Keep an eye onTV deals, freebies and streaming costs
THE way we watch television has changed, with a steady march away from traditional (some would say outdated) broadcast programmes to the streaming services.
Yet, with more and more options available, getting the most for your money is vital.
As they say, every little helps at a time when budgets are tight.
Where to start? Probably with your TV and broadband.
Consumer champion Which? advocates purchasing last year’s TV model.
It states: “Try to avoid buying a new TV in spring and summer, when they’re launched. Usually by November they are discounted by a third or more.
“Waiting until the year after a TV model comes out gets you an even bigger discount. The January sales,
Prime Day (usually in July) and
Black Friday (November 29) can also prove fruitful.
“You could get a refurbished TV. These are checked by an engineer, and sometimes have only been used in shop displays. You get the same consumer rights as buying new from a retailer and in some cases retailer warranties of up to one year. It’s also possible that manufacturer warranties still apply.
“Buying a second-hand TV from sites such as eBay and Gumtree can be even cheaper. However, your rights and ability to reclaim money when buying from individuals are more limited.”
However, it’s crucial you get the screen size to fit your room.
As for broadband, Which? highlights how important it is to hit the comparison websites.
It states: “A minimum 25Mbps is recommended for streaming in 4K resolution, or 5Mbps for HD video. This doesn’t take into account anything else that might be going on, so if you want to watch movies while someone upstairs is playing online games, you’ll need a faster package.
“Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to ruthlessly shop around for broadband. Also check if prices will rise mid-contract – a sneaky but widespread practice.”
How best then to get content you want on the cheap?
Both Which? and This Is Money urge consumers to max out on “freebies”.
Which? states: “Say yes to ads. There’s a whole world of free programmes beyond what you can find on Freeview or Freesat – BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, ITVX, Freevee by Amazon, Plex, Pluto TV, UKTV, YouTube and more. There are free trials of Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Britbox. Putting up with ads will save you money on paid-for services, with reduced price offers from Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime.”
Taking up the theme, This Is Money comments: “A favourite trick for many is to make the most of the free trials.”
It goes on: “Often, many popular movies and TV shows are available across multiple platforms, so it could be worth doing your research to find the best prices to watch.
“Some streaming services offer discounted prices for a limited time to students and certain professionals, so it’s well worth searching around for a viable discount code.
“Another way to get more out of your subscriptions is through cashback sites and offerings. One way to do this is with a cashback credit card, which allows you to earn money back on your monthly and annual payments.”
Suggesting a regular audit of subscriptions, it continues: “A great way to cut down on costs is to switch out the streaming services you don’t use regularly.
“If you’re only using your subscription a handful of times a month it’s probably not worth it, or if you find you are going months between watches, then it could be worth pausing your subscription.”
Don’t be afraid to grab what you can… even the stuff hitherto you knew nothing about!