6 ways to spend less on streaming

You’ve just binge-watched the new series of Emily in Paris on Netflix.

The new series of A Thousand Blows on Disney+ looks good.

And you can’t get on the bus to work or go for your morning run without listening to your favourite Spotify playlists.

All sounds normal enough, doesn’t it?

But have you ever stopped to think about how much it’s all costing you?

Many of us now have so many streaming subscriptions that we end up losing track and not actually using them.

In fact, figures from Nationwide show that nearly one in five subscribers don't use every platform they’re paying for.

So with the new year upon us, now might be the perfect time to look at your subscriptions and see where you can save money.

Get the most out of your streaming subscriptions

None of us want to throw money down the drain, but there are a few ways to make sure your subscriptions are working for you and your wallet.

1.    Make a list of what you’re paying for

Go through your bank statements and make a list of every streaming service you’re currently paying for, as well as how much you’re paying for them and the renewal dates.

2.    Write down which services you actually use

Did you sign up to Apple TV or Amazon Prime just to watch one series a few months ago and then forgot about it?

If you don’t use the service regularly or haven’t used it for a while, you don’t need to be paying a monthly fee for it.

3.    Stick with just one or two services at a time

We only have so much free time to watch telly, listen to music and keep up with the latest podcasts.

And with the sheer amount of content available, it’s hard to get the most out of every single streaming service each month.

So instead of subscribing for every entertainment service all year round, just subscribe to one or two in a single month and make a point of using them.

At the end of the month, you can then cancel and use that money to sign up to another service instead.

It’s much cheaper than paying for countless subscriptions all at once and gives you motivation to actually use the platforms you’re paying for.

4.    Sign up for cheaper contracts

If you want to keep a service but want to bring down the price, you could switch to a cheaper deal.

For example, if you’re paying £12.99 a month for a standard Netflix subscription, would it really hurt to switch to the cheaper option of £5.99, where you’ll see the odd advert?

That single move could save you more than £80 a year.

5.    Threaten to walk away

Another option if you want to keep a service but pay less is to click the “cancel subscription” button.

Instead of just letting you walk away, the streamer might offer you a cheaper rate to make you stay.

They might even match the tempting introductory offers they give to new subscribers.

6. Review your subscriptions regularly

Check what you’re subscribed to every few months and make this a regular habit.

By keeping on top of your subscriptions, you can avoid slipping back into old habits and paying for platforms you don’t even use.

Now, where’s the remote?

I wanted to watch the new Harlan Coben programme on Netflix…