Money Management

Instead of paying for all your favorite streaming apps simultaneously, rotate them to keep your spending in check. 

Streaming apps are entertaining, but they’re an additional expense that you’ll need to work into your monthly budget. Many households subscribe to multiple streaming platforms at one time. But that doesn’t mean that they’re using them all. It can be easy to forget to use all of the streaming services you subscribe to, which could mean you’re wasting your hard-earned money. Find out how this streaming strategy could help you save $500 or more yearly.

Streaming apps can make entertainment cheaper

Many of us watch TV shows, movies, and documentary programs in our free time. With the rise of streaming services, it’s easier than ever to access new and old content from the comfort of your home. Streaming apps may also be cheaper than other forms of entertainment, like amusement parks and live performances.

However, they do cost money, and these extra expenses can quickly reduce your checking account balance. It’s a good idea to review your streaming service spending occasionally to ensure you’re staying on budget. You may be paying for apps that you don’t use often or at all. If this is the case, you may want to make some changes.

Rotate streaming service subscriptions to spend less money

One easy way to keep your spending in check is to rotate your streaming services. Instead of investing in three or four services annually, pay for just one or two at a time. When you’re ready to try another service, you can pause or cancel one of the other services. This can allow you to watch shows and movies on different services without spending much money.

How to save $500 or more each year

Do you want to reduce spending and stop paying for streaming apps you don’t use? Implementing this streaming strategy can result in significant savings. First, we’ll show you the yearly cost to pay for four popular streaming apps at once:

By subscribing to each of these services once every three months, you can reduce your spending without sacrificing entertainment. This strategy also allows you to maximize the content you consume from each service. How much could you save by doing this? Here’s a breakdown of the cost to better illustrate the savings potential:

If you instead do this, you will save $512.64 throughout the year. The savings could be even higher if you subscribe to more services. Being able to stash an extra $500 in a high-yield savings account could help you prepare for unexpected future costs.

You don’t have to subscribe to all services at once

If you’re not paying close attention, you may be paying for too many streaming services. You can access quality entertainment and stay on budget by rotating your subscriptions. Consider trying this or a similar strategy to see if it works well for you and your family. For additional money management tips, review these personal finance resources.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Netflix. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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How many of these beloved Kirkland brand products have you tried? 

Whether you’re a Costco member or not, you’ve probably heard of Kirkland. This house brand offers a wide range of products from paper goods and household items to tasty treats — and many of the Kirkland items have a ton of devoted fans singing their praises.

In particular, Reddit users have made a long list of Kirkland products they love. Check them out and see if you may want to break out the credit cards to purchase and give any of them a try next time you head to Costco for a shopping trip.

1. Kirkland olive oil

Kirkland Signature offers multiple different olive oil brands, including Organic Extra Virgin as well as Pure Olive Oil. Reddit users praise the taste, especially of the California version.

One forum member also claimed that “every test I have seen shows it as being the purest on the market.” And another chimed in to affirm that their own testing had proved this to be true, saying “I tested this in a biochemistry lab in college haha, can confirm.”

2. Kirkland walnuts

Several Redditors mentioned the Kirkland walnuts as one of their top favorite products, with one forum member indicating they had a three pound bag on hand at all times.

“I keep them in my freezer and I use them for baking and salads, I toast them and they’re delicious. I just keep them in the freezer and use them from there. You don’t have to defrost them or anything and they are fantastic, they’re really good as well because a lot of them are big chunks.”

While the walnuts specifically earned praise, other Redditors chimed in to add that “all of their nuts are high quality,” so whatever kind of nut you love, you may be able to pick it up at Kirkland for a great price.

3. Kirkland tuna

Reddit users have praised the Kirkland brand tuna both for the price as well as for the taste.

One user described it as “the best tuna we’ve ever had,” and another commented it was “firm, bright and more like little filets of fish,” than other competing brands.

4. Kirkland allergy medication

Medication can be expensive, so when you find a product that’s cheap and effective, it’s worth stocking up. That may be the case for Kirkland allergy medication, which has numerous devoted fans on Reddit.

“I take Zyrtec daily and their 365 tablet bottle is so cheap compared even to pharmacy brand Zyrtec,” one user said. Others said Kirkland’s Allegra equivalent worked really well, while a third poster indicated the Claritin equivalent was affordable and effective. A fourth poster was even able to impress his girlfriend with the bargain-priced meds.

“My gf initially thought it was an expensive gift when I got her the 365 count generic Claritin. When I told her the real price, she wasn’t mad, she just put more things on my Costco list to buy her.”

Each of these four Kirkland products may be well worth trying since they’re impressive enough that people sing their praises on the Internet. Just be sure you don’t buy anything you don’t really need at Costco. Otherwise, your efforts to save money by joining a members-only warehouse club could be derailed by the impulse purchases you’re making.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Don’t be left facing surprise bills. 

Pet owners should typically buy pet insurance on their animals as soon as possible. Purchasing pet insurance means that if your animal develops an illness or injury and needs expensive care, you don’t have to think about whether you can afford it. Rather than being forced to put treatment on your credit cards or deny your pet healthcare, you can just get your insurer to pay the bills.

There’s a little catch, though. Typically, when your animal gets care from a vet, you have to pay for it out of pocket and then submit your claim to your pet insurer to get reimbursed. This could mean you end up spending thousands of dollars of your own money and must wait to get it back. And, when you do that, you may be worried about the risk of not getting the money returned if your pet insurer decides not to pay.

Now, if you can afford the treatment and would get it no matter what, this may not be a big issue for you. But if finances are a concern, you may need to take steps to make absolutely sure you’ll be covered before shelling out the cash for a particular procedure. Here’s how to do that.

Make this move before getting expensive care

If your pet requires costly medical services that you aren’t sure you can pay for without pet insurance, then you may want to get your claim pre-approved before your vet provides the treatment.

Many pet insurance companies allow you to get pre-approval by submitting your pet’s medical records and a request to get your claim reviewed prior to the treatment being performed. The pet insurer will take a look at the details, including your vet’s diagnosis and treatment plan, and let you know if the treatment is covered and they’ll be willing to repay you for the vet bills.

If you get pre-approved, you’ll have the certainty of knowing that the insurer has agreed to pay the bills once you incur the medical costs. This means you get to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Your pet gets medical services and you can submit the bills. Many pet insurers will then pay very quickly, since the claim has already been reviewed and approved.

What if you can’t get pre-approval?

If your pet insurer denies coverage for the treatment, it can be better for this to happen before you spend the money on care.

You may be able to appeal the decision and provide better supporting documentation in these circumstances. Or, you may be able to work with your vet and insurer to see if another type of treatment might be covered that could also help your pet.

In a worst-case scenario, if you do find out that your insurer won’t pay for a particular kind of care, you can work out another solution. This could mean finding a less-expensive option with your vet or entering into a payment plan that enables you to get the necessary healthcare services even without coverage.

In any case, it’s always better to find this out when you aren’t out thousands of dollars due to a surprise claim denial. Consider your options and find the best solution for both your pet and your finances.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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