Gee, for the first time, I have gone over my broadband limit.

As you probably know, you have an Internet Service Provider – an ISP – that gives you access to the Internet.

And generally they only give you a monthly allowance. This allowance is a total of all the emails you send and receive and all the websites you look at, and maybe send information to. Every time you look at a website, or view a video it cuts into your allowance.

When I first started on the internet, I had a HUGE allowance – 200MB. people thought I was mad to get that much.

Now that would only cover a few days emails.

My plan is now 12 GB – that’s 12 gigabtyes. It’s huge, and I thought I’d never use that. Although as our website gets busier and busier I will be using more of my allowance.

BUT … I have two young sons. And they like to visit cartoon shows websites, and look at funny videos, and make Pokemon cards and learn magic tricks. And they must have been very busy this month, because a couple of days before the end of the billing month, I got a message to say that I had just gone over the limit, and my speed would be reduced. That just means that rather than charging me for the amount I am over the limit, they make the speed of getting things from the internet slow …. reeeeaallly slow.

So now I’ll have to decide whether to ration the boys time on the computer – which they are already in a way. I set the timer to an hour, then they have to get off, but I suspect they might sneak a few extra minutes here and there. Or whether I go on to a bigger plan.

That is one of the nice things about the plans. You start at the lowest level you think you’ll use, then as time goes on, if you are going over the limit often, it’s time to move up to the next level. But don’t pay for a big plan if you’re not using it. Keep your money to yourself, and only hand it over to the big guys when the time comes.

So, now I’m back on full speed and can get back to sending the videos and other megabyte hungry treats.

Cheers

Viv