No subscriptions?

I've balanced my Streaming Life between watching free content, or FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) and subscription content, to include vMVPD (Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor) content such as Sling TV, etc., and SVOD (Subscription-based Video on Demand), such as HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, etc.

Rather than subscribe to multiple services, I'll subscribe to one service for a month, then the next month, subscribe to a different service. As I don't usually use vMVPD (streaming cable type of services), I am trading the immediacy of watching content for the extra money in the bank. The content will show up on SVOD soon enough, at least soon enough for my purposes.

Of course, some people just have to watch that special program when it airs. I'm not some people. And maybe you don't have to be either. Many services are $70/month, with others close to that. Do I need to watch the content RIGHT THEN, or can I wait a few hours (if it's on Hulu) or a few days, weeks, or months, and save the cost of an iPhone? Or more, as $70/month totals $840 over a year.

Since I preach this so much, but still do subscribe to the occasional service, I'm going to let the current subscriptions run out, then see how long I can go just watching FAST and AVOD content. June is nearly over, and I have some subscriptions ending. I'm not jumping to another service on the first of the month. Rather, I'm letting things end, and seeing how it goes.

Here's a secret: it will go well. How do I know? Well, I've not watched much of the content from this month's subscription service. I haven't missed it. I simply noticed that the month is ending, and I went to ensure I had a cancellation set. I did. Then I wondered what to get next month, and I realized I barely watched any this month, if at all. Seriously, I don't think I watched anything.

Now, the challenge for you. Look at all the items to which you are subscribed. How many did you watch in the last month? Seriously, more than just one thing, how many did you really watch? Drop anything you didn't watch. Remember, you can always subscribe later. Just cancel, or turn off auto-renew, and let the subscription expire. Go as long as you can.

Even if you only can go one week, think about this: you spend one week without a service, then subscribe. Let it go the month, then let it expire. Then go another week before subscribing again. Over a year, you have subscribed 10 times (actually, 9.865). That means 10 instead of 12. You saved two months. That's $140. You just saved $140 by letting a subscription expire, then doing without for a week.

Now you have a new problem, though. You have to figure out what you're going to do with that extra $140. There are a lot worse problems one can have in a Streaming Life.