My phone has this super quiet noise that is so calming and doesn't wake up the wife when it goes off. It is such a soothing way to wake up. That $15 alarm clock? That's a klaxon alarm letting you know that Armageddon has started.

My alarm clock, purchased as an undergraduate in the 90s, has never had any bugs in its alarm or clock functionalities, and comes with (red 7-segment LED) digit display that's larger than my phone. I do think it was more than $15, even back then, but it's lasted a long time.

Or you know... $1 at a garage sale or goodwill.

Goodwill isn't cheap for stuff like that any more

After I realized I could buy, brand new, many of the items I was looking for for a couple dollars more, and sometimes a couple dollars less (they left the original price tag), I mostly stopped going. I went back in for the first time in a couple years and it was just ridiculous. I have to assume their real purpose is some sort of tax benefit at this point, because none of it made sense, besides the clothes.

Last time I went to Goodwill, they had a bunch of 20 year old gamepads with the joysticks chewed off for $60 each

I guess they decided to err on the side of not selling things rather than risk giving away a good deal

I’ve seen cheaply made kids toys for exactly what they cost brand new. Goodwill has been going downhill. I’ve seen on numerous occasions employees breaking fragile items on drop off, no regard. I might as well trash them that give them to someone else to do the same.

About $4 at the thrifts near me, and at one in particular, that's likely to be half-price on specific days of the week.

O would rather model not wasting money unnecessary

Is spending $15 on an alarm clock wasting money? That thing will probably last a decade or two and outlive a couple of phone generations.

You’ll get to lead by example and perhaps even improve your sleep.

Buying a second thing to unnecessarily duplicate functionality seems like a waste, even if the thing by itself would otherwise be a solid deal.

That depends on whether or not you'd consider "setting an example for your kids" in this particular way as necessary or not. If you think that's valuable, then this isn't an unnecessary duplicate. If not, then sure.

As opposed to a fancy gizmo that does everything but has to be replaced every three years due to lack of support?

1.) I replace phone when they are too broken, not on schedule.

2.) I need phone anyway. And even old flip phones had alarm. Phone with alarm does not need to be fancy at all.

Yes it is wanting money. Especially since I already own multiple device capable to do exact same thing.

I prefer to set example of not buying all the available crap. That one is more important all I all.