Whether you’re a technology fan who’s obsessed with your mobile devices for your own entertainment, or you work in an environment that requires you to constantly be connected, most of us depend on our smartphones for one reason or another. Smartphones keep us in continual contact with everyone from business associates to friends and family, and they’re one of the technology innovations that’s changed the world in the most significant ways.
However, with our dependence on smartphones comes another problem: the cost of data. Most people who frequently use their smartphones are probably also data guzzlers, so how do you save money on the cost of using your smartphone, and also conserve your data in a way that’s smart and effective?
Listen To Music Offline
If you’re someone who uses your phone to listen to music, you might be using an enormous amount of data without even realizing it. The best way to combat this while still getting access to music? Listen offline. Most of the audio streaming apps that are popular right now offer the opportunity to listen to music offline without streaming them. Many of the music programs will also let you download your existing music and playlists so it’s there when you need it, and you don’t need an internet connection or data.
Buy Only What You Need
Rather than getting a service contract with a carrier, you can save money and force yourself to limit your data usage by purchasing only what you need. Shop online to compare data plans and deals, and you can find some really good pricing, particularly as compared to what you would get with a contract. Plus, you’re not paying for unused data, and you’re giving yourself a bit more control over how much you spend on data overall.
Disable Auto-Play Videos on Facebook
If you often find yourself scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed, you probably also commonly come across auto-play videos. These videos start rolling in your news feed automatically, and even if you don’t want to watch them, they’re using data. You can go to your Facebook settings and choose to play these videos on Wi-Fi only, which can save you quite a bit of data usage.
Use Wi-Fi Whenever Possible
So many of us go on autopilot when it comes to our mobile phones, and we don’t take the time to ensure we’re using Wi-Fi whenever it’s available, but it’s smart to make sure you’re doing just that. If you’re anywhere Wi-Fi is available, including your home, you should try to switch it on so you can do whatever you want on your smartphone without using tons of data.
Control App Access
As a final note to wrap up this list of how to save on data, most of the apps we use on a daily basis are also using our data even when they’re not directly utilized. Apps tend to use the internet to download the data they need for updates, and they can drain data quickly, without it being something you even realize. To take control of your apps, disable them from connecting to the internet if you’re not using Wi-Fi.
Many smartphone users don’t realize just how much data they’re wasting, as well as the true costs of having a smartphone, but by being aware and proactive, you can save yourself a lot of money, while still enjoying what’s probably one of your favorite pieces of technology.