4 Ways to Save Big Money on All Your Subscription Services

These days, it seems like just about everything requires a subscription — and the fee that goes along with it! While they may not seem like much at the time, those Amazon, Netflix, Audible, and other charges can add up quicker than you think! Luckily, there are plenty of free alternatives out there that can slash your budget by hundreds of dollars. Read on for no-cost ways you can watch TV, listen to books, get free delivery, and more.

Watch TV and Movies

Tired of shelling out upward of $8.99 a month for Netflix, $5.99 a month for Hulu, and even more fees for streaming extras just to watch your favorite TV shows and movies? You’re in luck: Thousands of popular programs and films spanning all genres are now available from websites that will stream them for free! Between Hoopla, IMDb, Pluto, Sony Crackle, Tubi, and Vudu (click “free” on the top menu), you can stream directly on your iPad, smartphone, or computer or use a streaming device (such as a Roku, $48.99, Amazon, or Fire TV, $49.99, Amazon) to watch from your television.

Enjoy Audio and E-books

No need to pay $14.95 a month for a subscription to Audible, $9.99 a month for Kindle Unlimited or even $8.99 a month for Scribd to get access to audiobooks or e-books. If you have a public library card, you can borrow thousands of titles via your phone or tablet at no cost! Just log on to Libby and download the free app, then register your library card to start reading or listening to e-books immediately. Bonus: You have the option of downloading books for your enjoyment even when you’re offline or streaming to save space on your device.

Get Free Next-Day Delivery

If complimentary next-day delivery is the main reason you pay $12.99 per month for an Amazon Prime subscription, you can keep your cash in your wallet. Walmart recently introduced free next-day delivery on more than 200,000 products to most areas of the US when you spend $35 or more, no subscription required! Considering that the retailer recently expanded its online offerings to include more merchandise from third-party vendors (just like Amazon) than ever before, chances are high you’ll find the products you want at the box retailer’s famously low prices.

Track What You’re Eating

If you want to subscribe to a weight-loss app or website but the monthly fee has held you back (Noom, for instance, charges a whopping $59 big ones every 30 days), consider SparkPeople instead. The “basic” plan for this website and app combo offers many of the same tools as other, pricier programs—including food and exercise tracking, meal planning, calorie counting, expert advice, and an interactive community of folks pursuing the same goal — all for $0 a month. That’s right! You’ll simply need to create an account at SparkPeople.com, then input your weight-loss goals to get your personalized plan.

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.