Money Alert

From extras to insurance, here are ways your smartphone may be costing you more than it should. Cell phone plans can cost anywhere from $30-$90 per month. However, there are many hidden fees and costs that might be racking up your bill.

If you are not using all of the options that are included in your data plan, you might be spending more money than you need to. Take a look at your data plan and see if the plus plan that you have signed up for is really what you need. If you love to play games on your phone, beware. A recent study showed that while many smartphone users spend around $7 on app purchases, they spend up to $9.20 on in-app purchases every three months.

To be aware of these costs, set controls on your smartphone requiring password authorization for in-app purchases. All smartphone carriers offer some form of insurance, which can add $8 or more to your monthly bill. The deductibles range from $20-$200 to repair or replace a phone. Investing less than $10 in a really durable phone case, such as an Otterbox, can help prevent any need for phone repair.