This is a guest post, so please be kind when commenting or giving feedback. If you’re interested in sharing a helpful tip or hack for the Enlisted Money community, send me a note at hello@enlistedmoney.com. Please enjoy this great write up of how to use military perks to get free streaming services!
Hello everyone, my name is Dane Dye. Brandon has graciously allowed me to make a guest post. In fact, this is my first blog post ever. I have spent around 10 years learning and refining my lifestyle to align with my personal values and ultimate goal of early retirement. I’ve been in the Air Force for 19 years and just recently applied for retirement.
I’ve made good and bad financial decisions over the years, but the good ones have outweighed the bad. I believe consistently making good, small financial decisions or getting “1% better” over time will compound into a rich and fulfilling life where money ends up buying the one resource we can never get enough of—time.
Small Decisions, Big Results
This article is about what I would consider a small, good decision, but improvements like these will help you save money and increase your investment contributions. At the very least, they will free up cash in your budget to put towards things that matter more to you.
Today I want to talk about saving some money on streaming services.
The Rise of Streaming Services
Cord cutting has been all the rage over the last 10 years or so, but now we’ve come full circle. We cut out cable because it was too expensive and lacked good content, so we switched to streaming. Now, there are so many services out there that you’ll end up paying just as much if not more. It’s getting ridiculous! That being said, I’d like to see if we can’t save you some money.
A Special Perk for Military Members
This strategy does require some effort and only works for members who can get the Amex Platinum Card annual fee waived (all active-duty military and spouses through the Military Lending Act).
A Word of Caution
I also want to make it clear to any members struggling with credit card debt: Please do not sign up for more credit cards before you get your personal finance situation sorted out. It’s extremely important to become free of high-interest debt and get on a solid foundation before you attempt this strategy.
Get Your Free Streaming Services
First up is a benefit you receive through the American Express Platinum card. It’s a $240 annual credit (given in $20 a month reimbursements). You must enroll in this benefit, but once you do, you’ll be able to select from the various Disney+ bundles and/or a Peacock subscription. The Disney+ bundles are $16.99 and can include Disney+, Hulu, and either HBO Max or ESPN+.
I chose the bundle with HBO Max because I’m not a big sports fan. Peacock is $7.99 a month, so if you select both, you’ll come out of pocket a few dollars a month. I have two platinum cards, so I pay for Disney+ on one card and Peacock on the other.
You Have TWO AMEX Platinum Cards???
You may be asking yourself how or why I would have two Platinum cards. Well, the short answer is that you get all the benefits of both cards twice. I just converted my Amex green card to a second Platinum card after having the green card for one year. The annual fees are waived for both.
An additional benefit of the Platinum Card is a free Walmart+ subscription. Through Walmart+, you can get Paramount+ for free, or you can get Paramount+ and SHOWTIME as a bundle for $5.49 a month.
Optimize Your Wireless Carrier Perks and Benefits
Next up are streaming services through wireless carriers. I’m not going to go into detail about each one because their benefits change constantly. Currently, the two carriers I prefer are T-Mobile and Verizon.
T-Mobile Plans and Perks
Through T-Mobile’s Go5G Next and Plus Military Plans, you can get Apple TV ($9.99), Netflix with ads ($6.99), and MLB.TV ($119.99 annually), free in-flight WiFi on many domestic flights—YMMV (your mileage may vary), and Hulu (recently added). I travel quite a bit for work, so I’ve used the free in-flight WiFi on American Airlines, Delta, and some United Flights. It’s hit or miss whether it’s fast enough to get anything done. Texting and App messaging have worked well, though.
Verizon Plans and Perks
Verizon is another way to get several streaming services. Through Verizon’s Unlimited Ultimate and Unlimited Plans, you can select bundles ranging from Apple One (Music, TV, Arcade, and iCloud) to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ or the Netflix and HBO Max bundle. Now, there’s a $10 per month upcharge added to your bill for these bundles, but they are optional and still save a few bucks.
AT&T Plans and Perks – or Lack Thereof
Last up is AT&T. I’m giving this one a thumbs down because all I could find is that you might be able to get HBO Max if you have a qualifying plan, but this carrier has some catching up to do to be competitive with the other two major carriers.
Don’t Choose Solely on Streaming Perks
We’ll avoid discussing each carrier’s other perks. They change so often that it would be hard to continuously update this page. I also recommend going with the carrier that has the best coverage in your area.
Small Savings Add Up
The savings may seem small, but just remember: according to the 4% rule, for every $100 you cut in expenses every month, you need $30,000 less in retirement. This has the dual benefit of giving you an extra $1,200 a year to invest or spend on things more important to you.