What you think costs $139 a year could actually be over $300 once hidden fees and subscriptions are added. Here’s how to check your real Amazon Prime costs and start saving money today.
Your streaming bill is robbing you blind
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On my national radio show, I mentioned that the average American spends $110 a month on streaming subscriptions. Add in $80+ for decent internet, and suddenly cable doesn’t look so evil.
My inbox exploded: “Kim, how do I lower my streaming bill?”
The short answer: You’re paying for stuff you’re not even watching. Let’s fix that.
🕵️ Start with a ‘streaming audit’
How many of these are you signed up for right now? Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Peacock, Prime Video … and maybe a couple of sneaky ones like BritBox or Discovery+ you forgot about after a “free trial.”
Step 1: Check your bank or card statement for charges from:
- Google, Apple, Amazon (they love hiding subscriptions under friendly names).
- Random charges like “BILLINGSTREAMLLC” (actual scammy name I’ve seen).
- Pro tip: Use Rocket Money, they scan your accounts and flag forgotten or sneaky subscriptions.
Step 2: Open your smart TV or phone. Which apps are collecting digital dust? If it’s been more than a month since you watched something, unsubscribe. Most services save your watch history, so you can pick up where you left off later.
💸 Go full cheapskate (but in style)
You’d be shocked how good free streaming is these days. Yeah, there are ads, but you don’t get a bill.
- Tubi: Classic movies, thrillers and more ’90s vibes than a Delia’s catalog.
- Pluto TV: News, sitcoms, reality reruns and channels you didn’t know you missed.
- The Roku Channel: Solid flicks and weirdly addictive Roku originals.
- Plex: It started as a way to stream your own stuff, now it offers tons of free content.
- Kanopy & Hoopla: If you’ve got a library card, you’ve got access to tons of award-winning movies, docs and even binge-worthy TV. Free. Legit. No strings.
🎯 Question of the day
Stream and shout: Netflix, Disney+ and others are quietly hiking prices in what analysts are calling “streamflation.” Before you mindlessly click “auto-renew,” take five minutes to review your subscriptions, cancel what you don’t use and renegotiate what you do. Consider this your friendly PSA: Check your bills at the end of the month, so they don’t sneak up on you.
$12.99 per month
That’s the new price of Apple TV+, up from $9.99. If you’re already subscribed, you’ll see the price change 30 days after your next renewal date. Some good news? Yearly TV+ subscriptions and the Apple One services bundle aren’t changing. At least not yet. Enjoy it while it lasts.
💸 Stop paying for Microsoft 365: Use free alternatives like LibreOffice instead. To cancel your subscription, sign in on Microsoft’s website. Go to My Microsoft account (top right) > Subscriptions > Microsoft 365 > Manage > Cancel subscription, then scroll down and click I don’t want my subscription. Money saved. Score.
💦 Money leak alert: I saved $435 with Rocket Money just by canceling subscriptions I completely forgot about. It’s shocking how much we waste on autopilot. Find out where your money’s going at RocketMoney.com/kim.
Grandma’s little genius: A 13-year-old from California out-invented the Life Alert people. Kevin Tang built “FallGuard,” a $30 camera system that spots falls, using an algorithm he coded himself. No necklaces, no subscriptions, no forgetting to charge your smartwatch. He built it after his grandma’s fall caused brain damage. He’s got $25K and a waiting list. Go Kevin!
Speaking of: Got Amazon Prime? You might have a (small) check headed your way. Amazon’s shelling out $2.5 billion to settle claims it trapped users in sneaky Prime subscriptions. Payouts max at $51 each, covering members from 2019 to 2025. If you used your Prime benefits three times or fewer in any 12-month period, you’ll automatically get a payment (no claim needed) by Dec. 24, 2025. If you’re not in that group but eligible to file, a third-party claims administrator will email or mail instructions by Jan. 23, 2026.
Stop wasting money! Most of us pay for subscriptions we forgot about. Rocket Money finds them, tracks them and helps you cancel what you don’t need. I saved $435 on my first try. See how much you’ll save!
Stop wasting money! Most of us pay for subscriptions we forgot about. Rocket Money finds them, tracks them and helps you cancel what you don’t need. I saved $435 on my first try. See how much you’ll save!
You might be paying for subscriptions you don’t even remember. Rocket Money tracks them all and helps you cancel what you don’t need. The first time I used it, I saved $435. Give it a try and see how much you save!
🍏 Turn off iPhone auto-renewals: Subscriptions like streaming apps can sneak up and hit you with surprise charges if you forget to cancel. Go to Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions, then find the ones you want to stop under Active. Tap Cancel Subscription. FYI: If you’ve prepaid, you’ll still have access until the listed date.
Stop overpaying for subscriptions: I use Rocket Money to track all my recurring payments. It shows everything in one place and makes it easy to cancel the ones I don’t need anymore. The first time I used it, I saved $435! Start saving today!
Find the subscriptions you forgot about: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
You might be paying for subscriptions you don’t even remember. Rocket Money tracks them all and helps you cancel what you don’t need. The first time I used it, I saved $435. Give it a try and see how much you save!
Manage iPhone subscriptions: Apple makes it easy to forget what you’re paying for. Go to Settings, tap your name and select Subscriptions. You’ll see a list of everything active. Choose See All Plans to check for cheaper tiers, or tap Cancel Subscription to drop it completely.
Find the subscriptions you forgot about: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
Find the subscriptions you forgot about: I use Rocket Money, an app that finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel anything you don’t want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $435!
Fur-get hide-and-seek: Whistle dog GPS trackers are shutting down on Aug. 31. Why? Rival Tractive bought them. Trade in your old Whistle for a free Tractive tracker by Sept. 30. Subscriptions roll over, but warranties don’t.
It’s the subscriptions, dummy
From free trials to forgotten apps, it all adds up fast. If you’re looking to save money, start with your subs.