This clever trick will help you save money on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and other streaming services

House of the Dragon and She-Hulk will keep your TVs busy. You can find many great movies and shows on dozens of streaming platforms, but only five could be worth more than $50 per month. We will show you how to save money.

Consider this: You subscribe one or more streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu or Disney Plus, and then you stream your favorite series until it ends. Then, you look for the next show to watch. Is it worth having multiple subscriptions if you aren’t actively using them? I don’t believe so.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you save money.

Rotate your streaming services

For cord-cutters streaming is better for their wallet than expensive cable packages. It’s easy to sign up for monthly subscriptions and then jump out when the price or content goes up. According to Deloitte’s 2022 Media Trends Report, pricing and lack thereof are the main reasons why people cancel streaming subscriptions. This behavior is called “churn” by media companies. This is the rotation method.

What are the benefits? Let’s assume a popular title such as House of the Dragon, or The Real Housewives will be available on a new service. Keep track of the number of episodes and wait for them to all be available on one platform. You can cancel HBO Max, Disney Plus, or any other service. Once the episodes have been made available, you can resubscribe and catch up. You can also stream a show halfway through the season to save money. You can keep up with my monthly guide to which streaming services you should cancel.

The down side? You won’t be able to access every episode immediately and you will need to wait until the entire season airs. You might not have the same access as your friends, since streaming services often release new episodes each week, instead of all at once. You might decide that multiple subscriptions are worth the cost if you prefer to see episodes as they come out. You can save money if you are patient.

This strategy is also possible if you subscribe to a streaming live TV service that keeps up with your favorite sport. You can either cancel your subscription and save big or switch to a cheaper service with fewer channels, such as Sling TV.

You don’t have to pay four months for Disney Plus to view Andor. Instead, you can get all 12 episodes for one month.

Tip No. 1: Cancel your streaming subscription before getting charged

You can set reminders on your calendar for your billing cycle, upcoming movie releases, and other important dates. You should give yourself enough notice before you start or stop a subscription. You can track the times and locations of TV shows and movies on streaming services with apps like JustWatch, TV Time, and Hobi.

Tip No. 2: Snag a streaming service deal

You can find discounts on streaming services. Starz offers a $5 per month special rate for three months. This cuts nearly half of its regular monthly price of $9. The Disney Bundle is also available, which gives you access to Disney Plus and Hulu for a lower price. Hulu subscribers who are eligible can add Disney Plus for only $3 Finally, make sure you check with your mobile provider to find out which streaming subscriptions are available for free.

Tip No. 3: Choose one or two default streamers

You can subscribe to only one or two essential services per year and choose one or two additional options that fit within your monthly budget. You can rotate the bonus services according to what you watch so you don’t miss any of your favorites while still sticking to your monthly budget.

Tip No. 4: Stick with monthly billing

Avoid annual subscriptions, and be aware of your auto-renewal payment due dates. Even if you have only signed up for a trial, your billing cycle will help you decide when it is the right time to cancel a service.

Tip No. 5: Don’t cancel your streaming service, pause it

Hulu allows you pause your subscription up to 12 weeks. Sling offers a similar option, but with some restrictions. You can ask your streaming provider if you are able to take a break temporarily without having to cancel.

You can give it a try, and if it doesn’t work for you, you can always unsubscribe. This guide will give you more great tips for streaming TV. It also includes our recommendations for the best internet service providers.