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TV MoneySaving tricks

How to save on Sky, Netflix, Now, Prime Video & more

Sarah Monro
Sarah Monro and Kelvin Goodson
Updated 12 January 2024

Over half of UK households are signed up to at least one streaming service, while millions spend £100s a year on digital TV subscriptions. Yet there are loads of ways to slash the cost, such as making the most of Freeview, switching streaming plans and finding the best digital TV deal. Here are our best tips to save on watching telly...

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Amazon Prime member? From February 2024, Amazon Prime Video will start showing adverts unless you pay an extra fee. For full info, see the Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads you pay extra MSE News story.

Let us know how YOU save on the cost of watching telly. Please tell us any tricks we've missed in the forum. Also see: 20+ TV licence tips, Digital TV deals, Netflix hacks and Watch movies & TV online.

The basics – how to watch for FREE

Let's start with some TV MoneySaving fundamentals:

  1. Make the most of streaming service trials to watch top content for FREE including Dune, Ted Lasso, The Rings Of Power and more

    Streaming services have become a huge deal in the world of TV watching – stats from BARB (The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board) show that more than half of UK households now use at least one of the big ones.

    The good news from a MoneySaving point of view is that many offer free trials, giving unlimited access for a set period. Most services can be streamed on a compatible smart TV, phone or tablet, or via a dongle such as a Chromecast or Fire TV stick.

    If you really want to max it, hop from free trial to free trial

    Just remember to cancel before each trial's up. Unfortunately, Netflix and Disney+ no longer offer free trials (see how to cut costs instead), but below we've a list of other biggies you can still take advantage of to watch hours of popular content.

    Important: You'll usually have to enter debit or credit card details, and the subscription will auto-renew, so mark it in your diary to cancel if you don't want to continue and be charged.

    Free TV streaming trials

    STREAMING PLATFORM WHAT IT OFFERS

    TABLE_CELL_STYLE

    Prime Video*

    30 days' free TV shows, movies and sport. Amazon's video streaming service has tons of popular films and TV shows such as Dune, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Fear The Walking Dead and Supernatural. Plus it has Amazon originals such as The Rings Of Power, Thirteen Lives, The Boys, All Or Nothing, Good Omens and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

    TABLE_CELL_STYLE

    Prime Video also occasionally has live sport including Premier League football and international tennis tournaments.

     

    Related: Prime Video to show ads unless you pay extra


    Apple TV+    		 Seven days' free TV and movies. Apple TV+ offers original TV series such as The Morning Show starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell, plus Ted Lasso, Severance, The Shrink Next Door, Little America and Tehran. It also includes a few movies such as Coda and Tom Hanks' Greyhound.


    Britbox via ITVX    		 Seven days' free TV shows. BBC and ITV have teamed up to create a streaming service for 'British box sets', including Grantchester, Downton Abbey, The Thick Of It and Broadchurch. Although it's worth noting a number of the box sets on offer can already be streamed for free on iPlayer and All 4, such as The Inbetweeners, Misfits and Peep Show.

    Britbox also offers some original shows, such as Secrets of the Krays, Spitting Image and The Beast Must Die.

    You now have to access Britbox through ITVX Premium - ITV's new premium catch-up and streaming service.
    Hayu
    		 Seven days' free TV shows. A streaming service dedicated to reality TV, offering shows such as The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Below Deck.


    Paramount+    		 Seven days' free TV and movies. Paramount+ offers a number of original shows, such as Yellowstone, The Man Who Fell To Earth, The First Lady and Mayor of Kingstown. It also has a selection of films such as Top Gun: Maverick, Scream (2022), Mission: Impossible Fallout, Transformers and Grease.


    Mubi    		 Seven days' free movies. Mubi offers 'hand-picked cinema' from around the world, including This Much I Know To Be True, My Life As A Courgette and The Human Voice.
    Lionsgate+ Seven days' free TV shows and movies. You can watch original series such as Outlander, Queer as Folk and Becoming Elizabeth, as well as a catalogue of movies including Step Brothers, White House Down and Saw.

  2. Always-free streaming services where you can watch 100s of films & box sets, including Peep Show, Scrubs, ER, Pretty Little Liars, Lara Croft and others

    Even if you've exhausted the free trials offered by the likes of Prime Video and Paramount+, it's possible to stream big box sets and films online without paying. We've rounded up 40+ of the best box sets below, as well as 40+ free films you can currently stream online.

    Where to watch free shows online

    You can watch plenty of free shows on Channel 4's catch-up service, and (if you have a TV licence) BBC iPlayer, plus Rakuten has a whole host of free films:

    • Channel 4 has a whopping 344 box sets available, and you DON'T need a TV licence to watch these online. They include sitcoms such as Green Wing, Peep Show and The IT Crowd. You'll also find some films, as well as the entire back catalogues of popular TV shows such as First Dates and One Born Every Minute. You'll need to register (for free) and watch adverts before and during each show.

    • BBC iPlayer's advert-free catch-up service offers over 180 box sets, including Fleabag, Luther and Gavin and Stacey. Plus there's usually a selection of films available. It's worth noting you DO need a TV licence to use it. You'll also need to register (for free).

    • My5 is Channel 5's catch-up service, where you can watch recent episodes of shows such as NCIS, as well as find entertainment for the kids, including selected Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol episodes. It also offers a decent number of films to stream for free. You'll have to watch adverts before and during each show.

    • Rakuten offers a number of free films on top of its pay-per-view service. Again, you simply need to register for free and, like All 4 and My5, you'll have to watch adverts.

    • UKTV Play is a catch-up service for Dave, Drama and Yesterday, so you can watch episodes of Taskmaster, Would I Lie To You, New Tricks, Peak Practice and more on demand. It's free to sign up, but you'll have to watch occasional adverts.

    Popular box sets and films you can stream FREE via the services above

    We've rounded up some of the biggest box sets available to stream for free right now – from British classics such as Gavin and Stacey, Doctor Who and Father Ted, to big American shows such as Bates Motel, ER and Pretty Little Liars.

    Some have over 10 series to work through, so you may find there's enough here to ditch the paid-for options such as Netflix, Now and Prime Video. We've also found a decent selection of films available to watch for free.

  3. Freeview gives you over 100 TV channels completely, er, free

    This may seem obvious, but if you're not bothered about watching certain shows or having hundreds of extra channels, Freeview may be the best option. Newer TVs have basic Freeview built into them, giving over 100 TV channels and over 30 radio channels (if you have an older TV, basic Freeview boxes start from about £10). And as the name suggests, there's no subscription to pay.

    Within those 100+ channels you'll have plenty of choice, including popular shows such as Top Gear on the BBC, Love Island on ITV, Taskmaster on Dave and Come Dine With Me on Channel 4.

  4. Given the amount of free content available, could you ditch Netflix, Prime, Now and other paid-for options?

    As we've shown you above, there are hours and hours of free streaming content available via always-free on-demand services and Freeview, so it's worth considering if you really need to pay for streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video,  Apple TV+, Netflix and Now.

    Of course, if you're desperate to watch certain shows such as The Crown or Succession, then you've little choice, but there's no shortage of decent content to watch that you don't need to pay for.

  5. TV licences are £159 and about to rise – check if you REALLY need one

    If you only watch certain channels on catch-up, you may be able to avoid paying the £159 annual fee. If you watch live TV, or anything on BBC iPlayer, you'll need a licence, but you won't for other catch-up sites. See our Do I need a TV licence? guide for full details.

    Plus if you decide you do need a TV licence, make sure you don't pay by quarterly direct debit – that costs an extra £5 a year.

    Be aware that the yearly cost of a TV license will rise to £169.50 from April 2024, as per our MSE News story.

  6. Student? There's a trick to watch live telly and use iPlayer WITHOUT a licence

    Three young people crowded around a fourth holding a tablet computer and bowl of popcorn.

    In some circumstances you won't need to get your own licence, even if you've moved into your own digs.

    TV Licensing says you may be covered by your parents' licence if your 'out-of-term address' (such as your parents' address) is covered by a TV licence and – bizarrely – if you only use TV-receiving equipment powered solely by its own internal batteries, and you haven't connected it to an aerial or plugged it into the mains.

    See our Do I need a TV licence? guide for full details.

  7. Over 75? Check if you're eligible for a free TV licence & more

    Free TV licences are now limited to those over-75s receiving Pension Credit. The BBC says 1.5 million households could be eligible to keep their free licence – but an estimated 600,000 of these have yet to claim Pension Credit so could lose out.

    Pension Credit is a tax-free benefit aimed at retired people on low incomes. It's means-tested, but for those who qualify it can be worth £1,000s a year. As well as a free TV licence, you could qualify for a council tax reduction, free dental treatment and more. For full details, and how to check if you're eligible, see our Pension Credit guide.

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Save on streaming, including with Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video & Now

Streaming's become an increasingly popular way to watch TV – and there are tons of ways to save:

  1. Apple TV+ deals including free six months with O2

    There are lots of other Apple TV+ deals for new subscribers, and in most cases also for those who've had a subscription previously. Apple generally offers a free seven-day trial, or you might be able to get a longer trial via your bank or mobile provider.

    Important. For all the Apple TV+ offers below, after your free streaming trial has ended you'll be automatically enrolled into a paid subscription at £6.99 a month, so don't forget to cancel before your trial is over if you don't want to keep it.

    Can you get free Apple TV+ with a service you already have?

    Some credit card, broadband and phone providers give you free access. Including:

    • O2 mobile. O2 offers up to six months' free Apple TV+ with selected tariffs and products, but excludes all pay monthly standard tariffs, pay monthly Apple Watch and 30-day Sim-only tariffs. Even if you aren't eligible, you can get three months free via its Priority loyalty scheme.

    • O2 and Virgin Media. The O2 Priority loyalty scheme is available to both O2 and Virgin Media customers. It offers three months' free Apple TV+.

    • EE mobile. New and existing customers with a pay monthly or Sim-only tariff on a 12-month or more minimum term can get a free six-month subscription to Apple TV+. Text TV PLUS to 150 for an activation code, or go to My EE, then 'Plan & Add-ons', 'Add-ons', then 'Apple TV+'.

    Free three months of Apple TV+ when signing up to Currys' loyalty scheme (excludes Northern Ireland)

    Sign up to Currys' free loyalty scheme Currys Perks* and you can get up to three months of free Apple TV+.

    New Apple TV+ subscribers will get three months free, and returning subscribers will get two months and three weeks free. Those with a current active Apple TV+ subscription, and those living in Northern Ireland, aren't eligible.

    Currys says you'll get an email 'within a few days' of signing up with instructions on how to redeem the offer. In addition to this freebie, Currys says its Perks scheme gets you exclusive discounts on popular tech brands throughout the year.

  2. Disney+ deals including three months for £12 in Clubcard vouchers, or £10 cashback on an annual subscription

    A subscription to Disney+ costs £7.99 a month (£4.99 with adverts) or £79.90 a year, but there are a few ways to cut the cost...

    Club Lloyds account holder? Get a year's free Disney+

    If you have a Club Lloyds current account with Lloyds Bank, you can get 12 months' free Disney+ by selecting it as your 'lifestyle benefit' for the year.

    The account has a £3 monthly fee, but this is waived each month you pay in £2,000. So if you do this, it's effectively free.

    If you're thinking of switching bank accounts, check out our Best bank accounts guide first. One bank is offering £175 to switch, which is worth more than an annual Disney+ subscription.

    Swap £12 in Clubcard vouchers for three months' Disney+

    If you're a Clubcard holder, you can swap £12 in Clubcard vouchers for a three-month Disney+ subscription.

    You'll get a code that's valid until 1 May 2025. So if you already have a subscription, you can wait till it expires, then use the code.

    Disney+ normally costs £7.99 a month, so you're getting around double the value. See our Clubcard vouchers guide for more ways to boost your points.

    Get £10 off a £79.90 annual Disney+ membership via cashback

    If you were planning to sign up for a whole year, you might be able to get £10 cashback on an annual subscription if you sign up via this Topcashback Disney+* link.

    You'll effectively be getting a year's Disney+ for £69.90. Topcashback says it's an ongoing offer for new or existing Topcashback members, but you have to be new to Disney+. It says the £10 should be credited within 10 weeks.

    Remember, cashback is never certain as things can sometimes go wrong (our Top cashback sites guide has more info), so see it as a bonus rather than a guarantee – even if it doesn't work, as long as you were planning to sign up to a Disney+ annual subscription anyway, you won't be losing anything.

    O2 customer? Get £2 a month off Disney+ or up to six months' free for newbies

    If you're an existing O2 customer, you can add a Disney+ subscription to your contract and O2 will give you £2 bill credit each month, meaning you can effectively get Disney+ for £5.99 a month (normally £7.99). You'll need to keep your subscription for a minimum of six months.

    You can add this 'Extra' on to your contract either online through your My O2 account, or by calling 202 from your O2 mobile. If you've already got a Disney+ subscription, we've seen conflicting T&Cs from O2 on whether you can still get this offer, so we've asked it to confirm and we'll update here when we know.

    If you're a new O2 customer or you've recently upgraded, you can get up to six months' free Disney+. After the free period, you'll then be able to get the above £2 a month bill credit offer. See O2 Disney+ T&Cs for full info. A deal like this shouldn't be your only reason for choosing a new phone contract – use our Cheap Mobile Finder tool to ensure you get the best deal for you.

  3. Rotate between streaming services so you're not paying for more than one at a time

    Subscribe to just four of the biggest services and it'll cost you about £30 a month, but if you've multiple streaming services on the go, are you really getting value from them all? If binging all seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix, it's unlikely you've time to watch another service you're paying for. Instead, pay £5 to £11 a month for just one service and when you've seen what you want, cancel it and move on to a different service.

    All the top streaming services we mention in this guide allow you to sign up, cancel, and restart at any point, so you can just watch for a month at a time (though some special discounted sign-up offers may require a longer minimum term).

    This trick can be particularly handy with Now, as it has separate subscriptions for movies and box sets – Entertainment and Sky Cinema (both are £9.99 a month). It will encourage you to sign up to them both, but MSE Jenny's top tip is to alternate between them, so you can binge box sets one month and movies the next.

    Here are our tips to help you work out which streaming service suits you best each month:

    • Use a handy tool to see what's on where. Check which streaming service has the shows you want to watch using this nifty tool.

    • Check how long you have left to watch a show. To get the timing right, use our handy trick to check how long a series or movie is available.

    • Check if there's a deal. Some streaming services offer limited-time deals to entice you to sign up. Always check if the offer involves a minimum term, for example, O2 customers can get £2 a month off Disney+, but you have to sign up for a minimum of six months.

    • Try a month without any paid-for streaming. There are tons of box sets and movies available FREE via iPlayer, Channel 4 and others. It's likely you can find enough to keep you entertained for at least a month or more.

  4. Free tool to check what's on where – so you only pay for the streaming services you'll actually use

    We've mentioned this in the point above, but in case you missed it, if there are specific shows or films you want to watch, check which services have them, then weigh up what the best – and cheapest – option is for you.

    To help you, there's a clever free online tool, JustWatch, which catalogues what shows and films are shown on different streaming services. It includes more than 50 in total – including all the big paid-for services, such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix and Now – plus free ones such as Channel 4 and BBC iPlayer.

  5. Check if you can share your account with family and friends

    Many film and TV streaming services let you share your account with others, which can be a simple way to save money if you all chip in – though be careful, as the exact rules on doing this vary from service to service...

    Close up of a hand pointing an Amazon Fire Stick remote control at a television.
    • Amazon Prime – members can share Prime Video with one other adult. If you have the full Amazon Prime subscription (but not if you only pay for the £5.99 a month Prime Video-only membership) you can share certain benefits with one other adult "in your household" by forming an Amazon Household*. You'll keep your personal account, but you'll both need to link your accounts and agree to share payment methods.

      Despite being called Amazon 'Household', nothing in the T&Cs state you have to live at the same address as the person you want to share Prime benefits with – we asked Amazon to confirm if you need to be living together, and it just pointed us back to the T&Cs.

      Related: Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads unless you pay an extra fee.

    • Apple TV+ – share with up to six family members. You can share your Apple TV+ subscription with up to six other members of your family – see Apple Family Sharing for more information. Apple told us you can share with family members living elsewhere, for example, children who have moved out, so you don't need to live at the same address.

    • Netflix – share with others living at the same address. You can split the standard with adverts, standard and premium plans with other people in your household, for example, the standard with adverts plan costs £4.99 a month and allows you to watch on two screens at the same time (you don't have to be watching the same thing). This means you could get one subscription, split the cost with your other half, a family member or housemate and pay just £2.50 a month each.

      Bear in mind that sharing with someone who lives elsewhere is technically forbidden in the T&Cs you agree to when you sign up – and Netflix has started to crack down on this, charging £4.99 a month to add people from outside the account holder's household to its standard and premium plans. For full details, see the Netflix to charge an extra £60 a year if you share your account MSE News story.

    • Now – share on up to six devices. You can use your account on up to six devices (but only watch on one at a time, unless you pay extra for Now Boost). We've asked Now to confirm if those you're sharing with have to live at the same address – it's not replied, but we'll update this guide if and when we hear back.

  6. Pay upfront to cut the cost – including save £16 a year on Disney+

    While many services offer a monthly payment option, you can often save by paying for a year upfront. Here are some examples:
     
    • Save up to £22 on Disney+. It's £79.90 for a year's standard membership, and £109.90 for a year's premium membership, but if you choose to pay monthly at £7.99 or £10.99 a month, you'll pay £95.88 or £131.88 over the year. (Its £4.99/month plan with adverts doesn't offer a yearly cap.)

    • Save £14 on Paramount+. It's £69.90 upfront for a year (although it's offering 50% off till Tuesday 2 January 2024) , but if you opt to pay monthly you'll end up paying £83.88 over the year at £6.99 a month.

    • Save £13 on Amazon Prime. Full membership is £95 upfront for a year, but if you pay monthly at £8.99 a month you'll pay £107.88 over the year. (Prices subject to change from February 2024, when Amazon Prime Video will begin showing ads unless you pay extra.)

  7. Downshift your streaming service – save up to £13/month by sitting through ads

    Close up of Netflix on a laptop, showing the top left portion of the screen.

    If you don't mind sitting through a few adverts (much fewer than linear TV) and don't need upgraded video quality or the ability to watch offline, you could benefit from cheap £5/month plans from Netflix and Disney+.

    Many Netflix users are on its £10.99 a month standard package or £15.99 a month premium package. But in November 2022 Netflix launched a new £4.99 a month plan with adverts – switching to that could save you up to £132 a year.

    It's worth noting, Netflix has since axed its 'basic without adverts' plan, which cost £6.99 a month.

    Disney+ also offers a £4.99 a month plan with adverts. Switching to it could save you up to £50 a year.

    Here's how much you'll pay for streaming services with ads and without:

    Streaming services' ad plans compared

    Service Cost with ads Cost without ads
    Amazon Prime Video £8.99 a month
    £95 a year    		 £11.98 a month (from 5 Feb)
    £130.88 a year (from 5 Feb)
    Amazon Prime Video - Student £4.49 a month
    £47.49 a year    		 £7.48 a month (from 5 Feb)
    £83.37 a year (from 5 Feb)
    Netflix £4.99 a month £10.99 (Premium £17.99)
    Disney+ £4.99  £7.99 a month (Premium £10.99 a month)
    £79.90 a year (Premium £109.90 a year)
    Now Entertainment £9.99 a month
    £41.94 for six months    		 £15.99 a month
    £77.94 for six months
    Now Cinema £9.99 a month £15.99 a month

    Costs shown apply after any applicable free trial period. Correct as of 12 January 2024.

    If you choose to downshift to a plan with ads, be aware that you may be switched to your new plan right away, but won't get money back – you'll just pay less the next time you're billed, so do it as close to your next billing date as possible.

    Similarly, Amazon Prime Video will start adding adverts to its subscriptions from 5 February 2024, with the option to pay an extra £2.99 a month to remove them. There's no option to save here - if you do nothing you'll start seeing ads, while continuing to pay the same price. Annual Prime members will be entitled to a pro rata subscription fee refund if they cancel as a result of the change. For more, read the MSE News story: Amazon Prime Video to start showing ads unless you pay an extra monthly fee.

    For lots more tips and tricks to save, see our 18 Netflix hacks and Top subscription streaming services table.

  8. Try the 'pretend to cancel' trick (often a winner with Now)

    A number of MoneySavers report being offered discounts when they try to cancel their Now passes online – for example, MSE Kelvin tried it and was offered a three-month Sky Cinema pass for £2.40 a month (normally £9.99 a month).

    So if you're happy to continue your subscription, it's worth starting the cancellation process to try to bag a discount. Make sure when you're asked why you're leaving that you say it's because you 'can't afford' the service.

    Let us know if you've successfully tried this trick with any other streaming service.

  9. Getting a Now Sports day pass? Time it carefully to max the value

    MSE Chris D says he sometimes buys a day pass, and plans his viewing carefully beforehand, as the passes expire exactly 24 hours after you activate them.

    So if he wants to watch a match on a Saturday evening, he'll check what's on the following day, and may wait until right before kick-off to activate his pass – that way he can watch a match that's on earlier in the day the next day too.

  10. Check how long a series will be available for – so you're only paying when what you want to watch is on

    The beauty of most streaming services, from a MoneySaving point of view, is that you can dip in and out of subscribing as often as you like, as there's no minimum contract term. That means if you know what's on when, you can ensure you're only paying while it's showing the stuff you want to watch. To help plan, most tell you when something is due to be taken off.

    For example, Netflix will tell you if a programme is being removed within the next 30 days. Open up the info on any series or movie and click the 'Details' tab – it'll say something like 'Availability Until 01/01/2025'.

  11. Buy discounted gift cards for Apple, Now and others to cut the cost

    It's worth looking out for discounted gift cards, as you'll essentially be getting a discount on the cost of your subscription. For example, Tesco has previously offered 20% off £10 Now gift cards (making them £8).

    Buying gift cards comes with a risk though – they're easy to lose and companies can go bust before you spend them. So make sure if you do this you spend them straightaway.

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Paying for Sky, Virgin Media etc? How to save

Some pay over £1,000 a year for a digital TV subscription with the likes of Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk or BT TV, yet it's often possible to cut the cost. See our Digital TV deals guide for full help, but to get you started:

  1. Ask yourself if you REALLY need to pay for digital TV

    Switching from a TV contract to Freeview can save many a small fortune, so weigh up if what you're paying is really worth the extra. After all, there are now lots of places to watch programmes on demand for free (or just the cost of the licence fee) – from BBC iPlayer and Channel 4, to the less traditional video found on YouTube or even Facebook and Instagram.

    Even if you do watch enough TV to make it worth paying for, switching to cheaper services could save you cash.

  2. Do a full 'channel audit' – and axe those you never watch

    There's no point paying for channels you won't watch, so decide what you want and make sure you're on the right package. As channels are usually bundled up into much larger lists, such as 'entertainment' or 'sports', you may find you're paying for access to 20, even though you only really use one.

    Also, if you're a keen footie fan, only sign up to the sports channels for the duration of the football season. Cancel for the summer and you'll save a wad of cash. Some providers may insist on 30 days' notice, so set a reminder.

  3. Find the best digital TV deal

    TV packages are notoriously complicated, often with many optional extras and a variety of bundles. Choosing one can be hard, but weighing up each decision carefully could stop you shelling out £100s a year for add-ons you don't need. Our Digital TV deals guide has full help, but in brief:

    • Only pay for channels you know you'll watch. As channels are usually bundled up into much larger lists, such as 'Entertainment', 'Sports' or 'Kids', you could end up paying for access to 20, though you'll only really use one. If this is the case, think carefully and weigh up if it's really worth it.

      If you're a keen footie fan, only sign up to the sports channels for the football season. Cancel for the summer and you'll save a wad of cash. Some providers may insist on 30 days' notice, so set a reminder to do it in time.

    • It's not always cheapest to get broadband and TV from the same provider. Many offer TV bundles that include broadband. Sometimes opting for a complete package can be the cheapest way, but never assume so. Our Broadband Unbundled tool will show you when it finds a cheaper combination from more than one provider – just select 'TV' and 'Include Unbundled deals'.

    • Cashback sites may pay you for signing up. As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up for some products. Do check that it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember, the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account. For full help and the pros and cons, see our Top cashback sites guide.

    Always keep a note of when each contract ends and make a note in your diary to ditch and switch, or haggle, around a month before your promo deal finishes, as you'll likely see your prices are suddenly hiked.

  4. Haggle a better deal EVERY year – 'I saved £360'

    If you choose to stay with your digital TV provider, you can still save money. In a nutshell, call up and ask for a better deal. Say you're paying too much or rivals' deals are cheaper. If that doesn't work, tell it you're leaving. You'll usually get put through to companies' super-powerful hidden deals departments. For more tips and tricks, see Haggle with Sky & more.

    In our December 2022 poll, 85% of MoneySavers who said they tried haggling with Virgin Media were successful, and for Sky it was 84%. David told us:

    After reading your tips on haggling with Sky, I called them and ended up with a £30 a month reduction without losing any of my channels/extra boxes. A £360 a year saving from a 10-minute phone call is fantastic!

  5. Now membership is cheaper than Sky Sports if you only watch the odd match

    Subscriptions to Sky aren't cheap, with the basic package starting at £19 a month – and many pay a whopping £32 extra every month to access Sky Sports channels. But if you only watch the occasional match or event, you'll likely be better off buying daily or monthly Sky Sports membership via Now instead.

    You can currently pay £11.99 for a day pass which lets you watch 11 channels on any device for 24 hours. In the past we've seen it offer a combined day pass and 12-month mobile pass for £11.98, which additionally gets you access to five channels on your smartphone for a whole year.

    The same principle applies to Now's 'Entertainment' pass – if you only pay for Sky to watch a particular show (such as Succession or And Just Like That...), you could save by cancelling your Sky subscription and buying a Now membership, which you can cancel when your series has finished (and start up again when a new series begins).

  6. Turn your games console into an additional Sky box using Sky Go Extra

    If you're a Sky customer with Sky Go Extra, you can use a console (including Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5) to stream Sky TV, which may work out cheaper than buying an additional Sky box for your home.

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