Streaming costs are higher than ever – Take steps to save now

August 14, 2023

By Kim Komando

I think we’re all wondering the same thing. Am I really saving any money since I ditched cable for streaming? And about those commercials … they’ve come to streaming, too.

Just this week, Disney+ and Hulu said that come October, prices will increase. Ad-free Disney+ is going from $11 to $14 — ad-free Hulu from $14 to $18. You could pay less to watch some ads, but … they’re annoying.

These increases are the second time Disney+ and Hulu raised prices within a year, and they’re not the only ones getting greedy. Keep reading to catch up on all the changes and what you can do to save money.

Well, that escalated quickly

Disney and Warner Bros. (which owns Discovery) say their original prices were too low on purpose to drive subscribers. Now that they got what they wanted, we’re getting the ol’ switcheroo.

It’s not just hikes on subscription costs. Ad-free used to be the default, and now you pay more for that. Then come the password-sharing crackdowns. Bad news for family members who share plans … and that ex that still has your Netflix password.

Price hike roundup

Things aren’t pretty out there, people.

Don’t forget these price hikes are going down at the same time as the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. If the Hollywood machine isn’t turning, it’s only a matter of time before the supply of new shows runs dry. Are we shelling out more cash to watch reruns of “Seinfeld”?

Streamline your streaming spending

I know you don’t want to ditch your favorite streaming options altogether, but there are many ways to save.

• Take an honest inventory of your current streaming lineup. Are you really using each and every one?
• Plan out your binges so you’re only paying for the services you use the most. You can cancel and pick back up whenever you want — like when the new season debuts.
• Take advantage of free trials. Just remember to cancel before you’re charged. Set a calendar reminder!
• I have an alert setting on my AMEX that tells me when a subscription goes up. Apple will automatically email you, too.