41 Ways To Save Money On Entertainment

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There are a lot of ways to save money on your entertainment and subscription bills.

It’s time to relax without breaking the bank!

41 Ways To Save Money On Entertainment

Table of Contents

1. Get deals on your subscriptions before subscribing

Scribeup – helps you find insider deals, hacks, and tips on the most popular subscriptions.
Getnothing – a subscription to nothing :O

2. Share your subscription accounts

Gowd Access Shared subscription accounts for deeply discounted prices!
Share Account: Share your current account with others without revealing your password, and securely.
Togetherprice – share your subscription services.

3. Seek a refund or cancel your subscriptions

request-refund: how to get a refund on anything, including subscription services
Account killer: list guides to help you cancel your different online accounts.

4. Cancel your cable subscription(get an HDTV antenna)

Get an HDTV antenna.

Receive a lot of new local channels and a really good broadcast signal with a new HDTV antenna. If you are near a city, a new HDTV antenna can get a signal from over 100 channels. Check out the channels that are available by visiting Antenna Web, and see which type of antenna will give you the best reception.

Where should you put your TV antenna?

Rabbitears – provides information and tools about, local over-the-air tv channels in the US.

Indoor antennas are small and can be set up in any room of the house. These are best if you live close to a TV broadcast tower, within around 15 miles.
Outdoor antennas are ideal for those who live in more rural areas. They are usually placed on top of your roof and have a lower chance of suffering from signal blocks caused by roofing materials, buildings, and walls.

Types of TV antennas

Directional antennas are made to be pointed in a single direction. These antennas are best when you have a clear view between the cell towers and your antenna. Also, when all the accessible cell towers are located in a specific direction,
Omni-directional antennas are made to receive signals equally from all horizontal directions. These are a little more expensive than directional antennas and are your best option when you are not able to tell where your TV signal comes from.

5. Watch Free online video streaming websites with others.

The internet has a lot of free(DMCA-compliant) video streaming services available. DMCA-compliant means the video streaming website is legal. A really good list of websites where you can watch things for free can be found at streaming sites.

Other ways to save money with streaming sites

Check out Flickcall if you want to watch streaming videos with other people by sharing the same screen at the same time.
Look for free trials on streaming sites – Some streaming services offer free trials that are limited to one per email address, so you can get multiple free trials by signing up with different email addresses with Temp mail.
Choose ad-supported streaming services that offer free access to content rather than subscription-based models.
Streamlocator – Stream without borders. Geo-unblocking by streaming experts.

6. Buy a Roku device.

Roku offers a great number of streaming options and has been in the streaming game for many years. It comes with a variety of features and an amazing interface, and it has changed people’s streams of movies and TV shows.

All you need to do to get started is connect your Roku device to your TV, and you can binge past and current episodes from various TV networks and cable channels for free.

7. Enjoy YouTube videos.

YouTube is the largest video platform on the internet. It comes with tons of hours of content, from funny cat videos to learning how to cook up a new delicious recipe.

Channelcrawler is a good way to search for your new favorite YouTube channel and find something to watch for free.

Browse the internet and watch YouTube videos at the same time with the Picture-in-Picture mode Google Chrome extension.

8. Get help with your bills and subscription expenses.

Billshark: DIY Bill negotiation services that will help you save money on your bills.
AskTrim negotiates your cable, internet, phone, and medical bills and finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions.
MyBundle.TV helps you find the best LiveTV alternative for you.

9. Keep track of your subscriptions

trackmysubs: take control of your subscriptions and be reminded before they hit your credit card.

10. Keep track of your electronics and learn how to use them

MyPingTag: Never lose your electronics by putting a PingTag on them so that people can contact you and return them to you. You receive SMS and email alerts, and you reply anonymously via SMS without revealing your contact information to anyone!
Lifewire how-to guides for everything related to technology.

11. Avoid having to keep track of free trial subscriptions by using a virtual card.

Using a virtual credit card is another way to avoid having to pay for subscriptions past the free trial period. You can get virtual credit cards from credit card companies, banks, and independent finance companies. Virtual cards are often restricted to one-time use or have a short expiration period, making them perfect for one-time sign-ups for free trials.
To find free trials, check out Free Trials and Trials for Free, which list a bunch of free trials in one place. Simply Google searches your favorite service + free trial in Google search. For example “Hulu + free trial”.
Learn how to get free trials with Do Not Pay.

12. Go back in time and watch some of your favorite classics.

creepyclassicsonline – Watch and discuss vintage horror and sci-fi at Boris Creepy Classics, where it’s Halloween all year long!
Classic television online: yesterday’s TV shows today
Classic cinema online: Watch and discuss classic and vintage movies online for free! Classic cinema
archive.org/details/television Collections of items recorded from television, including commercials, old television shows, government proceedings, and more Collection of old TV
Kanopy: Watch over 30,000 documentaries, classics, and independent films. On desktop, mobile, and Roku for students, professors, and library patrons. Classic cinema, indie films, and top documentaries
Rerun Century: has twentieth Century Television Resources, including free historic videos, old primetime schedules, a guide to TV shows on DVD, and old classics
myretrotvs – Tune in to the lost decades with this nostalgic TV simulation. Decades of TV
90kids – If you enjoy playing classic arcade games, we invite you to discover our collection created by fans to revive the atmosphere of the golden years, the 80s and 90s.
Analog TV Simulation: Good Times

13. DVR services and save your favorite shows.

Stremium: Cut the cord. Keep live TV and a DVR. Enjoy free live TV on your device. Add cloud DVR for only $5/mo.
Playon.tv/Cloud is a mobile app that lets you record and download streaming shows and movies to watch offline.

14. Track your favorite shows

trakt.tv – Track what you watch and when. Discover what’s hot and where you can watch it. Share comments, ratings, and recommendations.
TVTime is the world’s largest tracking tool for TV and movies.
tv-guide Your TV listings for cable, satellite, and live TV streams

15. Find out what to watch next

streaming sites—big directory of free streaming sites.
How to stream by channel: How to watch TV by channel.
IMDB Streaming guides for everything coming to Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus, and more
New on HBO
New on Netflix
New on Amazon Prime movies shows
TV series finale: canceled and renewed TV shows
Reelgood: All your streaming services in one place Browse, search, and watch TV and movies from over 150 services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Prime Video, free services, and more!
Reelgood swipe – Search Party — It’s kind of like a dating app, but you match it with movies and shows. Share, filter, and swipe until you find something great to watch.
JustWatch: you can easily find out where to watch your favorite movies and TV shows in the United States. Browse through the whole catalog of all the important services like Netflix, HBO, Disney, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and many more. Find out what is currently trending and being watched.
Decider is the first entertainment and pop culture destination site created to help today’s on-demand generation discover the best streaming content through a unique blend of pop culture expertise and hilarious insight.
flickseeker: discover movies by feeling.
Date night movies: easily find the answer to “What should we watch tonight?”

16. Search movies and TV shows by ratings and rankings.

Zrate: Find the Best Shows and Movies on Hulu and Disney+. zRate adds a customizable infobox under each show card with ratings from sources like IMDB and useful show information like the plot, main cast, year, etc. See also themoviedb
ranker: find the top-ranked movies and TV shows.
tv charts.erikgibbons tracks TV show trends
ratingraph – is an online visualization tool that generates fancy graphs about TV shows and movies based on 1008 million user ratings.
Best episode: Find the best episodes of your favorite shows.
Scarymeter: See the rankings of how scary a movie is.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SAVING MONEY AT THE MOVIES: 45 TIPS!
Rotten Tomatoes shows aggregated ratings from professional movie critics around the world.
Cinema Treasures is your guide to over 56,000 movie theaters around the world.
Watch TV and movie trailers at Rotten Tomatoes and coming soon before you see a new movie.
After credits: curious if a movie has any extra scenes during and after the credits.

17. Watch movies before they are released for free

Gofobo, or SeeitFirst, gives fans from around the world access to advanced movie screenings, events, premieres, sweepstakes, TV, streaming, and more.
Advancescreenings is a great way to get free advance movie screening passes, sneak preview tickets, and film premieres!
Atom Tickets are movie-going tickets for the 21st century. Find the perfect movie and showtimes, buy your tickets, select seats, and order concessions all online today! Find your next movie ticket.

18. Great ways to save on movie tickets

Find great deals on movie tickets in your area. Make sure to read the fine print before buying your tickets. Groupon deals do expire and are only valid at certain locations or types of movies. Even with some of these limitations, Groupon can be a good option for finding movie tickets.
Buy discounted movie gift cards on raise.com. Raise sells gift cards for a variety of retailers at a decent discount, including movie theaters like Cinemark and AMC. You can find discounted gift cards that have $200 on them at a 30% discount. You need to check the website from time to time to find the best deals.
Use your membership club offerings to buy discounted movie gift cards. Costco and Sam’s Club sell discounted movie tickets and gift cards that can save you up to 20% or more at most major theater chains. These can be double-dipped by adding an e-gift card as a payment form to an already-existing rewards app. See movie ticket offers here. Costco and Sam’s Club

19. Storing your entertainment

Movies Anywhere—has no subscription fees—you choose where to purchase your favorite movies, and bring your collection together is free.
Collectorz: Easily catalog your movies, books, music, comics, and games. Work on your phone, tablet, or computer and sync data between them.

20. Get the most out of your Netflix subscription with these tools

flickmetrix: The Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Id guide: a guide to all the secret genre codes on Netflix for 2023
Netflix code: You probably know that Netflix is using a really strange system to categorize its films and TV shows. Indeed, there isn’t a category tab. We have the solution; with this site, you will be able to find categories with a little code.
Instant Watcher is for Netflix and Amazon users who want to explore their streaming video catalogs more efficiently and deeply.
Unogs: Netflix Global Search
Better Browse for Netflix: This extension adds a ‘Browse All” menu to the Netflix menu bar with a list of hidden categories, helping you find the movies you want to watch.

21. Save on your Internet expenses with these unique tools

dslreports: broadband ISP reviews, news, tools, and forums; broadband news, information, and community
mywifisign: This tool lets you quickly create a printable sign with your WiFi credentials. Just enter your credentials above and tap to print or download a PDF.
waflee An easy way to connect to your Wi-Fi. Create a special QR code and provide your guests with the ability to connect to the Wi-Fi using their phone’s camera.
WiFi Login offers a quick way to test your iOS device’s Wi-Fi internet connection and resolve any login or acceptance requirements for connected networks.
All Connect: use the power of price comparison to ensure you are getting the best price for your internet.
isp-in-area: Find Internet Service Providers in Your Area

22. Find Free Wifi on the go

WiFi Map: Connect to all free WiFi hotspots using the WiFi Map App all over the world! When looking for open hotspots to connect to, the software searches your current location. Additionally, it provides real-time alerts on hotspots close to your house. The free app’s drawback is that it only extends out 2.5 miles from your current location.
Wififreespot Wiman: A Wi-Fi-FreeSpot is a location that offers free Wi-Fi high-speed wireless internet access to its customers, guests, and/or the general public.
Map of Wireless Passwords from Airports and Lounges Around the World.
Instabridge is a Free app that provides you with Wi-Fi passwords and spots when you are on the go. It shows you the nearest places with free Internet, the walking distance to them, and performance metrics. It automatically connects you to working Wi-Fi connections and keeps you off the ones that don’t work. It also has a cool feature where you can list your own home Wi-Fi to share with family and friends. This means you don’t have to remember a password each time someone asks.
Other places that offer free wifi are coffee shops, co-working spaces, fast food restaurants, libraries, gyms, public transportation, museums, hospitals, parks, and retail stores.
Places that offer free WiFi that are open 24 hours a day include Xfinity Wifi hotspots, airports, and certain cities.
Libraries: All visitors can access wireless internet for free during operating hours at public libraries across the US. To use the internet, you can connect your devices to the library’s network. Additionally, librarians can assist seniors in connecting to and using the Internet. Also, some libraries offer a take-home mobile hot spot for free internet.
Free Internet for School District Students: A free Internet access program may be available to school districts that serve low-income households so that their students can access the Internet at home. Through the Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) program, Verizon has been offering underprivileged children free devices, Internet connection, and access to immersive, hands-on learning experiences since 2012. Here is a list of participating schools
Municipal Wireless Network: There are some metro areas with free Internet access. These municipal wireless networks connect businesses and government buildings all around the cities. Even tiny regions are starting to catch up. For more information check out Wikipedia’s exhaustive list of current municipal wireless networks around the world. See also Community Network Map, and community network map.
If you live close to a local business, you can use its public Wi-Fi for free at your home.

23. How to get free/low cost internet at home

FreedomPop and NetZero are two good companies that offer free internet access for your home.

FreedomPop offers plans that are affordable and provide you with free internet access. You pay a tiny fee to get a small internet hotspot, which you can use to go online. The free plan provides up to 200 MB of data each month at no charge. If you want more data, FreedomPop has plans that are decently priced.
NetZero provides free internet access and email. NetZero is ad-supported, so you will be required to download their software.
Juno is also owned by NetZero. The same deal of 10 hours each month is provided. There is currently no rule that prohibits you from enrolling in both to receive 20 hours of free monthly Internet access. NetZero and Juno are the only two nationwide free ISPs left. Additionally, you can sign up for their free mobile broadband plan, which provides 200 MB of monthly mobile data for free. If you require more speed, you can choose from one of NetZero’s premium plans. Their DSL broadband service costs as little as $26.95 per month, which is less than half the price of the average household’s Internet plan.
Ask a neighbor to share their internet with you. If you have a good relationship with your neighbor, see if they’d be willing to share their internet. You must, however, be prepared to give something in exchange. For access to the Internet, you can mow their yard or clean their windows. Assure them that you’ll use the Internet responsibly, safeguard your password, access secure websites, and refrain from engaging in illicit activity online.
Save Money with ACP Only Plans & Low-Cost internet plans check out digitalinclusion.

24. Save on Apple products

refurb-tracker provides e-mail alerts and RSS feeds so you can track the availability of new refurbished products on Apple Refurb websites (up to 40% off). The supply is usually very limited.
refurb.me Compare Apple’s refurbished deals. Up to 75% savings Always with a warranty Hassle-free return policies
MacUpdate Find over 32,000 Mac apps that were handpicked by the Mac Update team.
mac prices Apple Prices Updated Daily.
themacindex The Mac Index indexes the Apple website and compares the prices of Apple products in different countries. View all prices in any currency and see how much tax and prices are after a refund when you buy overseas.
Every Mac is a complete guide to every Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac clone in the world, with technical specs, configuration details, system identifiers, performance benchmarks, and global pricing information.
Macofalltrades: Better Than New, Free Warranty, Lowest Prices
Backmarket the refurbished (super) market

Phone Resources

gsm arena is an online resource for GSM handset information
Phone Arena: Reviews on all kinds of phones as well as their specifications
Kimovil
Hot Spot 3d
Product Chart
Dxo Mark

25. Learn the specs before you buy your electronics

device-specifications: full specifications of smartphones, mobile devices, smartphones, and much more
screen sizes—a useful database of different screen sizes, pixel densities, and viewport sizes for popular smartphones, monitors, and tablets
Willmyphonework: see if your phone works on a certain network.

26. Low-cost internet options from government subsidies

Everyone on Find low-cost internet and computers in your area.
Lifeline support: Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service.
Cheap Internet has a database of the best, free, and cheapest Internet deals and is updated regularly. You can probably discover something for less than $50 a month, in addition to free deals. You can search for Internet plans by state and find the best offers in your state. You can also find affordable internet options even if you don’t qualify as low-income. They offer fast internet plans for as little as 9.95 a month and even have free plans for people who don’t use the internet as much.

Low cost Internet from top Internet Service Providers

AT&T: Access by AT&T starts at $5 per month. This is a great deal on low-income internet access at home and in town. Speeds range from 768 KB to 10 MB, depending on what’s available in your area.
Internet Essentials: Comcast Internet Essentials is $9.95/mo. You’ll receive speeds of up to 50 Mbps with no installation fees, no credit checks, and no long-term contracts. This program is available to low-income families, veterans, seniors, college students, and people with Section 8 housing vouchers.

Other ways to save on the internet

Buy a modem and router instead of renting them if you are going to stay with your internet provider for a while. Providers charge around $10+ a month for you to rent their internet equipment. If you stay with that company for two years, your rental cost will be around $200. You can get a top-of-the-line modem and router for less than $200.
Lower your internet speed. Internet providers often times provide new high-speed internet plans of over 100 Mbps which can be over kill for more most families. To find out your current internet speed, run a speed test. If you are not a gamer and could do with lowering your internet speed, you can reduce your monthly internet bill by $30 or more, depending on your carrier.
Speed up your internet for free with a Free DNS.
Use all of your internet connections at the same time check out speedify.
Use a free unlimited time usage cloud browser check out Neverinstall.
Share your Internet with a friend. You can share your Internet with a buddy and split the monthly cost to help save money in your budget. See Mr money mustaches article on Internet sharing here.

How much internet speed do you need?

General-use activities Minimum download speed (Mbps)
Streaming videos 3Mbps–40Mbps
Online learning At least 25 Mbps
Working from home with At least 25 Mbps
File downloading at 10 Mbps
Social media: 1 Mbps
Zoom call 1.5Mbps
General browsing and email at 1 Mbps
VoIP calls less than 0.5 Mbps

27. How to get free and low-cost computers

There are a lot of scams out there promising a free computer in exchange for some of your basic personal information. There are plenty of options out there to score a free computer or at least a deeply discounted computer.

Below are some ways to get a free computer for work, college, or personal use.

Freecycle is a national organization that has local chapters in almost every major city. Every listing is free, and you can find computers or laptops in any city or by joining a group. You might have to check multiple times throughout the day, as free computers usually go fast. You can also set up email notifications, but they might not include all the new available offers.
worldcomputerexchange – provides organizations in developing countries with free computers.
theonitfoundation – helps low-income families with elementary-age children by providing free computers, internet access, and computer training. Kids who qualify for free or reduced lunch at their public school will qualify for the program. Sometimes they have limited availability; however, you can join a waiting list to be notified as soon as they have a computer available. The Oninit Foundation is funded in part via its discounted computer program, which sells refurbished Microsoft computers starting at $99, including a warranty.
computerswithcauses– a non-profit organization that gives free computers to people in need. You have to prove financial need, provide references to qualify, and undergo a background check. Veterans and anyone living in foster care are usually good applicants for the program. The application includes a few questions and is short.
PCs for People provides computers to those who are currently participating in a government-based assistance program or have a qualifying household income (less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines).
everyone on a non-profit that supports economic and social development by helping communities get access to the internet. They also provide low-cost computers and low-cost or free internet. To begin, enter your zip code and respond to a few questions about your eligibility. The application process is short. According to Everyoneon, computers cost around $150.
with causes gives people access to free refurbished computers that are gifted by donors to help low-income families and schools.
Cristina provides used computers to nonprofit organizations.
salvationarmyusa provides refurbished computers.
Interconnection provides free computers to rural school districts and low-income individuals.
Connect All provides people with low-cost computers and tablets; in some cases, emergency vouchers can be provided for a free tablet or desktop.

Other organizations that offer free computer or internet help

28. Find free or cheap laptops in your area.

Search for the term “buy recycled computers near me”. Below are some examples:

Uptech computer
Mr. Computer Services
Computer Outlet, Inc.
Laptop Liquidators

Other ways to get free computers

Craigslist.com is one of the largest classified websites where you can find people giving away free computers on occasion.
Freecycle.com is a network of people and businesses that aims to provide free stuff to those who might need it the most.
College students can get free laptops and tablets. Click here for a list of colleges providing free laptops and tablets to students.

Fun ideas you can DIY with recycled electronics.

Make your own DIY pocket PC. Here is a video on how to do it
DIY your Bluetooth speakers.

29. Get a free phone

Get a Free Phone when you switch your mobile service plan: Some mobile providers off free phones if you sign up for a mobile service plan
Free cell Phone from the government: Check out Assurance Wireless & Safelink Wireless.
Trade in your old table or phone: Get some money from your old device that you longer will be using. Consider using Buyback Boss, Gazelle, Amazon Trade in.
Find free Phones via Craigslist.
Ask someone you know for their old phone when they upgrade
Get a free phone through your employer
Buy nothing groups: Buy nothing groups are local communities based around the idea of sharing things freely among neighbors. People will offer they don’t need to others without bartering or trading anything.

Find mobile provider deals here

Other useful phone tools

hangunlock – Wholesale AT&T, T-Mobile iPhone unlock direct source. All listed services are working. Resellers and bulk holders contact me for a discount.
textem – Free Text Messaging. Send and Receive Free Text Messages from your PC for FREE.
phone claim Dropped your device in water? Cracked your screen? Lost your phone? File your claim online and you could receive a replacement in 24 hours.

30. Saving money on your cell phone plan

Choose a smaller phone. Big iPhones with a lot of storage are more expensive. You can save a lot by getting a basic model without all the extra bells and whistles.
Buy an older model instead of keeping up with the latest and greatest improvements in cell phone technology. Consider getting an older version of the phone and sticking with the older version for a bit longer.
Buy an unlocked GSM phone. Having an unlocked GSM will give you the ability to get a cell phone plan on more cell phone service plans.
Sign up for autopay. Wireless carriers will take $5 to $10 off your cell phone bill if you sign up for automatic payments. Automating your bills also helps you have one less decision to make.
Get a cheaper smartphone warranty. Find affordable and trustworthy warranties for everything from your iPhone to your refrigerator, with 24/7 customer service for fast claim decisions. Buy a refurbished iPhone with a 12-month warranty at Swappie.
Get rid of the cellphone insurance altogether, and you can find savings of between $70 and $170 per year, depending on the carrier and your current protection plan.
Add another line – Adding another line can lower the amount you pay by splitting the cost.
Update your service address – Your taxes and fees on your bill are based on where you live. If you recently moved to a new state you save a big amount by simply updating your service address. It’s easy to do often by simply logging into your account and changing your user profile, a similar process to changing your billing address.
Buy a used Cell phone – When buying a used phone make sure to consider the price, condition, warranty, and activation of the phone.
Use Wifi whenever possible – get a lower-cost data package on your cell phone plan and take advantage of free Wi-fi which is widespread. Wi-fi can be found in public spaces, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and so on. Sometimes places will often have a Wi-fi sign-up page displaying the password, if not, feel free to ask for the wifi password.
Get on a family plan – If you are in a family look at getting into a family shared plan. Many providers will provide discounts if you sign up together as a family. This means sharing data allowances between multiple cell phones.
Get Free Minutes – Cellphoneforsoldiers provides free minutes of air time to servicemen and women deployed around the world.
Switch your Cell phone provider – Find a cheaper cell phone plan and switch your current one.
Test a cell phone service before signing up for one here.
For more cell phone savings tips and trick check out here.
Other help cell phone resources are Prioritized and Deprioritized Services by Network, QCI (QoS Class Identifiers) Explained, Coverage map
Price compare Cell phone services some great sites are Whistleout, and PrepaidCompare.net. See Cell Phone Plan Comparison chart to help you narrow down a cell phone plan.
Learn more about MVNOS and how they can save you money by offering you a lower cost cell phone plan.
See coverage/Max Speed: Pull up a map with cellmapper, and Opensignal.
Lookup a cell phone frequency band to determine if that phone is compatible with a certain network carrier. See GSMarena
Avoid unnecessary add-ons – Mobile carriers often offer add-ons like device insurance or premium features that can add to monthly costs.
Avoid buying the latest smartphones.
Buy a refurbished phone instead of a new one.
Avoid international roaming charges by using WiFi calling or buying a local SIM card.
Consider opting for a prepaid plan that doesn’t require a contract to avoid costly average charges.
Use a phone carrier with WiFi calling to make calls in areas with poor cellular coverage
Sign up for an employee or student discount for your cell phone service if it’s available.
Make use of free services like Apple Facetime or Google Duo for video calls
Limit international calling and texting by using apps like Skype or WhatsApp
Learn about the different speeds phone plans can use here.
Get Free unlimited talk and text with Textnow ad support phone plan.
Use a free messaging app – Whatsapp, Facebook messenger, and iMessage, can be use to text and send voice communications over Wi-Fi or mobile data, without adding to monthly costs.
Disconnect the land line if you still have one.
Avoid paying for phone or Wi-Fi charges on a vacation by using walkie-talkies instead.
Bundle services – Bundling services like cable, internet, and phone can help to save on overall monthly costs.

31. Use less data on your phone

Here are some of the top ways people use the most data

Video streaming (including services like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu)
Social media apps (including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter)
Online gaming (including games like Fortnite and PUBG)
Video calling (including apps like FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom)
Music streaming (including services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora)
Navigation and mapping apps (including Google Maps and Waze)
VoIP calls (including apps like WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger)
Cloud storage and backup services (including Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive)
Email and messaging apps (including Gmail, Outlook, and WhatsApp)
Mobile hotspot/tethering for sharing data with other devices

Ways to use less data on your phone

Download your entertainment to reduce your data usage
Calculate how much data you would use with a data calculator here.
Use a data usage tracking app to avoid going over your data limit.
Opt for a plan that offers data rollover, allowing unused data to be saved for later use
Spotify: listen to your music offline and save on data with their premium plan.
Listenbox: listen to your favorite YouTube videos as a podcast offline.
Overcast app: download a podcast to listen to offline and take advantage of the smart speed and smart silence features. Find your favorite podcast with Listen Notes.
Turn off automatic video playback in social media apps.
Use data-saving modes in apps like Google Chrome or Spotify.
Disable background app refresh for non-essential apps.
Update apps on Wi-Fi instead of cellular data.
Use a data compression app or browser extension.
Turn off Wi-Fi Assist on iPhone to prevent automatic data usage when Wi-Fi signal is weak.
Turn off push notifications for non-essential apps.
Lower video quality on streaming services like Netflix or YouTube.
Use offline maps instead of streaming map data.
Disable auto-updating of apps in app settings.
Use a web browser with a built-in ad-blocker.
Limit or turn off automatic cloud backup for photos and videos.

If you are looking to use a Lower data cell phone plan – determine your mobile usage with this helpful guide.

32. Free ways to get more storage space

Check into using Apple’s iCloud Drive or Google Drive for free storage space.
You can access iCloud Drive on any device that uses an iTunes account. iCloud storage comes with 5GB of free storage.
Google Drive: Available on iPhone and Android and comes with 15 GB of free storage. You will need a Gmail account(free) and a Google Drive app installed on your phone.
iPhone backup extractor – Recover photos, messages, videos, call history, notes, contacts, Screen Time passcode, WhatsApp messages, and other app data from iTunes backups and iCloud.

33. Find your next favorite tune to jam out to

Explore and find new songs with everynoise genre map – is an ongoing attempt at an algorithmically generated, readability-adjusted scatter plot of the musical genre space, based on data tracked and analyzed for 5,557 genre-shaped distinctions by Spotify as of 2021-09-16.
music-map – tourist map of music.
mp3juices – Mp3 search engine that downloads mp3s from youtube and Spotify.
imvdb – the internet music video Database.
Shazam can identify music, movies, advertising, and television shows, based on a short sample played and using the microphone on the device.
cellular.poolside.fm – The ultra-summer internet radio station, playing an infinity pool of summer sounds 24/7.
qobuz– high-quality music and Unlimited streaming and Hi-Res.
idagio – The world’s only audio streaming + concert subscription for classical music.
Youtube – Watch music videos on YouTube.
tune find – Find music from tv and movies.
musopen – has free sheet music that is public domain and royalty-free.

34. Find top-ranked music

hypem – popular song tracks on streaming services.
playlist miner.playlist machinery – aggregates the top tracks from the most popular public playlists on Spotify that match your search criteria.
kworb – On here you will find all kinds of music-related data.
Spotify charts – top songs played on Spotify.
rate your music – rate your music.

35. Transfer your music tools

SpotiApp: export music to Spotify.
Soundiiz allows you to transfer your playlists and favorites between different streaming services.
Free your music transfer music playlists.
Song Shift: Music Transfers and Sharing

36. Listen to online radio for free

radio – 30,000 radio stations worldwide for free.
online radio box – free internet radio stations online.

37. Go to Live Music and rock out to your favorite band

Bandcamp – Discover amazing new music and directly support the artists who make it.
livexlive – Premium live music.
qello – Live concert streaming.

38. Go to Local Events

all events – Explore Events, Activities & Things to do in your City. Find information on nearby upcoming events happening in your city, and Discover parties and concerts.
lets do this– Find your next challenge Choose from over 30,000 events. Running, Triathlon, Road Cycling, Obstacle Races, Swimming, and more.
vacation races – Vacation Races National Park half marathons, ultra marathons, trail running festivals, and extended running adventures.
local races– running and cycling events, clubs, and trials
camp corral – is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to transform the lives of children of this nation’s wounded, ill, and fallen military heroes.
kids bowl free – bowl for free

39. Places to get the music gear

Discogs – Music database and marketplace.
reverb – musical instruments for sale and music gear
hungry for music – transforming lives with the gift of music.
acousticforachange– receive a free musical instrument.
MusicBrainz – list of instruments

40. Free entertainment-related tools worth using

flim.ai – Search engine for finding the perfect image in a movie or video
play phrase – one of the largest collections of video quotes from movies on the internet.
zesture.app – uses your laptop’s camera to give you touch-free control over your media, entertainment, and presentation applications (without any special hardware).
nofanity – Swear Word Blocker for YouTube
VidAngel – Skip or mute what you don’t want to see or hear with VidAngel.
unconsenting media – is a database that aims to provide information about rape and sexual assault in TV and movies.
subdl– Download subtitles for movies, and all seasons of series. From many sources. For free.
SpotifyTree – Provides access to playlists and albums in a tree view and controls the Spotify Web Player through a quick and easy popup player.
Screenplay Subs – a browser extension that allows you to watch Netflix movies alongside a screenplay.
Deadabase – The Internet Movie Deadabase.
Actor Overlap – See if 2 different movies share the same actors.
Cinetrii – Find movies with similar themes.
Filmpaws – warns you before a sound happens in a movie that will upset your dog (barking, doorbells, etc)

41. Find Free Movies & Tv shows

Zerodollarmovies – a collection of 15,000 movies that are available on YouTube for free.
Cinetimes – Free movies from Youtube, Archive.org, and has a Netflix interface.
Streaming sites – contains a huge list of the best free TV & movie Streaming Sites List.

42. Ways to Watch TV Without Internet

Attend live TV show tapings or screenings in person.
Attend watch parties with friends or family members to share the cost of cable or streaming service subscriptions.
Check with your cable or satellite TV provider to see if they offer TV channels that can be watched offline or downloadable content.
Purchase DVDs or Blu-rays of your favorite TV shows to watch at home.
Purchase a tablet that supports TV streaming apps and watch TV on the go.
Utilize a media player like VLC to watch downloaded TV show episodes in various file formats.
Watch TV channels available on in-flight entertainment systems during air travel.

43. Ways to save money on your Internet

Bundle internet, cable, and/or phone services with one provider for a discount.
Avoid paying for services or features you don’t need or use, like premium TV channels or landline phone service.
Schedule your internet usage during off peak hours to avoid peak usage fees.
Choose a provider that offers a promo rate for new customers.
Purchase a long term internet plan or contract for a discounted rate.
Sign up for promotional emails or newsletters from internet service providers or retailers to be notified of special deals or offers.
Use an adblocker to avoid data usage on ads and reduce page loading time.
Monitor your usage – Some providers may offer discounts if you consistently use less data or bandwidth than their average customer.
Time your purchase – Sometimes providers offer better deals during certain times of the year, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Join a cooperative or community group – Some cooperatives or community groups offer discounted internet services to their members.
Check with your employer or alumni association – Some employers or alumni associations have partnerships with internet providers that offer discounts to their members.
Sign up for autopay or paperless billing – Some providers offer discounts if you enroll in autopay or paperless billing.
Use a referral code – Some providers offer discounts to new customers who are referred by existing customers.
Prevent unrecognized devices from hogging your Wifi by using Wifiman or Fing. These tools can allow you to view a list of devices that are logged onto your home wireless network. If you see a device you don’t recognize it might be someone nearby that is using your internet. See inSSIDer for a useful tool for visualizing your Wifi.
Make sure that your ISP is not throttling your internet with this guide.
Pause your Internet service see here.
Get Wifi in your car see here.
Switch Internet Service providers in the summer and score a discount on your internet service.
Turn your PC into a Wi-Fi Hotspot and share Internet with all your devices using connectify.
Get a tax deductible membership that has a great unlimited mobile internet plan with Calyx institute.
Set up a open mesh network in your neighborhood see shareable’s guide and NYC Mesh.

Reddit Hacks for Subscription’s

How to defeat customer service. Reddit post.
Gethuman – Get a customer service rep on the phone faster
Holdforme – An AI assistant that makes calls, waits on hold, and calls you when a human answers.
Use trial software forever with a VM. Reddit post

Reddit Hacks for saving on your internet

If there’s an Airbnb near your apartment, pay for a friend to spend a single night there so you can obtain their WiFi password. Reddit post
If your family or roommates dont want to upgrade internet speed just go into the router admin settings and set their devices to one of the lowest bandwiths possible. When they start complaining about it just tell them that upgrading internet will fix the problem. Reddit post
If you can’t open the login page for a public wifi, type 8.8.8.8 in the browser to force the login page to open. Reddit post
Single Player games that don’t require internet are going to be extremely valuable during the apocalypse. Reddit post

Other ways to save money on entertainment

Get a free tv at telly.
Setup a Streaming media box using kodi.

There are tons of ways to stay entertained on a budget. As you can see, it’s possible to find local events, get a free phone, or jam out to top music online from the comfort of your home. Entertainment doesn’t have to cost you a fortune and break your budget, after all.

andrew hollas

Personal finance geek and explorer of the web who loves to post in-depth blog posts about his findings.