Don't waste your money | Simple ways to lower how much you pay for streaming | Business

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Did you cut the cable cord a few years ago to save money? Those savings may be gone by now.

Consumer reporter John Matarese explains some things you can do to trim that bill down again.

The new year is a great time to take stock of your monthly expenses. Lori Pieper said she is tired of steaming TV price hikes.

"It went up $4, and that surprised me," Pieper said.

She's talking about ad-free Disney+, which started at $7 a month but recently jumped to $14.

Other services are up, too, including Apple TV+, which is now up to $9 a month.

"Netflix, which is still over $16, and then I have Prime," Pieper said. "After a few weeks, what was it like? It's a nightmare!"

Jean Koverman recently decided to cut the cable cord and stream her TV shows, but now, she's not convinced it was a good idea.

"By the time I am done computing everything for the shows I like, right now, it is $115 a month," Koverman said.

She is looking for a cheaper option.

Matarese offers some advice. Let's said there is a show you really want to watch but you don't want to pay and subscribe to that streaming service. You have two options where you might be able to see that show without subscribing.

"It's really difficult for a normal person to figure it out," said CNet's Joan Solsman.

She said option one is to look for seven-day free trials for Hulu Live TV, Discovery+ or Paramount Plus and binge-watch during that free week.

Option two takes a little more effort. If there's no free trial, join a service for one month then cancel before 30 days.

That can work with Disney+, MAX and Apple TV+.

"You can cancel anytime with these services," Solsman said. "You don't have to worry about committing to one year."

Finally, you could try what Pieper is doing: drop a service for the new year.

"It's crazy," she said.

Matarese said to ask yourself how often you use a streaming service. If the answer is rarely, consider dropping it so you don't waste your money.

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Don't waste your money | Simple ways to lower how much you pay for streaming