> Brits could save £180 a year if they switch to a cheaper phone deal

> 71% are using less data than they pay for each month

Brits are being left out of pocket every year with their mobile phone plans, with almost three quarters (71%) using less data than they actually purchase each month. With the average Brit spending £20 a month for 5GB data, by swapping to a cheaper phone deal they could save between £180 and £60 a year.

A research done by our team at Lebara has revealed that only 10% use all their data each month, Brits are wasting their hard-earned cash each month on data they aren’t using.

Almost two fifths (37%) of Brits revealed that the most important thing for buying a new phone is sticking to a budget but are being stung by expensive data plans that are wasting their money in the long run. With 32% stuck in a 2 year contract, Brits are losing out on up to £360 for the duration of their phone contract due to wasted mobile data.

Lebara has also revealed the worst regions for data wastage throughout Britain, with Northern Ireland topping the list with over four fifths (84%) not using all their data, closely followed by Wales (80%) and the South West (73%). The North East is the best at using all their data, with 62% wasting their data, followed by Scotland (65%) and London (70%).

With over almost three fifths (59%) of respondents on either Sim-Only or Pay As You Go contracts, many Brits are shopping around for cheap SIM only deals with 28% main priority for choosing a phone plan is stick within a certain budget each month.

Once their current phone plan runs out, 27% of Brits will get a new contract in order to get the latest handset. However, a quarter of those surveyed will keep their current handset and look for the best SIM only deals on the market, allowing them to cut their data costs and make savings with a new data plan that fits for them.

Rajesh Dongre, Lebara UK Mobile Commercial Director said: “Although Brits aren’t the best at using all their data, it’s positive news that there are savings to be had with the general public on average able to save £180 a year by switching to a plan that suits their needs. At Lebara we pride ourselves on the fact our Lebara SIM deals can be changed every month, giving the flexibility customers deserve when it comes to their Lebara plans.”

It seems that we’re a nation that’s glued to their screens, with 48% using their phone the most whilst watching television. 43% use their phone the most when in bed and 17% while on the toilet.

Lebara SIM Only plans are a great way to cut down your mobile bills and only pay for the data you use. Our flexible, no contract, 30-day rolling plans let you change your deal based on your data usage – setting you free with the option to even cancel anytime. Plans start from just £5 for 2GB. Visit our plans page for more budget friendly SIM Only deals.

About the research:

An online survey was conducted amongst 2,000 respondents of UK residents that own a mobile phone. The research fieldwork took place on 19th June to the 25th June 2021.