Cellphone bills are subject to sharp increases as households trade up to smartphones and rack up expensive data charges. Young adults, of course, want it all: the latest phones and a full-service plan. But while a survey earlier this year found that 18- to 34-year-olds spent more on average on their smartphones than their elders, they paid somewhat less last year for their monthly plans, according to Parks Associates, a Dallas research firm.

One way to do that is to reduce the amount of data you use. Young people often use apps to keep track of their usage, says Jennifer Kent, senior analyst in mobile and health research at Parks. In addition, 30% of those 18 to 24 surveyed last year said they used Wi-Fi to access Internet services on their phone whenever possible, compared with 16% of those 45 to 54 years old.

It also helps to be savvy about shopping for both phones and plans, though the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Best Buy, for instance, says it offers more than 350 different cellphones and more than 100 different contract and no-contract plans.

From the article "What Your Kids Can Teach You About Tech" by Karen Blumenthal.

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