Which of the following statements best gives the reasons that a data usage bill for a smart phone is an essential (variable) expense? a. it is an obligation to pay, but the spender has some control over its amount. b. it cannot be eliminated in a later budget, in order to save money. c. it is expected to be the same amount every month. d. bills for services rendered have a higher priority than any other type of expense.

The correct answer is:

A) It is an obligation to pay, but the spender has some control over its amount.

Explanation:

An essential expense is one a person is obligated to pay each month.  A variable expense is one that changes from month to month.

Data usage on a cell phone bill is required to be paid from month to month.  It is also variable, since the user has the option to use less data and therefore have a smaller bill.  They still, however, have to pay it each month.