Tech expert reveals crafty ways to save money on streaming services without losing the shows you love

Netflix here, Hulu there. Add Disney+, Paramount and ESPN or another sports provider to the mix.

And before you know it, you’re spending over $100 a month on streaming subscriptions.

Ninety-five percent of Americans subscribe to more than one provider, often starting with free trials that they forget to cancel.

Stop worrying about how much you’re paying and do something about it with a few quick and easy methods.

But before that happens, don’t let it take another month for you to do this.

It’s worth making a comprehensive list. The real work is up front; keeping it up to date is the easy part.

Look through your bank account or credit card transactions. Identify recurring charges and write them down.

Rank them in order from most used to least used. When you’re done, look at the subscriptions at the bottom of your list and think about the ones you can live without.

Please note that some subscription services do not bill you directly.

Depending on how you signed up, you may be billed through the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

On an iPhone, you can view your active subscriptions by opening the App Store and tapping the profile icon in the top right corner.

In the menu that appears, tap Subscriptions to view, cancel, or renew services.

On Android: Open Settings > Google > Manage your Google account. Here you will see an option titled Payments & subscriptions.

Tap this and then Manage Subscriptions to cancel or renew services.

Now that you know what you’re paying for, let’s move on to the money saving tips.

1. Throw away what you don’t use

This is a no-brainer, but it’s definitely the best place to start.

Many of us continue to pay for something ‘just in case’. Just in case a new season of your show comes out or the kids are obsessed with an old favorite movie again.

It’s time to get ruthless. Use these questions as a guide:

● What service(s) do you use the most? Keep that one and only that one. If we don’t watch anything on Netflix, it goes away until our show comes back. A few active services are usually more than enough for one family.

● What are you paying for that you don’t always need? Looking at you, sports add-ons. Cancel those once specific events or seasons are over.

2. Take advantage of offers from your mobile or credit card provider

Streaming services know that record numbers of people are watching content on their phones and tablets, so companies are eager to offer promotions to mobile providers.

You can save money by taking advantage of these offers.

T-Mobile is going all out with its Go5G plan. Listen: You get “Netflix on Us” plus Apple TV+ and Hulu (with ads, but hey, it’s free!).

That’s over $20 a month in freebies. And if you want to upgrade Netflix? No problem, just throw in a little extra.

Verizon is offering a $9 credit toward a Disney+ bundle (Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+, all with ads, of course) if you have one of their top unlimited plans.

Not as sweet as it used to be, but a deal is a deal! If you’re on a budget plan, you’ll still get $5 credit toward Netflix, Max, or Paramount+.

It’s a paltry cut compared to the past, but Verizon users certainly shouldn’t ignore these savings.

And AT&T? Yeah… not so much. They’re throwing in a free Max plan, but only for customers on older plans. New customers? Sorry, no streaming perks for you!

Please note: You may need to cancel and re-sign your current plans with your mobile provider to take advantage of these juicy discounts. A little hassle for a lot of savings — it’s worth it!

But wait, there’s more. Streaming giants are also trying to lure credit card companies.

And if you have an American Express Platinum Card? Cha-ching! That’s a $20 monthly Digital Entertainment Credit you can put toward Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, or even Peacock.

Other cards may give you cash back on streaming: up to 6% for a limited time!

In short? Check your plan, use your card and collect those savings like the smart streamer you are!

3. Look for hidden costs

Scan your bills for any extra charges or surcharges. Look for surcharges for:

● Higher quality video streaming, such as 4K

● Multiple devices, screens or sessions above what you need

● View offline

● Additional content, such as premium channels

Make sure you compare your most recent bill with one from a year or two ago. It is likely that base rates have gone up.

Are there any charges you are unsure of? If so, call or chat with customer service to find out why and if they can reduce those charges.

4. Continue or… say that you

This trick works with everything from your ISP to streaming. With streaming services:

● Log in to your account using a web browser.

● Under the membership settings, you will find the option to cancel. Go through the questions on the screen.

● Just before you cancel your subscription, you may be asked to receive a free month, a discount if you remain a customer, or some other offer.

For internet or cable services, it pays to shop around. A competitor will likely offer you a better deal, faster speeds, or both.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate and make sure they don’t try to lower your speed, bandwidth, or options to lower the price.

Pro tip: If you’re stuck with a customer service representative, ask to speak to someone in Customer Retention.

These people are usually qualified to give you the best deals.

5. Trade some time for money

Streaming companies want to keep you at all costs. If you are willing to accept advertising, you can choose from free or cheaper options.

All you need to do is log in and go back to the ad-enabled option.

While you’re at it, test out the freebies. Pluto TV, Tubi, and many more still cost absolutely nothing. Ads? Yes. Free? Yes. Big list of freebies here!

6. Sharing is loving

Not everyone has banned it yet. Amazon lets up to six people share. Apple’s Family Sharing feature lets six people get Apple TV+. Disney+ has started cracking down on password sharing for Canadian users, but it’s still allowed here in the U.S. — for now.

Netflix doesn’t allow sharing, but you can add someone outside your household for a lower price than if you both got your own subscriptions.

● The Standard tier costs $15.49 per month

● Premium costs $22.99 per month

Additional members can be added for $7.99 each. Not bad.