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    Trying to be more frugal with subscriptions lately

    Didn’t realise how much I was overspending on subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, Disney plus.

    Finally switched to a cheaper setup instead of paying full price and it actually made a big difference.

    Feels obvious now lol

    Also feels like companies are making it harder to share plans now compared to before, which kind of forces everyone to pay full price.

    Found a workaround that’s been working so far, but curious what others are doing to cut these costs?

    Trying to be more frugal with subscriptions lately
    byu/Zealousideal_Rate441 inFrugal



    Posted by Zealousideal_Rate441

    12 Comments

    2. octocode on

      i just subscribe to only one service at a time. i usually cancel after a month and look for a free trial/promo for a different service.

    3. Key-Ad-8944 on

      How much are you spending on streaming subscriptions? I buy during discounted periods like Black Friday or streaming day, and rotate through different subscriptions when I am done catching up on series with that service. I average under $5/month on streaming.

      For example, I am currently paying $3/month for HBO Max (Black Friday) and $0/month for Peacock (3 month Instacart trial). Earlier this year I paid less than $1/month for Paramount+ ($0.99/month for 2 months + 1 month free) and $0/month for Apple (3 month free trial). Next I’ll probably switch to $3/month for Hulu (get these offers several times per month) , free trial of Prime, and $1/month for MGM+ (want to catch up on new season of From).

    4. RelativeAmazing8826 on

      I acquire my streaming through various means you make call me “Jack Sparrow” I only pay for 1. And it’s Crunchyroll.

    5. Sen_ri on

      I did the Hulu $0.99 /mo for 1yr deal on Black Friday a couple times. Or more short term deals like paramount+ for $0.99 /mo for 2 mo.

      But really for what I like to watch and how infrequently I watch, free streaming services are good enough.

    6. Intelligent_Yam7869 on

      As soon as my Disney plus runs out I will have no subscriptions. I cancelled my internet and use my phone data. If I want to watch something I hotspot my iPad.YouTube, Tubi and Pluto have a good catalog. I’ve recently started trying hoopla through my library. Movies, tv, audiobooks, ebooks and music. You don’t need the subscriptions you are accustomed to them as they have become the norm. Everything has been put behind a paywall which I find troubling. Look at the people at the very top of these mega corporations and see if you really want your dollars going to them. For me I don’t. I quickly didn’t care about the new hit show. I found I enjoyed my time more doing constructive things like gardening, reading, diy projects, learning things like cooking and baking. I save money and I am healthier mentally and physically. 

    8. chainsawx72 on

      My path was to become a late adopter. That means waiting 5 years before playing new release games or watching new release shows or buying cell phones. I know there’s tons of hype for the latest and greatest, but I promise there is enough old and free stuff to watch that you will never run out of quality content.

      Roku TV, Freevee, Tubi, Youtube, Pluto TV, etc etc etc. Tons of free ways to watch. Morbius is free on Tubi right now, the best movie ever produced. That’s a joke, but they have good stuff. The Friday movies, a bunch of Sandler films, Rambo, Armageddon, Jumper, Road House (the new one, and it’s pretty good), Terrifier, and way more.

      Another thing I do is buy physical, at pawn shops and yard sales. This is less frugal, but if you can buy cheap enough you can literally make money this way… buy, enjoy, sell, profit.

    9. i_tell_you_what on

      I got rid of my TV at the 2016 elections. Literally put it on the curb. Watch all my video channels on YouTube free with no ads (unlock origin ftw). And I don’t do subscriptions monthly. I have audible plus for my audiobooks that I pay for once a year and free libby. I’ve moved what I can to yearly, like my twice a year car insurance. So there’s no trickle down of money that I don’t notice. That’s what gets you.ball those small trickles of money going out of your pocket

    11. SordoCrabs on

      I could cut out all of my subscriptions and just use the hundreds of free channels that I get with my smart TVs.

      I have my old perfunctory Samsung in a guest room and a newer LG with better picture in my living room. Most channels are available with either TV. But a sizable chunk are specific to the TV. I get tons of channels that just air one specific show (Baywatch, All in the Family, Xena, classic Doctor Who), movies by studio or genre (a horror movie channel played the Scream franchise on repeat until recently, coinciding with the theatrical release of Scream 7), Spanish language channels, Korean channels, British shows, reality TV, sports, true crime, etc. Plus some on demand content libraries that I haven’t fully explored.

      One experience sticks out with my Samsung. I was channel surfing and landed on the Dawson’s Creek channel, and saw a scene with Kerr Smith. Moved on a few channels up and hit the Baywatch channel…with an episode that guest starred Kerr Smith. Decided it wasn’t for me, so I went to one of the 2 channels that air a lot of the OG Charmed, and it was one of the later episodes which featured Kerr Smith in a recurring role.

      If you favor procedurals, you won’t hurt for choice. Dedicated channels for CSI, Law and Order, and the Ion Channels have a weekly schedule that includes a day of Bones, a day of Hudson and Rex, a day of Hawaii 5-0, etc.

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