This trend is going to take off: Competitive short takeoff and landing, aka STOL, looks like a lot of fun. It’s one of aviation’s fastest-growing sports, thanks, in part, to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Watch how it works — I’d love to try this!
7 ways to stop paying so much on streaming every dang month
Five years ago, Netflix, Disney+ and Hulu with Live TV would cost you around $56 a month. Not bad! Today, the exact services will run you over $106. How’s that for outrageous?
New research shows we’re more cutthroat than ever about what we pay to stream. Let’s look at some clever ways people save so you can, too!
It’s all about the Benjamins
If it’s not clear by now, we’re all scaling back on streaming primarily because of how dang expensive these services are. Sure, some people hit their TV limit during the pandemic (🙋♀️ raising my hand), but costs are still out of control.
Here are a few recent increases in monthly prices:
- Ad-free Netflix plan: From $13.99 to $15.49
- Ad-free Disney+ premium: From $11 to $14
- Ad-free Hulu with Live TV: From $70 to $77
- Ad-free Amazon Prime Video: From $0 to $2.99, plus you need to pay $14.99 per month for Prime
Over the last two years, roughly 25% of American streaming subscribers have canceled at least three services. Yup, I’m in that category, too!
OK, I’m ready to save
I feel you. You don’t need to cut all your streaming to save significant cash, either.
- Get creative. What do you pay for that you don’t need all the time? Looking at you, sports add-ons. Cancel those once specific events or seasons are over.
- Focus on what you watch most. If we’re not watching anything on Netflix, it goes away until our show returns. A couple of active services are usually more than enough for one family.
- Watch ads. Streaming companies are desperate to keep you, and you can get free or cheaper options if you’re willing to put up with commercials.
- Get a grip. Sometimes, you forget what you’re even paying for. I use Rocket Money (a sponsor of my podcast) to do it for me. You can also comb through your bank and credit card statements to find all your streaming charges.
- Consider an antenna. This is a no-brainer if you’re a sports fan and your favorite games are on local channels. Here’s a solid option that includes a DVR, and this one gets the job done on a budget. Try this site to see what channels you can get at home.
- Test the freebies. Pluto TV, Tubi and plenty of others still cost absolutely nothing. Ads? Yes. Free? Yes. Big list of freebies here!
- Sharing is caring. Not everyone has banned this yet. Amazon lets up to six people share. Through Apple’s Family Sharing feature, six folks get Apple TV+. Disney+ started cracking down on password sharing for Canadian users, but it’s still OK here in the U.S. — for now.
My husband, Barry, is a serial subscriber
If there’s a paid app or service, he somehow finds it. I regularly go in and cancel stuff he’s not using, and then every few months, he’ll yell, “KIM! Did you cancel this?” I just laugh.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Buying a new TV? Don't make these 5 mistakes
Holiday promotions make December the perfect time to upgrade your home theater. The only question: Which TV is right for you? Tap or click for five of the best budget TVs on our radar.
The quality of streaming, sports and your weekend movie marathon all depend on the right device. There’s a lot to choose from, so we’re here to set the record straight.
Must-have gear for the ultimate sports fan
- Has your old ball cap seen better days? Get a new hat, jersey, sweatshirt or whatever from Fanatics.
- Baseball lovers, keep your can or bottle nice and cold with handy insulators.
- Be the envy of all tailgaters with a portable charcoal grill.
- Don’t forget the grill caddy with insulation to keep food and drinks cold. Plenty of space for utensils and cooking supplies, too.
- Not really into sports and just here for the wine? Grab a fancy Yeti wine tumbler.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Alexa can update you on your favorite teams: In the Alexa app, open Settings > Sports Update. Add your teams (you’ll find all the major American sports), and then say, “Alexa, give me my sports update” for scores and schedule info.
Prince Harry and Megan’s Netflix doc: Instead of airing more dirty laundry and alienating everyone in the process, the destined-to-fail series (dropping Dec. 10) is a look at the U.S. Open Polo Championship. This couple keeps screaming about wanting privacy, but they’re doing talk shows, podcasts, books, appearances and, now, a Netflix doc. I bet they’re on “Dancing with the Stars” next year.
Lots of us spend a ton of money on streaming (but not everyone). What percentage of American TV viewers watch ad-supported streaming TV every week? Is it … A.) 10%, B.) 25%, C.) 50% or D.) 75%?
10 million
Pickleball players across the U.S. in the last year. And now there’s a turf war brewing since tennis is hot again. About 10% of tennis courts have been repurposed for pickleball. Careful … someone might raise a racket the next time you’re playing.
When it might be time to switch back to cable
Cable or streaming? Both offer a variety of movies and TV shows, but you’ll always find pros and cons for each type of service. Regardless of how you watch TV, you don’t want to pay for something you’re not using.
As summer approaches and your travel plans take shape, you may want to consider pausing your service while you’re away. Why not just cancel and reactivate when you return? Well, that’s more inconvenient and could end up costing you more. Tap or click here for our report.
The best tech gifts for when money is no object
Here at the Komando HQ, we’re always sharing clever new ways you can save money. And when you’ve got all this extra money in your pocket, sometimes, you may want to splurge on something special.
Maybe you want to upgrade your home with a larger TV, or maybe you’re passionate about art and want to spark creative discussions around the dinner table. Sports and music lovers may also want to use the latest and greatest tech to add some pizazz to their daily lives.
🥊 What a sh*tshow: It wasn’t just you. Netflix crashed throughout the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul livestream. From the start of the undercard, anyone watching around the world lost sound, while the feeds buffered and image quality dropped to pixelated mush. Netflix slapped up a message to “check your internet connection.” I have serious doubts the internet would hold up in an emergency.
This trend is going to take off: Competitive short takeoff and landing, aka STOL, looks like a lot of fun. It’s one of aviation’s fastest-growing sports, thanks, in part, to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Watch how it works here. I’d love to try this!
🎾 Tennis takes balls: Wimbledon is replacing line judges with live AI electronic line calling to decide whether the ball is in or out. It’s already in play at big tournaments like the U.S. Open and Australian Open. My condolences to the 300 line judges out of a job. I’m going to miss the players throwing tantrums over the judges’ calls.
🏐 Youth clubs and school sports teams are using AI: Tools like Balltime take game footage to track players’ movements and record stats like serve speed, jump height and error rates. With scholarships and sponsorships on the line, parents are shelling out big for these services. If you have kids playing sports, look into this.
$2 loss
For every $1 put toward sports betting. As federal and state guidelines have loosened, fewer Americans are investing in stocks and other safer assets. This past January, folks put $14 billion into online sports betting — compare that to $1.1 billion in January 2019.
¡Ay, car-amba! Last year, GM nearly tied its 1979 record for Corvettes sold. While other sports cars struggled, GM moved twice as many (paywall link) Corvettes as in 2019. Why? Engineers put the motor in the back, just like high-end supercars. I swear it looks like a Ferrari. Now, gearheads are lining up.
🏀 Banned baller: Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter received a lifetime NBA ban for sports betting. The league started investigating after the Raptors’ March 20 game, in which Porter played for just three minutes and then left, saying he felt “sick.” It was all part of an $80,000 prop bet that he’d underperform.
$258,000 for an EV boat
Arc Boat Company’s newest ride, Arc Sport, can carry 15 people. The 23-foot cruiser was designed for wake sports lovers. They actually look pretty sweet.
10 apps that earn you money for doing almost nothing
Rewards programs are plenty these days, with incentives that run the gamut from traditional free airline miles to the unique offering of a drone — complete with pilot lessons. What consumer doesn’t like a bonus for their effort? Unfortunately, while some programs are amazing, the majority fall flat.