Maximise your TV viewing at home during lockdown without forking out a fortune with our top tips

DON’T know about you, but I’ve been watching A LOT more telly lately.

Reports show TV viewing has risen by 22 per cent during lockdown.

But binge-watchers will know that with TV packages come extra costs.

So if you don’t fancy forking out a fortune to sit in front of the telly, I’ve got some savvy tips to help streamline your bills . . .

SPLIT MAKES SENSE: Sharing your Netflix account with others is an easy way to save dosh. People living in the same house can use one plan at the same time with a standard or premium account. Splitting the cost of a premium plan (£11.99) between four of you would cost £2.99 each — saving you £6 each compared to a personal basic package, which costs £8.99 each.

GIVE IT A TRIAL: Only want to binge-watch a couple of shows? Netflix offers a 30-day trial period for its premium plan, worth up to £11.99 per month. Amazon Prime also has a 30-day trial, and Now TV has a seven-day option. Just don’t forget to cancel your subscription at the end.

GET SPECIFIC: I am a fan of Freesat for my main channels and using services such as Now TV to catch specific extras, such as films. You can get Sky Cinema on the service, with a seven-day free trial (£11.99 a month afterwards.) It’s also great for kids — there’s a Kids’ Pass available (also with a seven-day freebie) which costs £3.99 a month after the trial period.

PAY AS YOU GO: A pay-per-view service is a much cheaper option if you only tune in every now and then. Virgin Media users can enjoy Virgin Movies, which has 500-plus titles from £3.99. Sign up to Rakuten for free-to-rent TV series from £9.99 and films from £3.49. Google Play is another option, with downloads starting from just 99p.

RENT FOR LESS: If you’re with Sky, check out the Sky Store. There are hundreds of films that you can either rent or buy to keep — it’s a great option if you don’t want to splash out on other subscriptions. At the moment its spring sale has some top ­discounts. Family favourite The Cat In The Hat is just £1.99.

BRAND NEW: If lockdown has made you realise your TV is rather old or even too small, maybe it’s time for a new one. At ao.com you can bag a 65in Toshiba Smart TV for £399, down from £499. It comes with all the apps and streaming services, you just need to log in to your accounts.

• PRICES correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

LIDL has launched a huge kids’ outdoor play range in stores.

You can bag a bouncy castle for £34.99 plus a Deimos climbing dome for £69.99, usually £199.99.

Cheap treat

BEN and Jerry’s ice cream tubs – including Cookie Dough – are on offer for £3 at The Co-op, down from £5.

SAVE: £2

Top swap

TELLY time in my house means snacks. But rather than pay £24.99 for the VonShef popcorn maker on Amazon, get the American Originals version for £17.99 at Argos.co.uk.

SAVE: £7

Shop and save

SLIMFAST Chunky Chocolate flavour shake is reduced to £4.97 from £7.25 at groceries.asda.com.

SAVE: £2.28

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