Avoid High Streaming TV Costs on Netflix, HBO Max and More With One Trick

TV shows like  and may have filled up your streaming schedule recently, but how much are you spending when inflation has affected prices and household budgets? There are lots of great series and movies across dozens of , but even subscribing to five of them could easily cost you more than $50 a month. (Just look at the latest .) We’re going to show you a trick that can help save you money.

Think about this: You subscribe to one or mo, stream until your favorite series ends its season run, then look for the . But is it worth keeping multiple subscriptions active if you’re not actively watching anything on them? I don’t think so. 

Here’s a breakdown on our money-saving strategy and some tips on how to become a master at it. 

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Rotate your streaming services

For , leaving pricey cable packages behind in favor of streaming is a win for the wallet. Because we’re able to sign up for monthly plans, it’s easy to jump into a streaming service and jump out when prices increase or content dries up. According to , the biggest reasons people cancel their streaming subscriptions are because of pricing and lack of fresh content. Media companies call this behavior «churn.» We’re calling this the rotation method. 

The benefits? You save cash and avoid content droughts. Let’s say a hot title like  or The Real Housewives is set to premiere on a service. Note the total episode count and wait until they’re all available at once on a platform. You cancel HBO Max, Disney Plus or other service and then, once the episodes are available, resubscribe to catch up on your faves. Alternatively, you can start streaming a show midseason to cut costs. My monthly guide on can help you keep up.

The downside? You won’t have immediate access to every show you want to watch and will have to wait until the full season airs. And since many streaming services release new episodes weekly, rather than all at once, you might not be caught up at the same time as your friends. If you’re someone who prefers to watch episodes immediately when they drop, you may decide it’s worth it to have multiple subscriptions at a time. If you have patience, however, you can save some money. 

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The strategy can also work if you have a  to keep up with a particular sport. Once the season wraps up, cancel the service and save big, or move to a cheaper platform with fewer channels like .

Tip No. 1: Cancel your streaming subscription before getting charged 

Set calendar reminders for your billing cycle and upcoming TV show or www.solitaryisle.shop movie release dates. Give yourself enough warning to begin or end a subscription. Apps such as help you track when and where TV shows and movies appear on a streaming service. And JustWatch recently added a tracker specifically for sports. 

Tip No. 2: Sign up for streaming service deals

Look for services. For example, Starz is offering a special rate of $3 per month for six months, which cuts its regular monthly rate of $9 down to a third of the price. You can also take advantage of the Disney Bundle, which provides access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus in one package for a reduced price. And eligible Hulu subscribers can . Lastly, be sure to check with your mobile carrier to see which ones offer free streaming subscriptions.

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Tip No. 3: Pick one or two default streamers

Subscribe to one or two must-have services for the year, and select only one or two more options to fit your monthly budget. Rotate the bonus service(s) according to what you want to watch, ensuring you don’t miss your favorite shows while sticking to your monthly spending cap.

Tip No. 4: Stick to monthly billing

Avoid annual subscriptions and pay attention to your auto-renewal payment dates. Your billing cycle can help determine when it’s the best time to quit a service, even if you’ve only signed up for a free trial.

Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your streaming service, pause it

Hulu allows you to for up to 12 weeks, and Sling has a similar option with stipulations. Check with your streaming provider to see if you can take a temporary break without canceling.

Give it a shot, and if you don’t like it you can always resubscribe. For more excellent tips on streaming TV, check out this guide to and www.solitaryisle.shop our recommendations for the .