New iPhone user, 72-year-old lady, confused!

It's not like I'm a computer novice. I've been online since the days when a PINE editor was all there was. The web wasn't even conceived yet, let alone born!  My first computer was a little Sinclair with 8K (later upgraded to 16K!). That was before Timex bought Sinclair. I got my first real computer (an Amiga) in the mid1980s. Most of you probably don't have a clue what I'm talking about because you weren't even born yet! I used Macs until my school system changed to DOS and ditched the Macs because some salesman from a company I won't mention "gave" the school a bunch of their machines in return for purchasing a software package that was ... never mind. I don't have time to tell you how horrible it was, and you no doubt could not care less.  In spite of a long history of being much more tech-savvy than 99% of my peers, I am totally lost with all the new stuff!
1. My first question is about data usage - specifically "promotional data." When I checked my bill just now, it showed almost a full gig of promotional data. Is it data used by all those ads that come up?
2. There are lots of apps on the phone that I do not want. Is there any way to get rid of them? Am I correct in assuming that apps automatically update, and maybe that could be using a bunch of data? My grandchildren were appalled that I had used almost two gigs in two weeks since I don't watch movies, send videos, etc.
Here's what I have now:
an iPhone (5 something or other) which is totally awesome and which I am beginning to be able to figure out how to use
an Ellipsis Jet Pack which is my only ISP
an Android tablet which I bought after I killed my laptop with a spilled drink
a new Dell desktop with Windows 8 (without touch screen ) which I bought after I realized the tablet would not replace a computer. I took it out of the box and plugged it in. A screen came up that was so foreign that I got completely frustrated and decided to turn it off and get back to it later. I could not even figure out how to shut the thing off, so eventually just held the on/off button til the screen went black. I suppose I will eventually get it set up and try to figure it out because the Acer (see below) is on it's last lap
a more-than-ancient Acer laptop running Windows XP (used for web browsing, email, etc.)
Here's what I want to know:
If my Jet Pack is on and I make a phone call, does the phone go through the Jet Pack? If yes, does that use more data? (I have a plan with unlimited phone minutes and unlimited texts, so I'm wondering if I should be sure the Jet Pack is not on when I use the phone.)
Is there any way to stop those ads that come up automatically? Sometimes when I am playing Tetris on the tablet, either a Verizon video ad comes up, or I get a video in which Flo tells me why I should get Progressive insurance. I click the close button, and sometimes the video stops, but the audio continues until well after the game loads and starts.
Am I using data when I play Tetris (which I purchased)?
In short, what can I do to reduce my data usage?

I apologize for being so long in thanking you for your post in response to my question. I really appreciate your having taken the time to help me out. I have read a number of your other posts that have been very helpful, so that you for them, also!
I am between a rock and a hard spot it would seem. Several months ago, I got fed up with the ISP that is available at the RV park where I live. (I won't mention the name, because their customer service did everything within their power to help me. The problem with the poor signal is with the campground, I think.) I am located in a spot that gets a very weak or NO signal from that ISP most of the time.
When my laptop died, I was on the way to purchase a new one, and I missed the turn to get to Staples and the first place I could turn around happened to be a Verizon store. It occurred to me that I should look at a tablet and perhaps not buy another laptop. They sales pitches worked, and I got a tablet. When I told the salesperson that I was having trouble getting a signal, he suggested the Ellipsis, and I swallowed hook, line, and sinker. If I had known one tenth of what I now know, I would not own a Jet Pack.
The data usage problem still continues. I have turned off everything that it's possible to turn off. In fact, I turned off so many things that my camera disappeared! (Verizon customer service was able to help me fix that problem, but it took quite a while for them to come up with a solution.) I never watch videos or movies, and I spend no more than an hour (two at the most) a week on Facebook and LinkedIn. I do not listen to the radio or download music. I have data cut off so that images in my emails do not load automatically. I no longer send pictures in emails or upload them to any place. In short, there is no way on earth I should be using five gigs of data in a month.
What I thought was going to be a monthly bill of around $90 turned out to be closer to $150. I am considering taking your advice and turning the beast off entirely and getting another provider; however, I have a two-year contract with Verizon, and I think I still would have to pay the $10 per month access charge for the Jet Pack. (And who knows what kinds of other charges!)
I am not totally dumb, but Verizon's bills are truly conundrums to me. I THINK that I get charged for changing my plan when I tell them to up my data limit. (Not completely sure about that, though, because the format of the bill is so confusing.)
In all fairness, I must say that, without exception, all of the customer service reps have been wonderful. They have given me credits for inconvenience and even an extra gig of "promotional data." All of them have been extremely knowledgeable, not only about solutions to tech problems, but about billing problems as well. I have nothing but praise for the Verizon customer service department.
This afternoon, I started surfing around on this site, and it would appear that a HUGE number of other people are having the same problem as I am when it comes to sky-high data usage.
As soon as I get finished typing this, I am going to call to see what my options are with the Jet Pack. Will keep you posted.  Thanks again for all your help.

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