How to save money on Netflix, Amazon and Spotify subscriptions as services raise prices

Netflix viewers have been left frustrated after the streaming giant announced that certain content would only be available to those with the ad-free subscription, which costs £10.99

Many subscribers are now seeking ways to slash their streaming bills while still indulging in their preferred series and films.

Netflix has come under fire from disgruntled users who have branded the streaming giant "greedy" after US subscribers on the ad-supported tier found they were blocked from viewing a slew of TV shows and films. A horde of content, including popular titles like 'House of Cards', 'Peaky Blinders', and 'Spy Kids: Mission Critical', was off-limits to these viewers, sparking outrage among them.

The issue came to light when users noticed a lock icon next to certain titles and learned that unlocking them required upgrading to an ad-free plan costing £10.99, a significant jump from the £4.99 ad-inclusive option. In the wake of the backlash, Netflix addressed the situation by attributing the locked content to intricate licensing agreements and restrictions.

In a timely intervention, Nick Drewe, retail expert and founder of discount platform Wethrift, has offered valuable tips for consumers aiming to trim their streaming spend without sacrificing entertainment quality.

Money-saving guru Nick has served up his top tips for maximising your streaming service subscriptions, pointing out that Amazon Prime offers a lot more bang for your buck than just TV shows and movies. They also serve up perks such as free one-day delivery, e-books, Amazon Fresh, and same-day grocery deliveries, reports the Express.

"So if you are paying the Prime subscription price, it is important to make use of all of its services, not just one or two," Nick stressed.

He also prompted viewers to scrutinise their viewing habits by asking themselves, Take a look at the channels and "'Do I need to pay for all of these TV and film streaming services at the same time?' If the answer is no, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ all allow you to cancel a monthly plan without an exit fee."

That means when your much-anticipated show drops, you can slash costs by temporarily ditching the platforms gathering dust. "Therefore, if there is a particular program being launched that you know you will be bingeing, it's perfectly feasible to cancel the other platforms you won't use as much and continue alternating the platforms you pay for in order to save some money."

Taking his savvy advice one step further, Nick suggests looking into annual payment options for subscriptions as a clever tactic to trim down monthly expenses: "It's often cheaper to pay for a subscription annually rather than monthly."

"So, if you're confident that you'll use the service regularly, it may be worth paying the upfront cost to save money in the long term. With many subscriptions, companies are looking to tie you in for the year, so the monthly cost will usually work out more after paying it over twelve months."

Nick's final tip is to make sure you're not wasting money on unused services, as he advises: "Finally, cancel anything that you don't use. If you have several bank accounts with small outgoings of subscription fees, you can use an app like Money Dashboard to see an overview of your outgoings and spot subscriptions that you may not want or need anymore."

He also points out that you dont always have to pay, saying "Remember, there is always a free alternative too. The likes of All4, ITV Hub, and My5 give you some great box sets free of charge, although you can pay to view them without adverts."