I’m a thrifty spender, so when streaming services started having ad-supported tiers, I hopped on the bandwagon. It was primarily to save money and still have access to content, but there were unexpected benefits, too.
It’s a Positive Force On My Streaming Habits
Ever since I stopped binge-watching content, my viewing experience has been exponentially better, and part of that is because I despise ads. I know that may sound weird at first. Then, why buy the ad-supported tier, right?
I can stomach a few ads here and there (and I don’t watch them, anyway, but we’ll get to that later). It only becomes a real problem if it’s a constant stream, which it would be if I were to binge-watch something.
However, I broke that habit. So, when I sit down to watch an episode, I don’t have to deal with a bunch of ads in a single sitting. This also applies to watching TV, considering there are many free live TV channels to watch that are ad-supported, too.
Ads Are a Reminder to Get Up and Move
Speaking of ads, whenever they do rear their ugly heads, I’m nowhere to be seen, anyway. I’ve got laundry to put away, dishes to do, dinner to make—I can’t be wasting time watching commercials. When ads appear, I see it as my que to dip and do something constructive.
This is especially true if it’s a movie. I love watching movies, but I also get pretty fidgety after a while. For me, an ad is also an opportunity to get up, massage my aches and pains, and do some stretches. Get used to doing that, and it’ll feel like you aren’t paying for the ad-supported tier.
I Get Access to Multiple Services in a Single Bundle
Not only do I save money by paying for ad-supported streaming services, but streaming service bundles make it even cheaper. For example, I’m subbed to the ad-supported bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max for $10 cheaper than subbing to each separately—$17 instead of $27.
Again, I’m walking away with the better deal since I don’t stick around for the ads anyway, nor is it a huge deal if I don’t spend a lot of time streaming some months. Ultimately, I make it work for me because I’ve fostered better habits with my streaming services overall.
