In the digital age we all live in, streaming apps have become incredibly popular. But if you’re not careful, the cost of using them can spiral out of control, putting your personal finances under pressure. However, this article is here to help you by providing some tips to save money. So, let’s get into it…
1. Consider using free apps
I know when most people think about entertainment apps, names like Amazon, Disney+, and Netflix come to mind. And yes, these are all good options that provide a wide variety of entertainment choices. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription to access some good entertainment.
For example, Plex and Tubi are free to use and offer a wide variety of films to choose from. Of course, these are ad-supported, so you do need to put up with that, but that’s quickly something you get used to and doesn’t detract from your viewing enjoyment.
You’re also not likely to find the latest releases here, which may be an issue for some. However, I personally love older movies and find some hidden gems on these sites that I haven’t seen before, so they are certainly an option.
2. Choose your plan carefully
Streaming providers will always push you to the most expensive plan with the promise of extra features. Consider your options carefully here, because the lower cost plan may actually be sufficient for your needs.
For example, do you need to stream on multiple devices at the same time? Or do you have the tech to take full advantage of a 4K plan? Here, it’s important to remember how you will access the content.
A lot of people will probably stream content on a mobile device, such as a phone or tablet, most of the time. This means the added cost between HD and 4K may not be worth it. You can always start with the cheapest plan and upgrade if you think it’s necessary.
3. Cancel after paying
Subscriptions like this are nearly always set up to renew after the period you paid for. This results in unexpected charges and always paying the standard price. So, leaving this option on makes things easy for the provider. They know you are locked in, and they don’t need to do anything to keep your custom.
If you want a better deal, cancel the auto-renewal after you’ve paid. This signals that you are considering leaving after your initial subscription ends, so the company has to fight to keep you as a customer.
With some apps, they won’t do anything to entice you. If this happens, you can just renew after your initial period ends. But in a lot of cases, you will be offered a better deal, such as a reduced price to renew. So, take advantage of this tactic to maximise value.
4. Share an account (if allowed)
One obvious way to keep costs low with streaming apps is to share an account. In fact, many providers now have family plans or those designed for multiple people. This is a great option for those who live in the same property, such as families or students.
But keep in mind, sharing is not as easy as it once was, especially for those who aren’t in the same household. So, do check the terms of service and stay within the rules, or you risk being locked out. In particular, Netflix have been making account sharing much more difficult.
5. Bundle services to get a better deal
One classic example of this would be to get Netflix as part of a Sky subscription. So, if you are subscribing to a TV package, this sort of thing is well worth looking into. Often, you can bundle services and save some money as a result.
Even in cases where you don’t have a separate TV subscription, there may be opportunities to get a streaming service included for free. For example, I’m currently getting an Amazon Prime subscription included as part of my SIM-only mobile phone deal. Technically, the deal only lasts for six months, but I’ve discovered you can just renew the contract every six months to retain the deal, so look out for little tricks like that.
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If you want to keep your personal finances under control, you certainly want to watch the cost of streaming subscriptions. The reality is that there are lots of little tricks you can use to get a better deal, and this article has discovered some of them.
So, remember to consider using free apps, choosing your plan level carefully, cancel after paying to unlock special offers, share an account when possible and bundle services to save money. When you do these things, you’ll discover much better value and have more disposable income for other things.