Dude, where's my data?

DAILY DOT COM - (CNN) --Between texting, tweeting and smartphone apps, it's easy to get to the middle of the month and ask, "where did my data go?" But some sneaky things could also be pushing you over your limit. 

As unlimited data plans become scarcer, consumers are counting their texts, tweets and emails -- hoping to avoid fat overage fees.  But tech writer Rob Pegoraro says a lot more data can get used, by the things you're not using. 

“That can be a risk, especially with Android, where a lot more apps can do stuff on their own in the background. I've been testing this Android tablet and the second biggest consumer of data on this thing, is some application that downloads news articles -- that I don't think I've ever actually used,“ explained Pegoraro.

Pegoraro says another culprit: constant app updates.  “You might not think each one adds up to a whole lot. But when you have new versions coming up every week, and you just know to tap that "Update Now" button that can add up as well.”

And a YouTube video clip or two won't burn through your data, but watching those longer TV shows and movies can.  However, smartphone users can keep tabs of what’s eating up data with an app like My Data Manager for Android or Apple .  It’s a free download that once installed-- will automatically start tracking your home data usage, roaming, and Wi-Fi usage in real time.