6 ways to save money on home entertainment

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in The Penny Hoarder.

Sometimes you want to head downtown, grab dinner and a glass of wine, and enjoy the nightlife.

And sometimes you just want to stay overnight (or weekend), lounge on the couch, watch your favorite TV show or sports team, or just cuddle with your dog or a good book.

If you’re in the mood for a night like that, we have great news for you.

Stay indoors without wasting your budget on streaming services, cable subscriptions, and expensive audiobooks. Method is as follows.

1. Download the free TV app

With so many streaming options available today, you don’t have to pay expensive cable bills. Many streaming services charge their own subscription fees, but some TV apps are completely free.

If you want to keep your costs down to $0, download these free TV apps. While you may not have access to the latest shows on the air, there are services for movie lovers, kids, gamers, anime fans, and anyone who enjoys classic TV shows.

2. Ditch the cables for streaming services

Cutting the cord is a great way to keep your monthly expenses down, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the perks of watching live shows and programming.

These streaming options let you watch live TV starting at around $35/month. The first month is half that price. Many also offer DVR functionality, much like cable companies do, so you can record an episode if you can’t watch it when it’s airing.

3. Watch NFL games without cables

If you’re a sports fan, you might be using cable so you can watch every game of the season. However, there are many ways to watch an NFL game without an expensive cable package.

Stream games from the NFL Network or purchase NFL Game Pass or NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally, there are several streaming services that let you watch football games starting at $5/month.

4. The Big Controversy: Fire Stick vs. Roku

When switching from cable to streaming for the first time, the question arises as to which platform should be used to stream content.

Amazon Fire Stick and Roku are two very popular options. We analyze the highlights of both Fire Stick and Roku to help you choose the best one for you.

5. Make cheap audiobooks

Reading interesting books is a great way to pass the time. Audiobooks are even better because you can basically have them read to you while you’re driving, jogging, doing housework, etc.

With these 9 options for finding affordable audiobooks, you can build your private (virtual) library without dropping $25 per hardcover book.

6. Find free library apps

Public libraries offer a wealth of resources, but you don’t have to get in the car and drive to the nearest library to access them all.

Free library apps like Hoopla and OverDrive give you free access to books, movies, music, and online training programs. Also, no one says “shhh” if you talk too loud when deciding what to check first.