If you want to slash your monthly expenses, one of the quickest ways to do that is to switch to a no-contract MVNO mobile plan that only costs a few dollars monthly. The downside is that you only get a few gigabytes of data alloted every month.
Unfortunately, the most frustrating thing is that much of that data is actually being sucked away by web ads. The number is seriously significant. Can you guess how much? According to a recent study, between 18% and 79% of mobile data is used to download ads.
So when you pay for your mobile bill, think about what you're actually playing for. That's not a happy thought, is it? Which is why it's crucial -- for your wallet and your sanity -- that you take every step possible to ethically reduce your mobile data usage.
Here are a few tips and tricks you can use:
- Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data whenever possible.
- Install data-saving apps that work by compressing incoming and outgoing data. This means using Chrome's Data Saver option, using the Opera Max browser, and installing the Onavo Extend app.
- Consider the potential benefits of enrolling in a program like T-Mobile's Binge On, which lets you stream media while bypassing data caps.
- Support legislation and petitions that aim to prevent ISP data caps. It's one of many things you can do to fight for a free and open Internet.
In the future, this kind of mobile data waste may go extinct as technologies like Google's AMP web pages and MIT's Polaris framework see more widespread adoption. But until then, you'll have to be careful about how you browse the web.
How much mobile data do you use per month? Are you willing to pay insane prices for unlimited data? Or do you just avoid using your phone away from Wi-Fi? Share with us in the comments!
Image Credit: Chrome on Android via Shutterstock