Streaming services have become an important part of our everyday lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, many streaming service providers have imposed price hikes, making our favorite streaming services a bit heavier for our wallets. Whether you’re subscribed to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or any other streaming service out there, we’re here to help.
If you’re looking for ways to save money on your streaming service subscriptions, here are a few tips.
- Assess your subscriptions.
Conducting an assessment of your current subscriptions can help you determine which streaming service you can cancel. In most cases, you’re wasting some money by paying for a service you rarely use or watch. If you’re subscribed to more than two streaming services, we recommend you check and see if you can cancel some subscriptions to save money. Canceling some of your subscriptions can easily save you at least $10 a month.
- Consider bundling your services.
Most providers give you an option to bundle your services, either with a high-speed internet plan or mobile service. Bundling your services can easily save you around $5 or more, depending on your provider. However, it’s important to note that when bundling, make sure that you’ll consume the services included, or else you’re just wasting your money.
- Sit through a few commercials.
There are several streaming services, like Hulu, that offer ad-supported plans for a cheaper monthly fee. So, if you don’t mind sitting out a few commercials while watching your favorite shows, you’ll definitely save money. Some of the streaming services that offer ad-supported plans include Peacock, Roku Channel, Sling Free, Tubi, and IMBd TV.
- Try rotating your streaming subscriptions.
If you still want to enjoy a wide selection of content libraries, we recommend rotating your subscriptions instead of subscribing to them all at once. This way, you can make the most out of your subscription by only focusing on one library per month. After a month, you can switch to a different service. One advantage of being subscribed to a streaming service is that you can freely cancel without worrying about termination fees. Some streaming services also offer a free trial, so if you’re a new customer, you will likely enjoy this privilege.
- Check if your mobile or internet provider has any partnership deals.
Many providers have existing partnerships with streaming service providers. Some mobile or internet plans come with a complimentary subscription for a certain period of time. If you’re currently subscribed to the country’s top providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, we recommend getting in touch with them to determine if you’re qualified for a complimentary streaming service subscription.
- Focus on content you like.
If your family is fond of a specific genre or type of shows and movies, we recommend you focus on them instead of choosing a streaming service that offers a wide variety of content libraries. For example, if you and your family are trying to learn Spanish by watching Spanish shows, it’s best to subscribe to GoLatino TV or other Spanish streaming services.
By doing this, you don’t have to waste your money paying for content you don’t even watch. Moreover, this technique can save you a lot of money as time goes by. This strategic way of thinking can help you maximize your streaming experience without wasting money.
- Stream movies and TV shows for free.
First things first, we don’t recommend you pirate a movie or TV show by downloading them from unreliable sources. You don’t have to do this because there are several streaming services that offer free movies and TV shows for free, and some even have original content as well.
Some of these services include Pluto TV, Tubi, and Freevee. However, in exchange for the free streaming service, you’ll have to deal with some ads because it’s how they support the service.
- Share a streaming account with your friends or family.
If you want to keep your costs down, we recommend sharing an account with a friend or family member. This way, you can easily split the bill and still have access to a wide array of content libraries. Just make sure that everyone using the account is trustworthy enough not to abuse it.
However, you have to keep in mind that some streaming services have a limited number of simultaneous screens watching on a single account. For example, Netflix only allows two screens to watch at the same time on their Basic plan. So, if you want to share an account with more people, we recommend choosing a different streaming service that doesn’t have this limit.
When it comes to this technique, some providers might become more strict when it comes to account sharing, so enjoy it while you can.
Final Thoughts
Even if you’re on a tight budget, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows without breaking the bank. We hope our tips helped you save some money on your streaming subscriptions.