How to work out data requirement?

Si_Clist

It's still late last century here, but I'm finally bracing myself to get us a smartphone. So far I'm doing OK working out what we actually need, except for one thing - data usage. I need to have an idea of how much I might use each month so I know which contracts to be looking at, so ...

The primary requirement is to keep the monthly cost to a realistic level for a couple who exist solely on my state pension and pension credit. All I can see either of us using a smartphone for is a modest amount of calls, sending the very occasional photo to another phone, perhaps sometimes using price comparison sites whilst in shops, Google Maps/GPS, checking bus timetables and suchlike every now and then. I definitely won't be sending texts, downloading stuff, playing music or using social media.

If that's enough information to form an opinion with, what would be a sensible amount of data to go for per month?

oldagetraveller

It's a bit like how long is a piece of string?
However, I have two mobile accounts, my main one with BT Mobile - 1.5Gb/month data and I visit the odd website, receive e-mails etc. when not in range of my home wifi. Photos may be sent and received using e.g. WhatsApp when connected to wifi.
Data useage is very small, Mbs, not Gbs.
Second account is with iDMobile with 1Gb/month and any unused data is rolled over to the next month. I use that account for Google Maps rather than a dedicated satnav. As a reference, for a 100 mile journey I use less than 50Mb of data.
I would opt for a rolling or 1 month "deal", sim only, with, say 1 or 2Gb included, set a low overspend limit, just in case and check what is used in the month. iDMobile have an app. with which your data use may be monitored.
Similarly with BT. Other providers probably have an online account, which you would set up, in which you could also check useage.
It's sometimes possible to change package, with some, on a monthly sim. Monitor use an adjust accordingly.
Or a payg sim, but data use is relatively expensive with those. e.g. Three's 3,2,1 where data is 1p/Mb.

D_M_E

Before deciding on a contract, try getting a PAYG SIM such as the 3-2-1 thing from Three which is 3p per minute calls, 2p text and 1p per meg data.

Use it for a month or two for data only and see what credit you have left out of what you topped it up with then convert what you used to data, e.g. this example would cost you 1p per meg of data so £10 used would be a gigabyte.

Make sure whatever phone you get to turn off or disable anything likely to use data - anything you don't want doing things in the background.

EDIT beaten to it again...

Si_Clist

Gosh, this is good stuff. Very useful right now on account of my head's starting to go round. Thanks very much

davidwatts

Sounds like your usage would be in a similar ballpark to mine, I'd describe my use as frequent but moderate, similar things to you plus checking footy scores on a Saturday. I can get by most months with 500mb so 1GB should be more than enough for you. I'm on the (no longer available unless you can find a SIM) o2 Classic pay and go which has similar costs to the 3 tariff mentioned. My average spend is no more than £5 per month.

Try pay and go for a while and see what you spend. If it regularly exceeds, say, £6 you might be better with a pay monthly SIM only deal.