Does Cutting the Cord Still Save Money?

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For years, budgeting gurus and technology experts alike have encouraged households across America to cut the cord on cable TV. Switching to streaming content was an easy way to deflate a bloated cable bill. But recent rises in subscription prices for streaming services have us wondering.

Can you still save money cutting the cord on cable?

The answer to that question is increasingly complicated. Nearly 40% of households in the US have pulled the plug on pay TV, and experts indicate that percentage could top 45% by 2024.

The point of cutting the cord is to save money, but many households now sport a patchwork quilt of subscriptions to premium streaming services that may not be cheaper than their original cable TV bill. (Frugality fail anyone?)

Cable vs. Streaming Subscriptions: A Cost Comparison

There’s clearly a financial tipping point where too much content at your fingertips can get out of hand. Let’s take a closer look at the recent price hikes for streaming services and crunch the numbers.

How Much Do Popular Streaming Services Cost?

Streaming subscription Monthly cost More info

Netflix

$9.99/$15.49/$19.99

Cheaper ad-supported subscription coming soon

Amazon Prime

$14.99 (Prime membership) $8.99 (Video only)

Amazon Prime prices rose in early 2022

Disney+

$7.99 (ads)

Ad-free will jump to $10.99, ads will be $7.99

HBO Max

$9.99 (ads) …………….. $14.99 (no ads)

Some content removed before Discovery+ merger

Discovery+

$4.99 (ads) ………………………….. $6.99 (no ads)

Get 6 months free with Verizon unlimited plan

Hulu

$6.99 (ads) ………………………….. $12.99 (no ads)

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