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Original poster

Mobile data and DD11… what to do?

80 replies

Cookingbynumbers · 09/09/2021 17:01

Dd is 11 and started high school this week.
She travels by bus, about 20 mins each way although yesterday traffic was awful and it was 50 mins coming home. This is not unusual as there seem to be accidents and roadworks constantly!
She has a top-up phone and has used the £10 I put on it in 5 days, mainly on mobile data. She admits she hadn’t realised how much YouTube uses and she’d been watching that on the bus.
So I can’t work out what to do for the best now.
I have deleted YouTube for the moment, she still needs mobile data on for other apps etc that they may need in school.
I think it would be better to go to a contract but can’t work out how much data is sensible. I use very little myself away from home.

What contracts have your high school kids got, how much data allowance? Trying to get an idea of what to go for now.

OP posts:
KittyMcKitty · 09/09/2021 17:03

I don’t understand why she would need mobile data in school? If it’s something for school she will be able to use the school wifi.

KittyMcKitty · 09/09/2021 17:04

Does her school allow phone useage (most don’t).

kaleidoscopeheartless · 09/09/2021 17:05

I'd get a sim only contract. Can get cheap deals with large amount of data. If she wants to watch things when on the bus get her to download things to her phone like on Netflix etc

VanCleefArpels · 09/09/2021 17:06

Vodafone contracts mostly offer unlimited everything. I’d go with a good second hand handset and a sim only contract - I’ve just done this for one of my kids and it’s £24 a month.

Sawyersfishbiscuits · 09/09/2021 17:06

It sounds like a cheap contract would be better. My DD uses Smarty for £6 a month and I think everything is unlimited. It's a great deal. They'll send you the SIM to put in her existing phone and then you're sorted.
I'm guessing you didn't come on here for a lecture about screen time 😉

fruitpastille · 09/09/2021 17:12

Mine just use wifi at home and school then they only use the top up for texts send occasional phone calls when they are out and about. But they are not big phone users generally. They use them for music quite a bit but have downloaded favourite playlists. If they needed data out of the house I would look at contracts.

Ligglepiggle · 09/09/2021 17:14

You can get a lot of data with giffgaff on sim only, I pay £10 for 13gb

MrsCatE · 09/09/2021 17:15

Why can’t she read a real fucking book?

Original poster
Cookingbynumbers · 09/09/2021 17:16

School doesn’t give students access to WiFi that I can see.
They use various apps for homework and access their own account through their phones, if they want to. Not enough computers in school for that to be an option outside IT lessons. She’s been trying to do things during lunch break I think. They were told to use google to search for something during a history lesson, obviously if she didn’t have a phone/data she couldn’t do that but she’s the sort of child who is desperate to please and make a good impression on her teachers. And I can hardly complain about her spending time on her phone while on a bus for over an hour in a queue of traffic!

I will suggest she download something before going out, thanks. I didn’t know that was an option.
Will also look into the cheap deals as her handset is fine, one of DHs cast offs. The network she’s on had unlimited for £16 but happy to swop.

OP posts:
nananacomeon · 09/09/2021 17:19

We all have sky sims data only. Any data I or my husband don't use goes in a piggy bank which we then use to top up the data on my dd's phone.

Original poster
Cookingbynumbers · 09/09/2021 17:19

Oh and she does read, all the time, but after a whole day of reading and then other activities after school, she wants to chill. Wind your neck in.
Thank you for all the sensible advice to consider.

OP posts:
FanSpamTastic · 09/09/2021 17:20

Mine all had capped SiM only contracts with Tesco - you can get a decent amount of data for £10 a month.

If they do make a mistake then the cap stops any large charges.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 09/09/2021 17:20

My DD, same age, is on a SIM only on my account which means she can share my data. So the SIM is £9 and she gets a tiny amount of data included (250mb) but then I can 'gift' her data from my tariff, up to 100GB. That's with EE.

Shakirasma · 09/09/2021 17:20

Do you have BT broadband at home? If so then BT mobile sim only do 60gb for £12 per month. If not then it's an extra £5.

MrsCatE · 09/09/2021 17:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

WowOoo · 09/09/2021 17:22

I think you need to keep reminding her that once her data has been used it's used for the month. It's a tough lesson, but she'll have to get used to it.
My son is delirious with joy as I've upped his data to 10gb. It's the first time in his life that it hasn't all been used up before the end of the month.

TheSpottedZebra · 09/09/2021 17:23

Def look at a sim only deal. Smarty, giff gaff, voxi that kind of thing.

Theworldisfullofgs · 09/09/2021 17:23

Do you have netflix? She can download stuff to watch.
Can from the BBC app as well.

MrsCatE · 09/09/2021 17:23

She’s using up her data on an effing bus ride and everyone piles in with better deals / data sharing etc!

MrsPnut · 09/09/2021 17:24

Our daughter has had an ID mobile sim only plan since she got her first mobile. They are currently doing double data so you can get 24gb a month for £10 which is more than enough to watch YouTube and do school related tasks. With a 1 month contract, you can change it easily if your situation changes. www.idmobile.co.uk/sim-only-deals#tariff_contractlength=1

TheSpottedZebra · 09/09/2021 17:24

Also look at the data saver settings on you tube.

SoupDragon · 09/09/2021 17:26

@MrsCatE

She’s using up her data on an effing bus ride and everyone piles in with better deals / data sharing etc!
Says the person who is on Mumsnet rather than reading a book...
LateToTheParty · 09/09/2021 17:26

My eldest is a similar age and I got him a sim only contract on 3. It's for 12 months and from memory it's £11 a month for 30GB data with unlimited calls and texts. He uses it on the school bus and long car journeys and doesn't get close to using it all up.

Mynameismargot · 09/09/2021 17:26

@MrsCatE

Do you remember books? They were (no SIM needed) internally paper, sometimes encased in hardback covers. Strangely enough, they’re these things called Libraries that allow you to borrow ‘books’ for free! Shit, I didn’t understand - you all want your kids to keep up with TOWIE / Love Island etc You’re all enablers.
Heaven forbid the daughter winds down on her way home from school watching a few videos. Did your books not teach you that the Internet is vast and there is more on it than towie and love island, some of it is even educational Shock
FasterthanBolt · 09/09/2021 17:28

Can she download stuff to watch via iplayer or Netflix before she goes? Then she wouldn't worry about using mobile data.

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