Smart phones are ubiquitous in today’s world (ooh, get us using long words!) but they’re costing us more than just cash.

The latest and greatest devices are becoming just as powerful as your old desktop computers used to be – and no doubt setting you back quite a bit every month.

But it’s not just money that our smart phones could be costing us.

Insomnia

Updating your Facebook status before bed? Watching that YouTube video or Instagram feed instead of a good book? According to some clever scientists from Harvard medical school, using your smart phone or tablet an hour before bed can cause sleep deprivation due to our exposure to artificial light, particularly in the evening between the timing of sunset and when you normally go to bed.

Poor eyesight

Though our smart phones are our mini mobile computers, Opticians claim people are so addicted to smartphones they may be increasing their risk of eye damage. Apparently, blue violet light could be hazardous to the back of your eyes if we stare at our screens for two long.

Distraction and lack of concentration

The rise and rise of smart phones means we find it even harder to concentrate for a long time. According to a recent survey commissioned by a group of individual opticians, an adult spends an average of nearly seven hours a day staring at a screen with nearly half feeling anxious when away from their phone. There was a time when phones didn’t exist.. and we probably got a lot more work done.

Depression

Constantly watching the lives of your friends, family and peers can often make you feel like you’re underperforming in your life be it more holidays, a better social life, love life, qualifications or money.

Costs

It’s not just the phone and contract you’ve got to think about – Losing or breaking your (very fragile!) smart phone can set you back £400-500 a pop (unless you have insurance), not to mention a higher tariff because of all the data used as well as all the apps and music downloaded.