Streaming was supposed to save us from expensive cable prices. It doesn’t seem to work out that way: new streaming services are constantly launching and existing ones keep raising their prices. Keeping up with TV shows and movies is getting very expensive.
It doesn’t have to be, though. There are all kinds of ways to entertain yourself, even stay current, without putting half your paycheck toward Netflix, Hulu, Max, Paramount Plus, Disney+, AppletV+, and all the other streaming services. Here are some tips for anyone looking to spend less on streaming TV shows and movies.
Only pay for one streaming service at a time
There are only so many hours in each day. There are thousands of hours of entertainment on every streaming service. So why pay for more than one at a time?
We talked about How to save money by jumping between streaming servicesand it’s a pretty simple idea: only pay for one streaming service at a time. You can think of this as a sort of entertainment pasture: if you pay for Netflix, watch Netflix. When you get tired of the shows on this service, cancel your subscription and start paying for another one.
Will you always be able to watch exactly the thing you want? No. Will there always be something To watch, and will you watch everything you possibly want? Yes. And it’s a lot easier on your budget than constantly paying for every streaming service when you’re only watching pretty much one of them at the moment.
Buy actual Blu-rays or DVDs if you’re constantly watching a show
This may seem a little retro, granted, but there are good reasons To still buy DVDs and Blu-rays. Maybe, for example, there are a few shows that you watch constantly, and those shows are the only reason you pay for a particular streaming service. It might be, at first glance, that paying a monthly fee is cheaper than purchasing a box set.
Peacock, for example, owes at least part of its existence to devoted fans of The office who constantly looks at him. It might be worth $9 a month with ads or $14 a month without, but you can buy the entire series on DVD for around $50. That’s less than four months of peacocking without advertising. Purchasing physical media also ensures that you can continue watching a show after leaving a streaming service. Basically, if you Really I love a show, it’s probably worth owning.
Get an antenna
Major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS in the United States broadcast over the air. There are broadcast channels almost everywhere on Earth, in fact, whose signals are completely free. All you need is an antenna.
This may be obvious to some readers, granted, but I find that people who grew up with cable don’t necessarily realize it. Depending on where you live, you can simply plug an antenna into your TV and get all the major networks. Now the major networks aren’t what they used to be, but they still have a lot to offer: sports, news, dramas, and sitcoms.
Now the antennas are not perfect: sometimes the signal cuts out. When modern HD broadcasts work, however, they are clear. What type of antenna to buy depends on where you live. Don’t know where to start? Discover our List of the best TV antennas.
Don’t forget your local library
We talked about subscriptions that you can cancel by going to the library And streaming could be one of them. Most libraries have an extensive collection of TV shows and movies either on hand or you can request from other branches. I’m talking about DVDs, Blu-rays, and in some cases even free access to streaming video. This will obviously vary from library to library, but take a trip to check out your local branch and ask the librarian what they offer. You might be surprised.
Use Plex or a similar service
We talked about how to Stream your home video collection to any device Using an app called Plex. Jellyfin is a good free and open source alternative. Either way, these apps allow you to create your own Netflix alternative using your own media collection.
This is going to take some work. You will need to rip your physical media collection to a computer or NAS. You might also want to take the time to connect a tuner card and antenna, so you can record live TV. When everything is set up, you’ll be able to watch all your shows and movies on any device you own – your phone, tablet, computer, and smart TVs. It’s a bit of work to set up, granted, but once you do, there’s no ongoing monthly subscription.
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