Three ways to reduce music streaming bills for Spotify and Apple Music
Do you want to cancel your monthly subscriptions? You are not alone.
Yet our music subscriptions are one of those things that are too hard to let go.
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So here are three ways to make those monthly costs a little cheaper.
Put up with the ads
This isn’t an option for the Apple Music listeners out there.
But Spotify fans can stream all their songs for free, as long as they tolerate ads.
This is the same for YouTube Music and Amazon Music.
Ad breaks between songs aren’t the only caveat users have to put up with on Spotify.
The free version of Spotify only allows users to pick and skip songs if they are in one of Spotify’s 15 curated playlists under the Made for You section on the homepage.
This can be a real pain if there is one song on your favorite album that you want to listen to.
Shuffle isn’t for everyone, but if you don’t mind it, then Spotify Free might be your best bet.
Rinse off the freebies
Like most subscription-based services, Apple and Spotify offer free trial periods of two to six months.
Companies regularly offer a variety of trials for both new and existing subscribers.
Apple Music always offers new subscribers at least 30 days free.
But a time-limited trial period often offers more time, for example this AirPods, HomePod or Beats deal that includes six months of free Apple Music to new subscribers.
Similarly, Spotify is also trying to attract new subscribers with its permanent offer of the first 30 days free.
Although Spotify currently is offering four months of free Premium streaming to new subscribers who are also Tinder members.
Get your friends involved
Consider involving your friends and family in a family plan.
Six people paying for subscriptions individually is often less than half of what a monthly solo membership costs.
For example, Spotify Premium costs £10.99/$10.99 for one person, £14.99/$14.99 for two people and £17.99/$16.99 for six people.
Six people on one family plan would pay just £2.99/$2.99 per month instead of £10.99/$10.99 – that’s a saving of £96/$96 per year.
For Apple Music users, an individual plan costs £10.99/$10.99 per month, while the family plan for five people costs £16.99/$16.99.
That means each person in the group package pays just £3.40/$3.40 per month, down from £10.99/$10.99, saving each member £91/$91 annually.
If you are still studying, take out a student subscription; this is much cheaper than a standard individual subscription.
But remember: student plans still cost more than spreading the cost among five or six people.
Free money programs if you’re struggling
Many of us are still struggling with the high cost of living, but there is help you can get.
New or expectant parents can get up to £442 a year to spend on food through the Healthy Start scheme.
Some new parents can get £500 through the Sure Start Maternity Grant. The money is intended to help you cover the costs of having a child.
Councils are also providing support through welfare assistance schemes to help cover the costs of essentials, from buying new furniture to food vouchers.
The amount you can get varies, but research by The Sun has found that needy Brits can apply for help worth up to £1,000.
Discretionary Housing Payment is a pot of money handed out by councils to people struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
A scheme is available for those unable to cover housing costs, although the exact amount varies as each local authority hands out the money on a case-by-case basis.
Many forms of energy offer subsidies to help customers with little money. The exact amount varies depending on your supplier and your circumstances, but could be up to €2,000.