Australians are spending $3.85bn a month to stay connected and entertained

If you’re looking for ways to save money in 2022 consider this: the average Australian spends $150 a month on streaming services, internet and mobile phone plans.

According to research by Reviews.org, Australians collectively are spending $3.8bn every month to stay connected and entertained.

We spend the most on our home internet connection – $2,056,347,200 per month which works out at about $80 per person.

Mobile spending is next at $1,156,695,300 or $45 a month per person.

Streaming services, our newest monthly expense runs at $642,608,500 a month or $25 per person.

Over the course of a lifetime, the average Australian will spend $140,000 for these services.

Interestingly, Australia ranks 83^rd of 211 countries for the most expensive internet and 29^th for the cheapest mobile plans.

The start of a new year is a perfect time to take stock of our spending and check to see if we can get a better deal.

Reviews.org has suggested some ways to save money including making the most of free trials, but just be sure to cancel before the end of the trial period or you’ll get charged for the monthly fee.

When it comes to your mobile phone plan, it’s a good idea to check with your telco if there is a better deal.

Customers tend to stay on the same plan for years, not realising a better deal exists with more data at a cheaper price.

The internet is a necessity but make sure you’re only paying for what you need.

If you leave in a big household, the faster NBN speed tiers are probably a necessary.

But if you live alone or with your partner, a lower speed tier might be more appropriate – and cheaper.

There are lots of choices when it comes to streaming services, but do you need all of them?

Reviews.org says take note of the shows you want to watch and subscribe only to that service when it’s available before switching to another one to catch other programs a month or two later.

“Australians spend a huge amount of money per month on staying connected, but sometimes we’re not even aware of how much we pay per month, per year, or across our lifetime,” says Kate Reynolds, Digital Content Editor at Reviews.org.

“It’s easy to lose track of how much we spend on phone, internet and streaming bills. We pay them separately, so often don’t realise the total spend when all added up.

“Luckily, there are ways to reduce your costs and bring that number down.

“It’s easier to save money on staying connected than you think.”