Curling up on the sofa and watching your favorite shows is one of life’s simple joys. But what if you could enjoy hit films and standout TV series while trimming the costs of home entertainment? Here’s the good news — it’s entirely possible.
Below we outline practical strategies to lower your entertainment spending, from installing free TV apps to eliminating cable entirely. We also cover smart options for readers and audiobook fans.
6 Smart Ways to Spend Less on Home Entertainment
Whether you’re an avid reader, a die-hard sports viewer, or someone who binges reality TV, there are practical ways for everyone to reduce their entertainment budget.
1. Install Free TV Apps
With so many streaming choices available, you don’t have to keep paying for an expensive cable subscription. While numerous streaming services charge monthly fees, there are several apps that cost nothing at all.
Add these no-cost TV apps if you want to keep your entertainment expenses at zero. You might not always get the newest episodes as they air, but there are plenty of options for movie buffs, children, gamers, anime lovers and fans of classic television.
2. Replace Cable with Streaming Services
Cutting the cord is an effective way to reduce monthly bills, and it doesn’t mean forfeiting access to live broadcasts and popular programs.
Several streaming services let you watch live TV starting around $40 per month — often with introductory rates as low as half that for the first month. Many also include DVR-like features so you can record shows if you can’t watch at airtime.
3. Stream NFL Games Without Cable
If you follow sports closely, you might be reluctant to give up cable because of game access. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to watch NFL matchups without an expensive TV bundle.
You can stream via the NFL Network or opt for NFL Game Pass or NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally, a variety of streaming platforms, some starting at about $5 monthly, will allow you to catch football action.
4. Picking a Device: Fire Stick vs. Roku
When transitioning from cable to streaming for the first time, one common question is which streaming device to pick.
Amazon’s Fire Stick and Roku are among the most popular choices. We outline the key features of both the Fire Stick and Roku so you can decide which suits your needs best.
5. Find Affordable Audiobooks
Diving into a good book is a pleasant way to spend time. Audiobooks are even more convenient because you can listen while commuting, exercising, doing household tasks, or whenever you have your hands full.
These nine ways to discover inexpensive audiobooks let you grow your personal (digital) library without paying $25 per hardcover title.
6. Take Advantage of Free Library Apps
Public libraries provide a vast array of resources, and you don’t have to drive to a branch to make use of them.
Free library apps such as Hoopla and OverDrive give you access to books, films, music and online courses at no charge. And no librarian will hiss “shh” if you chat while deciding what to borrow first.
Michael Archambault and Robert Bruce are senior writers at Savinly.
Nicole Dow, a former senior writer at Savinly, contributed.
