Streaming services have became a family favourite as of recent, allowing households to keep up with all of the latest film and TV for a fraction of the price of a Sky or Virgin Media subscription.
However, when you're subscribing to a number of different platforms, the bills can start totting up - with five or six different services setting you back up to £30 monthly.
And while there are no universal subscriptions which will give you access to everything under the sun - with Netflix, Amazon and Disney all having their own original shows and movies - mixing and matching wisely can in fact save you money in the long run.
Read more: All the films being pulled from Netflix next month in major shake up of streaming service
The Mirror reports that as money is a little tight at the moment, Rhiannon Philips - who is a finance expert at NerdWallet - has revealed her top tips for making the most of your money with regards to digital content. Here's what she has to say.
Use the service to its fullest -
It's no secret that many streaming services only offer access to movies and TV channels, but Amazon has a litany of often untouched features for subscribers to make the most of with their Prime service. Rhiannon said: "Many people take advantage of the free one-day delivery service you can get with Amazon Prime. There are also several other benefits that people may not be utilising.
"With a Prime membership, you can read thousands of books as well as play new games and receive in-game upgrades at no extra cost. You may also be able to carry out a weekly shop with Amazon Fresh, which offers Prime members in certain locations free, same-day delivery on grocery shops over £40.
"So, if you are paying the Prime subscription price, it is important to make use of all of its services, not just one or two."
Cancelling your Apple Music or Spotify subscription and opting for the Prime Music service, as well as taking advantage of free food deliveries adds up in the long run - no matter how menial it feels at the time.
Split subscriptions and use free trials -
This one may not be completely viable for all services, especially when you're living alone. However, splitting costs is always beneficial.
Should you and your partner both be paying for Netflix for example, you could always split the cost and share the account. Rhiannon added: "Spotify offers a Premium Duo plan for £13.99 a month, ideal for two people in the same household. This can save you around £72 a year, compared to the price of two individual subscriptions."
Free trials and discounts are also a fantastic way of accessing free or slashed-price content. You can also sometimes alternate between new subscriber offers to 'take advantage' of the benefits, without paying a penny.
Rhiannon continued: "If you are a student, it is also worth taking advantage of the Amazon Prime Student membership. This offers a 6-month free trial, before costing just £4.49 per month. It gives you most of the same benefits as a fully paid-up member of Amazon Prime, plus some exclusive student-only offers throughout the year."
Downgrade and go annual -
It's usually normally substantially cheaper to pay via an annual subscription if you can afford to do so. Paying monthly obviously has a lesser impact instantly on your wallet and finances, but the big lumper will usually work out fractionally cheaper compared to compiling monthly payments for the same period.
Rhiannon said: "With many subscriptions, companies are looking to tie you in for the year, so the monthly cost will usually work out more after paying it over twelve months."
If that's too stressful on your finances, then you could always downgrade your plan instead. Netflix for example offers cheaper plans with reduced features, as does Discovery+ - so it may be worth grin and bearing it through the adverts to get a better deal...you could always just go get a snack while they're on.
Rhiannon shared: "If available, you could also consider downgrading from a paid premium plan to a free (or cheaper) plan with adverts. It can be annoying when adverts interrupt your music or show, but you should ask yourself if paying extra to stop them is worth the cost."
Consider whether you need certain services -
Overconsumption is something everyone is a little bit guilty of here and there, and streaming services are no different. We often subscribe to a litany of services, without stocktaking what we're actually using.
You should ask yourself, 'do I really need all of these services at the same time?'. If the answer to that question is no, then Netflix, Prime, Disney+, Paramount and many others don't penalise you to cancel your monthly plan.
Rhiannon summarised: "If there is a particular programme being launched that you know you will be bingeing, it's perfectly feasible to cancel the other platforms you won't use as much and continue alternating the platforms you pay for in order to save some money."
Cancel what you don't use -
Finally, and this goes without saying, but if you're not using it then you shouldn't be paying for it. If you solely picked up Paramount+ to watch Geordie Shore, then cancel it once you've binged til your heart's content.
Rhiannon concluded: "Remember, there is always a free alternative too. The likes of All4, ITV Hub and My5 give you some great box sets free of charge, although you can pay to view them without adverts."
Read next:
- Join ChronicleLive's Whatsapp community for breaking news and top stories
- Look inside The Gate's new cocktail bar MOJO as it opens in former TGI Friday’s this Easter Bank Holiday weekend
- The Whitley Bay charity shop packed with designer wedding dresses and Victoria Beckham frocks - including a £6k gown on sale for £150
- Meet the Newcastle couple who found love at a speed dating event and how you could meet your perfect match
- Joe Willock's amazing Wembley gesture to former Newcastle prospect who transformed Alexander Isak's trainers
