Do You Make These Mistakes When Using Streaming Services?

Right now, there are more than 200 streaming services available.

Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some have lots of content, others offer exclusive shows, some are more affordable, and a few provide live TV options.

If you want to watch specific shows like ‘The Morning Show’ or ‘See,’ you need a subscription to Apple TV+. Similarly, for ‘The Witcher’ or ‘The Umbrella Academy,’ you’d need subscriptions to Netflix.

That’s why, many of us have subscriptions to multiple streaming services simultaneously, which makes sense.

But it can actually backfire if you don’t keep track.

Are You Canceling the Subscription After Watching Your Desired Content?

This happened to me around two years ago.

As a sports fan, I enjoy watching ESPN, FS1, FS2, and 35 RSNs, so I have a subscription to Fubo TV. However, two years back, just for watching “The Mandalorian” with my family, I subscribed to Disney+.

Later, I forgot to cancel it after the season ended and ended up paying for six months of Disney+ without watching anything else on it. (LoL)

To avoid such situations, cancel your subscriptions as soon as you finish watching the content you wanted.

Set reminders or alerts on your phone or calendar to remind you to cancel your subscriptions before they renew. Alternatively, use services like [Rocket Money] to track and manage your subscriptions and cancel the ones you don’t need.

Are You Reviewing the Services Before You Subscribe?

Before paying for a subscription service, consider whether you’ll get your money’s worth.

Review the content it offers and ensure there’s something you’ll take advantage of immediately. If not, subscribing to that service might not be the best financial move for you right now.

Take advantage of any free trials the service offers to confirm if the streaming platform deserves your money.

If you’re only interested in a single show or movie, you may be able to watch it during the free trial without paying. Just be sure to cancel your subscription before the end of the trial period if you don’t wish to keep it.

Also, look for discounts and deals offered by the services themselves or third parties.

You can get a free three-month Apple TV+ subscription when you buy an Apple device, a free year of Disney+ if you’re a Verizon customer, or a free month of Max if you’re an AT&T customer.

Are you sharing or splitting the cost of subscriptions with others?

Although Netflix and some other streaming companies have already cut down on password sharing, there are still some streaming providers that allow password sharing with family members or friends.

For example, Hulu’s basic plan starts from $7.99, but if you split the cost and share the subscription with others, you could save a couple of dollars.

You could get a Hulu subscription for only $3.99 at Togetherprice.com or $4.15 at Spliiit.com.

So, why spend double when you can get it for half?