Cheaper plan-on fixed income

Question

I’m elderly and receiving social security each month. Is there a cheaper, pay by month plan. I am trying to keep the things I use because I am confined to my home because of my health. Please advise?

Thanks,

Christina Goshen

Answer 1

There isn’t information in the provided context about special senior or fixed‑income discounts, but there are a few ways to reduce what is paid while still using Microsoft 365 features:

1. Check which subscription is actually needed
   If desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, etc.) are not required, a lower-cost plan such as Microsoft 365 Basic may be enough. It provides 100 GB of OneDrive storage and access to the web versions of Office apps in a browser, which can be cheaper than Microsoft 365 Personal/Family that include installable apps.
2. Use monthly billing instead of annual
   For many Microsoft 365 plans, billing can be switched from annual to monthly so the cost is spread out. This is managed from the Microsoft account services page for the subscription. Monthly billing usually costs slightly more over a full year, but it can be easier to fit into a monthly Social Security budget.
3. Avoid paying for more than one subscription
   If more than one Microsoft 365 subscription is being paid for under different email addresses, canceling the extra one reduces costs. Canceling a subscription does not delete the Microsoft account itself; the account and email address remain. The subscription to cancel can be managed from the Subscriptions section of the Microsoft account.
4. Consider downgrading from a higher plan
   If currently on a higher plan (for example, Microsoft 365 Family) and the extra features (like AI Copilot or sharing with multiple people) are not needed, switching to a lower plan (such as a classic or basic tier where available) can reduce the monthly cost. In some regions, Microsoft has offered a “Family Classic” downgrade path that keeps the core apps at a lower price.
5. Cancel auto-renew if the subscription is no longer affordable
   If the subscription cannot be sustained, auto-renewal can be turned off so it does not charge again at the next renewal date. After cancellation, access to premium features will eventually end, but the Microsoft account and email remain, and free web versions of Office apps may still be used with reduced storage.

For any changes (switching plans, changing billing to monthly, or canceling), the subscription is managed from the Microsoft account’s services and subscriptions area.

---

References:

• No license associated with my email account - Microsoft Q&A
• I received an e-mail offering 365 Family Classic option but cannot switch - Microsoft Q&A
• I am paying for two subscriptions - Microsoft Q&A
• Cancel a monthly charge on my visa credit card - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

You can compare subscription licenses at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products?msockid=3d7c9e3dfa2d635a38908822fba26275 .

However, getting a perpetual (one-time payment) license will be cheaper. Office Home 2024 includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint and can be installed for one user on a single computer (either PC or Mac). See https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj .

The cheapest option, by far, is to try open source software such as LibreOffice. You can use it without any charge, and the compatibility with Microsoft Office is rather good.