Money Smarts Blog

How I took control of my entertainment budget (without missing out on my favorite shows)

I’ll admit it: I have serious FOMO (for the non-Millennials that means fear of missing out) when it comes to TV. If everyone at work is talking about a show, I have to be in the loop. During the height of the pandemic, that meant signing up for every streaming service under the sun. At one point, I was subscribed to over 10 platforms and paying nearly $170 a month – for shows I barely even watched!

It got out of hand fast.

So, I hit pause (literally) and decided to rein in my entertainment spending. Now, I keep it to around $40–$50 a month by rotating subscriptions based on what I actually want to watch, not just what's trending. Let me tell you, it feels good to have a handle on it.

But before you go on a cancellation spree, here’s what I learned and how you can still enjoy great content without draining your bank account.

The real cost of streaming in 2025

Streaming used to feel like the cheaper, smarter alternative to cable. Now? It’s like having seven mini cable bills.

Here’s what some of the big players are charging these days:

• Netflix: $8 (with ads), $18 (standard), or $25 (premium)
• Hulu: $7.99 (with ads), $17.99 (no ads), or $76.99 (with live TV)
• Disney+: $9.99 (with ads), $15.99 (no ads)
• Apple TV+: $9.99/month
• Peacock: $7.99 (ads), $13.99 (ad-free)
• HBO Max: $9.99–$20.99/month depending on the plan
• Paramount+: $7.99 (with ads), $12.99 (with SHOWTIME)

If you tried to keep them all, you’d be looking at close to $100 a month, that’s nearly $1,200 a year just to watch TV. And that doesn’t even include the popcorn.

The hidden costs nobody talks about

And it’s not just the subscriptions themselves. Here’s where I got caught off guard:

• Streaming devices: My old TV needed a Roku to get online. That was another $50.
• Internet upgrades: Between work-from-home life and streaming 4K content, I had to bump up to a pricier unlimited data plan.
• No bundling perks: Unlike cable, you don’t get a discount for combining services.

What I do now (So streaming doesn’t stream my wallet)

After that little financial reality check, here’s how I keep my FOMO (and spending) in check:

• Rotate subscriptions: I pick two platforms at a time and switch them up every month or two.
• Watch for promos: Free trials, student discounts, or bundles with cell phone plans? Yes please.
• Set reminders to cancel: If I sign up for a trial, I put a reminder in my calendar to cancel before it renews.
• Use strong passwords: Some services crack down on password sharing. I just play by the rules to avoid surprise shutdowns.
• Actually track what I watch: If I haven’t opened the app in weeks, it gets the boot.

TL;DR

• You don’t have to cancel everything or go cold turkey to stay on budget, but you do need a plan. I’m still watching great shows, joining the watercooler convos, and spending less than I used to on coffee.
• Streaming should be fun, not stressful. And trust me, cutting down won’t ruin your social life. It might just save your budget.

Want help figuring out how streaming fits into your monthly spending plan? IHMVCU has awesome budgeting tools (and people!) to help you out. Let’s make your money work and play smart.