In this digital age, most of us have active subscriptions to numerous online services. But with cost-of-living pressures, it’s crucial to get a decent deal to ensure your personal finances remain in good health. This article aims to help by providing some tips you can follow to get a better deal. So, let’s get into it…
1. Check for discount codes online
Before you buy anything, you should always try a quick Google search to see if there are any discount codes available. A lot of brands put them on various coupon sites to attract new customers, but won’t offer it once you are on their site.
This process isn’t going to work for every subscription, but it’s worth a try. Also, be aware that many codes you see online won’t work because they are either fake or have expired. It’s also worth noting that sometimes the codes only work if you don’t have an account, so present or previous customers can’t get the deal.
2. Search for affiliate sites
If you can’t find a discount code online, another option is an affiliate site. These aren’t always easy to find, but often you can find a discount on an affiliate site. Once you follow the link, you will be sent back to the brand site but now offered a reduced rate.
The site you went through will earn a commission payment if you purchase through a link like this, but that probably doesn’t concern you. Try some simple Google searches around affiliates for the brand you want the subscription from to see if you can find anything.
3. Sign up for the free plan and wait for marketing emails
Let’s say you would like to subscribe to a service, but you aren’t in any rush, maybe you are using an alternative service or just don’t need it just yet. In this case, sign up for a free plan when available, and you will be added to the email list.
To attract you to sign up for the premium plan, offers will likely arrive in your inbox before long. Again, this one is not guaranteed to work, but it’s worth a try if you aren’t in a rush. Even if a free plan is not available, you might still be able to sign up or join a mailing list.
4. Register online and email support for a discount
In a variation of the previous technique, you can always just email support and ask them if they have any discounts available. This approach is most likely to work if you were a previous customer, but it’s worth a go, especially around holiday periods.
Keep in mind that even with success, the discounts available are likely to be limited. So, you might still want to wait to use an alternative technique, depending on how badly you want to subscribe. In some cases, a small discount may be the only incentive you need to bite the bullet.
5. Cancel any active subscription you have
Cancelling is a powerful technique to get a better deal, because you let the brand know they cannot count on your custom in the long term. At this point, they need to persuade you to subscribe again, sometimes, you will get an instant reduced price offer pop-up on the screen after you click cancel.
But even if that doesn’t happen, offers may well come to your inbox in time. So, if you can cope without the subscription, play a wait-and-see game. Most likely, you will be offered a reduced rate before long.
6. Get a deal through a partnership
Sometimes the key to getting a good deal is via a marketing partnership. For example, O2 offers Amazon Prime subscriptions for a period of three to six months with new phone contracts. And Sky includes Netflix with their TV packages, which might save you money.
It’s also worth remembering that if you purchase something, it may come with a subscription for a limited period. For instance, a portable speaker might come with a three-month subscription to Spotify. So, sometimes it’s just a matter of thinking outside the box a bit.
7. Yearly is sometimes better than monthly
When subscribing to a new service, many of us will choose the monthly option. This is because it’s easier to budget and keep track of when your subscription period ends. However, when you subscribe to a number of services, the cost can soon rack up.
So, it’s worth checking the yearly prices; usually, there is a small saving when opting for the annual option. But in some cases, the savings can be significant; it can be 50% cheaper, for example. This is even more the case during holiday and promotional periods. The takeaway here is to be flexible with your subscription length.
8. Wait for a sale
Sometimes the best thing to do is to wait for a sale. So, sit back and relax, and just check the websites from time to time to see if there is a sale on. This may not work with every service, because sometimes prices are always the same.
But most brands have promotional periods to attract new customers. As mentioned, holiday periods are a good time to check. And you can also follow social media pages to keep an eye out for special offers. Again, this method only works if you can afford to wait for access to the service.
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Most of us will have various subscriptions on the go. But it’s worth ensuring you are getting a good deal and not overpaying. This article has looked at some techniques you can use to get a better deal, and there are some other options as well, such as trial periods.
Remember to search for discount codes online, check affiliate sites, register online and wait for marketing emails or contact support for a deal, cancel your subscription to get a better deal/offer, get a deal through a partnership, check the yearly prices and wait for a sale. When you do these things, you will have access to the same services but at a better price. And repeat this process whenever one of your subscriptions is due to expire.