TV & subscriptions - please help me get my costs down

[TheClitterati]

So I am starting a trial of YNAB - there's lots to learn but I really like it and think it will be a big help. I'm not hugely in debt, but I have noticed how I am creeping towards slightly living beyond our means each month and would like to nip this in the bud, spend better and save more. So I doing a self financial audit & looking at all our costs etc.

It struck me I am paying really a lot for TV (and watching too much of it).
Virgin - TV package and TV box (tied in with phone/broadband) approx £35. I have this as I don't have a smart TV or Freeview box and also it records TV which I like;
Netflix £8.99
Prime TV £7.99
Disney + - but using family sign in so no cost to us
TV Licence approx £13.50 pcm
so a total of £65.50 pcm - which is affordable, but a lot to pay out for a bit of telly.

I have decided to take a break from Netflix and Prime for a few months. TV licence has to be paid and I'm OK with that.

But Virgin annoy me and I'm currently tied to them if I want TV. I'd like to break free of them.

I know people have different set ups to this but I find it all very confusing. I think Apple TV could be an option but to be honest I'm perplexed by it. Also people use some kind of HDMI plugin's/firesticks etc - but I'm not sure what they access by that.

Ideally I would like to:
Access Freeview channels;
Be able to have Prime/Netflix subs should I want to in a few months;
Perhaps be able to record TV shows but this is becoming less important as catch up is so great now.

Ideally I'd like a set up where I minimise my monthly outgoings. I'm happy to invest in a bit kit to set things up.

Would love to know how you do TV, what works, what are the options, how do you keep costs down?

I'd like to be able to access iPlayer and the other catch up TV channels (covered by TV licence) too.

Bump

We have a smart tv, so can access all the freeview channels. We subscribe to Netflix and Amazon, and pay the BBC licence fee. Wouldn't want to pay any more than that. Smart tv prices have come down loads, you don't need to spend a fortune to get a decent one.

Why virgin, don't you have freeview reception in your area?

My tv is fine but not smart.

I guess I'm looking for some kind of plug in to make it "smart"

Buy an amazon fire stick for 30£ and you can access all the apps

But you still need to subscribe (except the free ones like itv and 4od)

I just have Netflix and free channels (and bbc but wouldn’t pay licence fee if could avoid tbh)

Would recommend fire stick over apple - I have both and it’s fantastic and such good value !

I get free view etc through virgin TiVo.

Now I'm looking for cheaper way of doing it.

For that about that amount we get Sky broadband and Sky TV, kids package, on demand, netflix all in our 1 sky bill of £67 pm. You can pause, rewind, record live tv easily. We do have to pay tv licence on top of that though. Sky broadband is also the only reliable broadband we have ever had. I would suggest moving everything to Sky if you can.

I legit sound like I'm paid by Sky promise I'm not!

What quality of broadband do you have with Virgin? If its good, or fibre, then you're unlikely to get much cheaper than £35 for that alone, not even factoring in TV. The £35 is not your TV cost its your Internet cost.

Don't factor in the TV licence to the cost, you're unlikely to want to do anything about that.

Cancel one or both of prime and Netflix.

Get a free trial on Now TV then cancel it at the end and theyll likely offer you the next 3 months half price. Keep doing this if you like NowTv. Not that complicated!

We have NowTV entertainment which is sky and costs about £8.99 on a pay as you go basis. We have just cancelled Netflix as we haven't been watching it.

You really only need one subscription service as there are more box sets than you could watch.

We get the BBC app, ITV etc through the Now TV stick so don't need free view and our TV is not near our Ariel so we can only get TV through the Internet.

Do you get all the free view channels of the Firestick?

@TheClitterati Hmmmm think so - will check tomorrow ! It has everything in watch on Apple TV anyway .. )

Are you sure that your tv doesn't get freeview on its own? Have a look on the back where the ports are, is there a freeview symbol? Or look at instructions, or google make and model.

And when does your internet end?

@Hyggemama

For that about that amount we get Sky broadband and Sky TV, kids package, on demand, netflix all in our 1 sky bill of £67 pm. You can pause, rewind, record live tv easily. We do have to pay tv licence on top of that though. Sky broadband is also the only reliable broadband we have ever had. I would suggest moving everything to Sky if you can.

I never knowingly give Murdoch corp any of my money. Just a thing for me. Rules out a lot of options though

@TheSpottedZebra

Are you sure that your tv doesn't get freeview on its own? Have a look on the back where the ports are, is there a freeview symbol? Or look at instructions, or google make and model.

And when does your internet end?

I will look for this tomorrow thanks. It is about 3yo Samsung.

@catmg

What quality of broadband do you have with Virgin? If its good, or fibre, then you're unlikely to get much cheaper than £35 for that alone, not even factoring in TV. The £35 is not your TV cost its your Internet cost.

Don't factor in the TV licence to the cost, you're unlikely to want to do anything about that.

Cancel one or both of prime and Netflix.

Get a free trial on Now TV then cancel it at the end and theyll likely offer you the next 3 months half price. Keep doing this if you like NowTv. Not that complicated!

Sorry if I was un clear.
It's £35 just for the tv bit. Total bill approx £75 monthly for tv broadband & landline.

Broadband is pretty good.

I've cancelled prime and Netflix. Looking forward to the break now.

You can also get roku stick. I used it for years and you don't need to pay any fee (only for apps that need subsription like netflix). It also has a freeview play I think which would sort your free channels problem.

I'm thinking of getting Roku so I can access Les mills on demand!

I have now tv

Thank you. I will investigate roku & firestick .