Learn to do the streaming shuffle to enjoy boxsets without signing up to several platforms at once

The return of longer nights isn’t all bad if it means we can enjoy guilt-free bingeing on our favourite box sets again. Between them, the streaming giants provide almost every film, book adaptation and TV series you can think of.

But, while signing up to several providers at once means you’ll never miss out, chances are you’re paying for access to more entertainment than you’re ever likely to actually watch.

Who hasn’t signed up to a platform to catch whatever new hit show everyone is raving about, and then not logged in again for weeks because nothing else on there appeals? That’s how your subscription collection quietly builds up, which can get expensive.

A standard Netflix plan without adverts is currently £10.99 a month, as is Disney Plus. It’s £6.99 a month each for Apple TV and £8.99 for Amazon Prime.

Those four subscriptions alone add up to nearly £38 a month — or an eye-watering £456 over a year. Which is a lot to pay to become so overwhelmed with choice you end up spending more time surfing for inspiration than actually watching anything!

This is where learning to do the TV streaming shuffle comes in — get it right, and you can save money without limiting your access to programmes you enjoy. Here’s how, in six easy steps:

1. First, cancel all your streaming subscriptions. The great benefit of paying up front for these monthly contracts is that you can cancel and restart them at any time, without penalty.

You will still have however many days left on each contract to keep viewing. But, from here onwards you will no longer pay for a platform that you’re not actually using.

2. What do you want to watch? Make a list of the latest must-see shows along with the name of the platform streaming them.

Ask family and friends for recommendations, seek out online reviews and watch some trailers for the programmes on YouTube to help guide your choices.

3. Armed with your list, decide what you want to watch first. If you’ve got several must-sees on one platform, then that’s the one you should sign back up to first.

You might even have enough days left on the contract you’ve just cancelled to watch them without paying out anything for now.

4. At the end of the month, you will be prompted to sign up and pay up again for access. Is there more you want to watch on this platform? Or are you ready to move on to another series on another channel?

Paying to watch programmes like Derry Girls (above) on Netflix? You could be watching it for free on Channel 4, and saving yourself money in the process

5. Whichever firm you next sign up to, cancel immediately, so you don’t throw cash away by letting it auto-renew.

6. Check whether any of the films or series on your wish list are being screened elsewhere for free. Google will tell you which platform most shows are currently showing on, and whether they’re free to view.

For example, you can currently pay to watch the Derry Girls box sets on Netflix, but they’re free to view on Channel 4. The Good Liar, starring Helen Mirren, costs £3.09 on Amazon Prime, but is free on BBC iPlayer.