STREAMING has changed the face of entertainment forever.
Nowadays, we have easy access to a world of music, movies and TV shows that can be accessed with a swipe on our phones or the touch of a button.
There are more and more streaming services popping up, offering more entertainment options than ever.
However, as Netflix and Disney+ try to stop users from sharing passwords, and Spotify premium prices going up, the cost of keeping yourself entertained is on the rise.
While it may seem impossible to enjoy everything you want while saving some money, there are some things to do that can lower.
Check out our tips to ensure you get as much entertainment for as little as possible!
Decide which streaming service is for you
We have all made an impulsive decision to subscribe to a new service with the justification that “it’s only another £5”.
However, all of those £5 subscriptions really add up, especially if you aren’t getting maximum use out of all the streamers you subscribe to.
We all have different preferences when it comes to our movies and music, and different streaming companies will suit different people.
A simple and effective way to start saving on your entertainment is to sit down and think about which streaming services you get the most out of.
If you love original movies and TV shows, established streamers like Netflix, Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime will be the best options to satisfy your entertainment itch.
If you prefer the comfort of revisiting your nostalgic favourites, Disney+ offer their extensive back catalogue of animated classics, teenage hits and heart-warming rom-coms.
For music and podcast lovers, the various streaming services will offer different features to make your music library more enjoyable.
For most, Spotify is the preferable music streamer.
With a huge music library, specific playlists, new music recommendations and an easy-to-use interface, Spotify offers a seamless experience.
It is also great for podcast lovers, with exclusive podcasts available on the service.
Apple Music is many people’s preference as a Spotify alternative.
For real music purists, Apple Music could be the one for you, with better sound due to Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
Look out for discounts and free-trials
If you’re thinking about joining a new streaming service or re-joining a subscription that you have cancelled in the past, make sure to take a look into discounts or free trials that you can take advantage of.
If you’re a student, you can make major savings on streaming services.
Students can get Spotify Premium for £5.99 per month, as well as a 1-month free trial.
They can also get both Apple Music and Apple TV+ for just £5.99.
If you’re not a student, you can also find discounts for streaming services including Now TV and Amazon Prime on The Sun vouchers.
A lot of streamers also offer free-trials for all users.
Amazon Prime offers a 30-day free trial, which includes access to Amazon Prime Video.
Amazon Music also offers a 90-day free trial for their Unlimited tier, which gives you access to 100 million songs with no ads.
You can also get a 7-day free trial for Apple TV+ and a 1-month trial for Apple Music.
Alternatively, if you buy a new Apple device, you can get a 3-month free trial for Apple TV+ and a six-month free trial for Apple Music.
Free trials are a great way to decide whether that service is worth staying subscribed to.
However, make sure to set a reminder to cancel your subscription before your free trial ends if you decide that the service isn’t for you.
Try Amazon Prime for free
Amazon Prime is a pay monthly or annual subscription service that gives you access to lots of premium perks.
Amazon’s subscription service comes with a lot of perks, including free next-day delivery (and even same-day delivery in certain postcodes).
By signing up to become an Amazon Prime member, you will get instant access to Prime Video, Amazon’s ever-growing streaming service of movies and TV shows.
You will also get unlimited free delivery, Prime Music, Amazon Photos, Prime reading and access to exclusive Prime Day deals.
The membership costs £8.99 a month, or £95 a year for a 12-month plan, but if you haven’t signed up before you can try out the 30-day free trial.
Unsurprisingly, Amazon doesn’t make the cancellation process easy – but we’ve got step-by-step instructions in this how to cancel Amazon Prime guide.
Save on streaming with bundles
If you haven’t already cut live TV out of your entertainment plan there could be great savings to be made on your streaming subscriptions.
Many of the UK’s largest TV providers now offer bundle deals that can get you access to some of the biggest streamers for discounted rates or even for free.
Sky TV offers several bundle options that can save you money on your entertainment expenses.
With all Sky TV bundles, you will receive Netflix at a fraction of the cost.
Select Sky TV bundles will also give you access to a variety of other streamers such as the Sky Cinema subscription which includes Paramount+ free of charge, saving you £6.99.
Meanwhile, Virgin Media subscribers can also save on Netflix with many of their bigger TV & broadband bundles, including a Netflix Standard subscription included in the price.
The Sun readers can also get additional savings with our Sun Vouchers Sky offers and Virgin Media voucher codes.
Pay upfront and get a discounted rate
While cycling through all your subscriptions may be a great way to try every service for less, committing to a service long-term can also save you money.
This is a great approach for the services you use all the time and can’t incorporate into your cycling plan.
Disney+ offers a discounted rate for subscribers who pay annually, getting you 12 months for the price of 10 on both their standard and premium plans.
If annual plans aren’t offered, you could also save by opting for ad-supported plans.
You can save a considerable amount of money if you don’t mind listening to or watching ads.
Netflix and Disney+ offer their standard plans with ads for just £4.99 a month.
For music streaming, Spotify and Amazon Music offer free ad-supported plans.
Rotate your subscriptions
With new content produced by different streamers every week, it can be hard to decide which subscriptions to commit to.
However, you don’t have to choose. For those who don’t use multiple subscriptions every month, you can try out a new streaming service each month.
This way you can check out all the latest releases on that service for that month.
Then, you simply cancel that subscription and opt in to another service for the next month to check out their new releases.
While this tip takes some organisation to make sure you cancel your service and switch, it is the best way to save while staying up-to-date with all the latest and greatest TV and movies.
Sun Vouchers is your one-stop shop for every deal and discount code currently available from your favourite online retailers. Don’t click ‘buy’ until you’ve checked Sun Vouchers for a discount code to apply to your basket.