Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe’s Acclaimed Animated Romance ‘In Waves’ is Heading to Netflix

While the acquisition of acclaimed titles like *In Waves* confirms that Netflix is willing to spend big dollars to secure premium content, savvy viewers shouldn't mistake Hollywood spending for personal savings. The message here for your budget is simple: streaming services are increasing the perceived value of their libraries, which makes it harder than ever to justify keeping multiple services running.

This kind of high-profile acquisition doesn't mean you need to add another subscription just to catch up. Instead, it reinforces the need for smart viewing habits. If you are excited about animated, emotionally rich content, don't automatically pay for a service just because a big movie lands there. Instead, adopt a "subscription rotation" model.

Before committing to a full month of any service, check if a limited-time free trial or a single-service bundle could cover your viewing needs. By rotating your main subscriptions—say, enjoying Netflix for a month, then pausing it to enjoy Disney+ for the next month—you can access premium, award-winning content without paying the combined cost of three or four platforms. Keep an eye on those ad-supported tiers; sometimes the savings of skipping the premium fee far outweigh the occasional missing feature.