If you have Hulu, get ready to pay more per month. Beginning on Oct. 8, Hulu will raise the price for both its on-demand plans by $1. That might not seem like a lot, but it can all add up.
With so many streaming plans, we set out to figure out the best way to prioritize it all without blowing your budget.
Here are the 7 best ways to save on streaming:
BUNDLE SERVICES
The first way is to find some bundles.
Cora Hamilton of Detroit said she has the bundle with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus for just $13.99 with ads, or $19.99 a month with no ads. She said Disney Plus alone would be $7.99
Viacom CBS just unveiled a Paramount Plus and Showtime streaming bundle at $9.99 a month, but you will have to watch some commercials.
That brings us to our next tip.
SELECT AD-BASED PLANS
HBO Max is another streaming service that offers plans with or without ads. It's $9.99 a month with ads, and $14.99 a month for no ads.
Temica Thomas of Detroit has ad-supported HBO, Showtime, and Hulu. She also decided to do our next piece of advice.
TRADE OFF ON FREE TRIALS
Some free trials can last a week or more.
“If I know if it’s a period in time with just nothing I want to see, I’ll probably just cancel it for that period," she said.
Most subscriptions allow you to cancel without a penalty. It's a great option for binge-watching, but not so great if your favorite show drops weekly.
CHECK FOR CARRIER DEALS
You should also check for carrier deals. If you buy an Apple product, you get Apple TV+ free for three months.
Metro by T-Mobile gets you Amazon Prime, which not only gets you free delivery but also streaming of movies, TV shows and Amazon originals.
T-Mobile is also offering AppleTV+ for a year through a promotional code which expires July 31, 2022. After the free trial, the plan automatically renews at $4.99/month.
T-Mobile's "Magenta" and "Magenta Max" plans come with free Netflix for $40-to$47 per line if you have at least three cell phones.
CUT DOWN ON RESOLUTION
Another option is to cut down on resolution. If you mainly watch on mobile devices or don't want to hit internet data caps, this is an option.
Netflix, for example, has a basic tier for $8.99 a month. That's compared to its more expensive Standard Tier with HD Resolution for $13.99/month or its Premium Teir with Ultra HD for $17.99/month.
SEARCH FOR STUDENT DISCOUNTS
If you're in school, search for student discounts. College students can get Hulu for $1.99 a month -- a 65% discount.
Everybody needs a study break now and then to binge watch something, right?!
AVOID PAYING FOR EXTRAS
Another tip is to avoid paying for extras such as live TV.
You can always invest in a digital TV antenna to pick up local channels for free or download free apps from your favorite station.
You can also scout for services that have on-demand pricing for live events.
If you're really into sports, FUBO TV -- where you can watch Big Ten Football -- has a seven-day free trial.
As always...don't waste your money.
