
All I'm saying is if you have a little disposable income ($1 / day) then for many people a better phone is worth the price difference. I think it's especially true when you think about how many hours every day people use their phones. I can get by just fine with a 4-year old PC, but having to use a 4-year old phone would suck.
