Giving up cable

[ericamanda01]

With the increase in price coming in Feb. and the outrageous price's already we have, we decided to give up cable. We would rather put the money towards bills and saving. I wanted to know if anyone else has done this and how well programs online work and how easy they are to find.

 

[minnie1928]

Many of the networks put their shows on their websites. Or you can use hulu to watch your favorite shows. Another thing to consider is getting netflix so that you can stream content to your pc. For only $9/month you can stream movies and tv shows (when they are released to dvd) and get dvds sent to your home.

 

[ericamanda01]

I thought I heard that Hulu was going to start charging. We have a computer hooked up to the tv so we watch a lot of movies from Netflix, I just wished they offered new release that way.

 

[amyy]

My mom gave up most of her cable channels. She pays around $10 a month for 7 or so channels. Before she was paying $50-60 a month. She doesn't do anything online she just does without and has made out fine.

 

[nsmith]

we have never had cable and don't miss it. my kids read more, have great imaginations and are bored with the tv/video kids in our neighborhood. honestly our favorite shows are on network tv, and we don't have programing 24/7 to distract us from life. It is a huge savings that has allowed us to have a "vacation savings" account for years. good luck, you may be surprised to fine some like minded friends.

 

[Disneefun]

I hear you. I just got notice that my package from DirectTv is going up $4 come Feb. I plan to keep it through the Winter Olympics and then heave it to the curb. I go through this every year with their increases, thinking should I keep it or should I let it go. This year I went back to 2005 and looked at my rates. I was paying:

48.29 in 2005
52.42 in 2006
55.50 in 2007
58.70 in 2008
62.05 in 2009
and soon to be +/- 66.00 w/tax in 2010

That's roughly an $18 increase in five years. It doesn't seem like much, but it's up to almost $800 per year. And the only thing I really watch anymore is sports b/c that's the only thing you really can't get from netflix or online. Well, I think it's time to get over my sports addiction. I'll watch the Olympics and that's it.

 

[NVDisMom]

We dropped cable nearly two years ago. When we really want to watch a network show it is usually available online. We have a fairly expansive collection of dvds and rent the newest from Redbox when we know we want to see it but probably will not watch it repeatedly. Honestly, we spend so little time in front of the tv. We read, play games, play or listen to music, go out and play...Its been much better for the kids. Our only problem has come from school of all places. The teachers at DD12's middle school like to assign programming as homework. No can do in this house. We got a little push back at first, but now they allow her to utilize the internet to research whatever it is everyone else is watching on the tv. Guess who has a more thorough understanding of the topics covered?

 

[ericamanda01]

We looked at what we will save in one year and it's over $950. It's just not worth it anymore. I just think it will be a little weird at first, I have never lived anywhere without cable. Oh well anything to make the bills lower!

 

[peggster]

And the only thing I really watch anymore is sports b/c that's the only thing you really can't get from netflix or online. Well, I think it's time to get over my sports addiction. I'll watch the Olympics and that's it.

I don't have cable, and never have. After the digital conversion earlier this year, I was pleasant surprised to find that my local NBC affiliate had an additional channel called Universal Sports. The programming is primarily Olympic sports (like skiing, swimming, Ironman triathlon, etc.). I don't if they have it where you live, but maybe so.

Good luck to everyone going cable-free! Between the additional digital channels and being able to watch lots of shows online, I don't ever wish I had cable.

 

[Disneefun]

I don't have cable, and never have. After the digital conversion earlier this year, I was pleasant surprised to find that my local NBC affiliate had an additional channel called Universal Sports. The programming is primarily Olympic sports (like skiing, swimming, Ironman triathlon, etc.). I don't if they have it where you live, but maybe so.

I wish. You can get it here if you have TW cable, but it's not on the free lineup of over the air channels. Directv carried it for a little while this summer but then ditched it. I loved it while it was on.

 

[DawnM]

We tried it and went back to getting satellite. We just couldn't hang!

We do budget carefully though and found other ways to cut our monthly billls that would allow us to continue with paying for TV.

But, we don't HAVE to do it. If DH were to lose his job or if I had to do it for a particular reason, I would.

We don't eat out much and we don't go to the movies or to sporting events we have to pay for. For example, we could EASILY drop $70 or more on one meal at Chilis for our family of 5 and that is what we pay for Satellite. I prefer Satellite and a homemade meal.

If you are not a careful budgeter, you might just find yourself transferring that cost to something else, so just be aware.

Dawn

 

[ericamanda01]

We tried it and went back to getting satellite. We just couldn't hang!

We do budget carefully though and found other ways to cut our monthly billls that would allow us to continue with paying for TV.

But, we don't HAVE to do it. If DH were to lose his job or if I had to do it for a particular reason, I would.

We don't eat out much and we don't go to the movies or to sporting events we have to pay for. For example, we could EASILY drop $70 or more on one meal at Chilis for our family of 5 and that is what we pay for Satellite. I prefer Satellite and a homemade meal.

If you are not a careful budgeter, you might just find yourself transferring that cost to something else, so just be aware.

Dawn

We don't go out either, but I think we will have it easier without cable because it's just DH and myself. If we had kids I think then it might be an issue. But he works full time and I am in school full time.

 

[iwynlea]

We got rid of cable last year -- what I miss more than cable is the DVR! Oh, well. We watch hulu a lot, and if not, then most of the networks re-broadcast their shows for at least a week after the original airing. We love the extra $60 a month to pay on the credit card debt!

 

[lovesmurfs]

We gave up cable about 6-7 years ago. DH and I haven't regretted it (just DS16 and DD10) - we subscribe to Blockbuster, and I like not having to watch commercials!

 

[dyna]

We recently went to basic cable only got to have it to get decent tv reception in my area.....DH an I have not missed the stations we no longer have esp not me cause I did not even know how to turn tv on the fancy cable I NEVER EVER watch tv tho. Left up to me prolly would not even own tv.

 

[thefirebuilds]

With the increase in price coming in Feb. and the outrageous price's already we have, we decided to give up cable. We would rather put the money towards bills and saving. I wanted to know if anyone else has done this and how well programs online work and how easy they are to find.

i get TBS and Fox reliably via broadcast. I've been "without" cable for over 2 years now. Internet I pay for in 3 locations, iPhone, netflix, and Satelite Radio but television broadcast is a joke. Why should I be told what I'm entertained by?

 

[AmandaK]

When I became a stay at home mom we gave up cable. Our cable company charged $50 for their regular package. We down graded to the $17 plan which has channel 2, 5, 7, 9, pbs, discovery, tbs, cartoon network, and nick and some local channels. We just started renting the HBO shows and watching other things on youtube.com and hulu. I missed lifetime and some others for awhile, but i got through it and found other things to watch.

 

[neatokimmo]

My bill went from $84 to $20 at the beginning of the month when I dropped cable TV and just kept the modem.

I have digital rabbit ears. I pick up ABC & some other random channel (UPN?). I realize that I don't sit and watch TV, but I like to have the noise in the background while I'm doing household stuff or on the PC.

If anyone has tips on what kind of "rabbit ears" to buy or how to get more channels, that would be cool. DD would love to have PBS, she misses Sid the Science Kid!

 

[Planogirl]

Be careful when you do this. When we didn't have cable for a while we ended up spending more money to go out to eat and shop. We're better off having our dish!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Go work for the cable company, we get about $300 in channels a month and only pay for the HD DVR (the reg is free) just because someone someone in our family works for Comcast, it's awesome!