Mobiles and debt

For many people, mobile phones don't only ring up calls - they ring up debt. Using them irresponsibly, or choosing the wrong usage plan for your calling habits, can result in bills that really blow a hole in your budget.

Recognise bad call habits

Because it generally provides immediate pleasure, if you're not careful, using your mobile phone can easily become as much as an addiction as grazing on junk food or smoking. And potentially, far more expensive. Do you make calls with your mobile when you're bored, or simply can't wait to share news with friends, even though you'll soon be meeting them? If you find yourself falling into habits such as these, try and change them. When you find yourself reaching for the mobile at such times, it can help if you mentally picture the money you're about to throw away on an unnecessary call.

SOS with SMS

Text messaging can be cheap compared to voice calls. However, premium text messaging services aren't. With these you can sometimes be connected to a 1900 number, where you're billed at a higher rate. So think twice before you send 'cheap' messages to enter TV or radio promotions.

Expensive extras

The new generation of mobile phones have features such as email, internet access, 3D games, music, video downloads and photo messaging. But all these glossy services come at glossy prices. Their true cost is sometimes very difficult to assess from available tariff information. For example, sending a single email could cost anything from one dollar to several dollars, and for the price of downloading a single MP3 file, you might be able to buy an entire CD.

Why Adrian pays the most for his mobile.