Don’t get sucked down the data drain these holidays

By Alex Kidman

Most of the time we go about our day-to-day life giving scant thought to our data usage. It’s just the regular day-to-day usage, boring and predictable. However, when we’re on holidays, the way we use smartphones and tablets changes dramatically, and that can lead to unpleasant surprises when the mobile bill arrives. You’re just getting over the sunburn and that final night party when the real shock sets in and you’re left weeping over your credit card.

That’s because when we go on holidays, we tend to shift from productivity tasks to more intense data-chewing entertainment activities. To double up on our usage, many of us also share our precious devices with our children. That’s particularly likely if you’re trying to keep them quiet in an airport or on a long road trip.

However, unless you change plans, your data allowance remains the same over the summer holidays. If you’re going away in the next few weeks, the chances are high that your data usage will rocket, and with it your data bill.

The first step to keep your data drain under control is to understand how you’re using up your data. Everything you do on your phone that involves going onto the Internet uses up data. Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube: they all need data.

While the ultimate solution is to stop using apps, let’s be realistic here. We all know that’s not going to happen. Here’s what you can realistically do to avoid blowing your data cap these holidays: