Streaming services have changed the way that we as a society consume media, and for the most part, it’s great! However, consumer insights have shown that most people don’t want to pay for another streaming service, and it’s not hard to understand why: we’ve got too many. Some are packed full of great content, while others are only getting our money because of one or two shows. Paying for all those streaming services can really add up if you’re not careful, which is why you should implement some tips to save yourself some money at the end of each month.
Pick and Choose
Most of us would have to agree that there are a few too many streaming services to choose from these days. But with great shows on each of them, what are you supposed to do? One option would be to pick and choose which services you use most often and cut the rest. You can keep one service while you finish a show, then when you finish and are ready to switch to another, cancel your subscription and switch to another! This is a great way to focus on shows you’re interested in without breaking the bank.
Utilize Free Trials
A majority of streaming services offer free trials, so why not use them? Obviously, this isn’t a long-term solution, but before you add yet another streaming service to your bill, try the free trial out. If you find there’s not much there that appeals to you past the one or two shows you finish within the free month, ditch it! This can be done several times if you’ve got multiple emails throughout your household.
Account Sharing
Sharing accounts can be a tricky situation. Certain providers do not condone it, while others haven’t said much about it at all. That being said, it can be hard for some people to afford many of them without some sort of sharing system. We don’t recommend that you just give out your password and emails to everyone that asks for them, but one thing that a lot of people within families do is pay for one service, share it, and then the other person does the same with another service. By splitting things fifty-fifty, you’ll get more access to shows for the same price, and more people can enjoy them. Whether you think it’s good or bad, the reality of the situation is that without this, many people would simply not use certain streaming services at all.
Opt for Ads
Nobody enjoys having their show interrupted for a commercial, especially when we’ve gotten used to not needing to deal with them with services like Netflix. However, if you’re trying to save a few bucks across multiple services each month, opting for ads may not be a bad option. Often times an ad-included subscription option will reduce the overall price by a third to half of what the ad-free version costs. If you aren’t quite ready to get rid of your Hulu subscription for King of the Hill, choosing ads might be a sacrifice you’re willing to make.
Save and Enjoy!
By using these tips, you’ll not only save more on your streaming subscriptions each month, but you’ll be more likely to explore shows and movies that you may not have otherwise. Whether you decide to cut some subscriptions out of your budget or downgrade to allow ads, you’ll still be able to watch the shows you want and save some green in the process.
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