How to save money on home entertainment this year
Snuggling up on the couch and watching TV is one of life’s pure pleasures. But what if you could enjoy blockbuster movies and stellar TV shows while saving money on your home entertainment? We have great news for you — that’s exactly what you can do.
We explore ways to save money on home entertainment expenses, from downloading free TV apps to ditching your cable service altogether. We also have options for book and audiobook lovers.
6 ways to save money on home entertainment
Whether you’re a big bookworm, love watching live sports, or can’t get enough of your reality TV shows, there are ways for everyone to cut costs.
1. Download free TV apps
With the plethora of streaming options available today, there’s no reason to be stuck with an expensive cable bill. Although many streaming services charge their own subscription fees, some TV apps are completely free.
Download these free tv apps if you want to keep your costs at $0. You might not get access to the latest shows airing, but there are deals for movie buffs, kids, gamers, anime fans, and those who love classic TV shows.
2. Ditch cable for streaming services
Cutting the cord is a great way to cut down on monthly expenses, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the benefits of watching live shows and programs.
These streaming options let you watch live TV from $40 per month – and half price for your first month. Many also offer DVR capabilities, just like cable companies, so you can record episodes if you can’t watch them when they air.
3. Watch NFL games without cable
If you’re a sports fan, you might be hanging on to cable so you can catch every game this season. However, there are many ways to watch NFL games without an expensive cable bundle.
You can stream games from the NFL Network or purchase the NFL Game Pass or NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally, there are several streaming services starting at $5 per month that will allow you to watch football matches.
4. The Great Debate: Fire Stick vs. Roku
For those switching from cable to streaming for the first time, one of the questions you will have is which platform to use to stream content.
Amazon Fire Stick and Roku are two popular options. We break it down Fire Stick and Roku Highlights so you can choose what suits you best.
5. Score cheap audiobooks
Reading an interesting book is a great way to pass the time. Audiobooks are even better because you can basically have the book read to you while you’re driving, jogging, doing chores, or whatever.
These nine options for find affordable audiobooks allow you to create your private (virtual) library without having to shell out $25 for each hardcover book.
6. Check out free library apps
Public libraries offer a wealth of resources, but you don’t need to get in your car and drive to the nearest branch to take advantage of them.
Free library apps like Hoopla, OverDrive and many more let you access books, movies, music and online training programs for free. And there won’t be anyone to say “shh” to you if you talk too loudly deciding what to check first.
Michael Archambault and Robert Bruce are the senior editors of The Penny Hoarder.
Nicole Dow, former senior editor of The Penny Hoarder, contributed.
