How you can save on streaming services

There is no shortage of streaming services for you to spend money on. Here’s how you can get the most bang for your buck.

PHOENIX — These days, streaming services are just about everywhere we look, becoming an integral part of our lives.

“Yeah, they have,” said Tony Sohl from Tempe. “I’m completely blind. I can tell the light is on and that’s about it.”

For Sohl and his wife Tina, streaming services don’t just provide entertainment: they’re helpful.

“Our TV talks, the Amazon Fire stick talks, so it reads us what’s on the screen, including the 12+ app,” he said. “We got that… we got that!”

Of course, there’s no cost to download 12+, the streaming home of 12News, but that’s not always the case.

“Maybe about $100 a month,” she said.

The pair subscribes to quite a few streaming services, and the cost adds up.

“Prime is $88 a year,” he added. “We each have a Saratech account, which is $22 a month, and Audible, which is $22.”

And they’ve seen the cost go up for some.

“Audible has gone up, but Saratech—their mission is to make it affordable to everybody, all blind and disabled people,” he said.

That’s why Melanie Lowe, expert saving strategist with Coupon Cabin, said it’s important to keep tabs on how much you’re spending and ways you can save.

“We actually have coupons for a lot of the major platforms,” she said.

Lowe encourages everyone to look for deals, whether it’s on a cash back portal like theirs or elsewhere, so even though you’re spending money, you’re racking up cash back at the same time.

She said you should also keep track of your spending.

“Know what you’re paying for and how often you’re paying for it,” said Lowe. “…especially with how many options there are with streaming today, it can be really easy to accidentally pay, maybe you and your spouse are paying for the same service, you don’t even realize it.”

Lowe said you can also rotate your subscriptions, so you’re not paying for all of the streaming services at the same time.

“You can subscribe to Netflix for half the year, watch everything you want to watch, cancel it for a while, give Hulu a try,” she said.

Lowe said it’s also a good idea to take advantage of free trials. 

“Tons of streaming services offer free trials,” she said.

For Tony and Tina, doing their research has been key.

“…opt out before that trial ends, put that date in your calendar,” she said.

“Look around and make sure you read the fine print,” he added.

As always, if you have any money-saving topics you would like us to look into, email us at money@12news.com.

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