Got rid of cable, it's almost been a year!

[mom2alix]

For those who can't cut the cord due to sports, Dish is coming out with a new streaming package that includes ESPN. It's going to be $20

 

[dawnhaze]

Nobody in my household watches sports, so it was no issue to cut our $190 cable bill down to $70 for upgraded speed internet only. If anything, we're happier now because Netflix works better on the faster connection!

 

[Ranger111]

For those who can't cut the cord due to sports, Dish is coming out with a new streaming package that includes ESPN. It's going to be $20

Really, wowwww....I am really cheap...so odds are I may pass, but this is a temptation. A real temptation. Darn it Mom2Alix....

Oh, but wait....that would be $20 per month, I guess. And, I only want to watch like three games a year (O.K., maybe six)....so still a deal killer....$220 for six games is a bit steep.

 

[RooRach0906]

We cut Dish a year ago and other than the hallmark Christmas movies we have not missed it. We spend more time together as a family and DD watches a lot less tv. DH was complaining when we had Dish that he paid all this money for tv and there was never anything on.

We had Netflix when we had Dish so that wasn't an extra charge. We had to buy a more expensive antenna ($100) because we live out an hour from the city. I also purchase 4 shows as a season pass because they are my favorites. ($25 for 2 and $15 for 2) and we did add Hulu $8 but even with that averages out to $23 a month (including the antenna) that is a savings of $63 a month and $756 a year which isn't a vacation but it is extra spending money for vacation.

Overall we are extremely happy with our decision but know it isn't for everyone.

 

[Lavaluma]

We have been using antenna for television since 2006. We pay $66 a month on high speed internet service and we pay for Netflix streaming and Amazon Prime. While there are some shows we would like to watch on cable or satellite, we have more than enough television options without the extra costs and are able to watch them eventually on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Just on antenna television, we have 42 channels. DH watches PBS shows to replace his history shows. The kids watch PBS kids or Qubo, which both show kid appropriate cartoons 24 hours a day. We're able to watch enough sports on the local channels. We were even able to watch most of the World Cup matches on Univision last summer.
Honestly though, we don't watch enough television to miss cable television or satellite. As internet is necessary for DH's work and Amazon Prime is for the other benefits, Netflix is our only cost for watching television shows or movies.

 

[aprilchem]

Really, wowwww....I am really cheap...so odds are I may pass, but this is a temptation. A real temptation. Darn it Mom2Alix....

Oh, but wait....that would be $20 per month, I guess. And, I only want to watch like three games a year (O.K., maybe six)....so still a deal killer....$220 for six games is a bit steep.

It's a month-to-month service - you can apparently cancel (and re-sign up) any time you want.

 

[smokeyblue]

I cut out cable TV a few months ago. Our provider was going "all digital" and I would have to pay for a box if I wanted to continue their service. In the end I'm probably saving about $35/month. It isn't a lot of savings, but I run a very tight budget so it can go a long way for me!

 

[KKB]

We are a HUGE sports family...NE Husker fans, son is at TCU. DH watches college/pro football/basketball/baseball plus golf. Honestly, almost all he watches is sports. ESPN alone would not be enough (is it ALL the ESPN channels?). Sometimes things are on BTN, you just never know.

So $100 for Direct TV (2 receivers, no extras), $45 for internet isn't bad. We still have $30 land line; used to need it for both of these, but I don't think we need it for either anymore. Have been pestering DH to call & check, but hasn't yet.

I have been on a mission to cut any costs that we are overpaying for. (emailed Rhapsody last week...we had been paying $14.99 for 3 devices; that service is now $9.99. They immediately changed it and gave me a month free--pays to ask!) DH also returned some items to JCP a day after the bill was due (he didn't know...). The bill was zero after the return (at 10AM after the bill was due)...EXCEPT for the late fee. Called, politely told my story--asked if they could keep DH off my list--YEP, they waived the late fee. ALWAYS WORTH AN ASK!

 

[Ranger111]

For those who can't cut the cord due to sports, Dish is coming out with a new streaming package that includes ESPN. It's going to be $20

http://www.cnet.com/news/dish-launc...ith-channel-lineup-that-includes-espn-disney/

A pretty good overview for anyone interested.

 

[mindygirl5238]

We got rid of cable in 2006 & it took us maybe a week or two to get over it, LOL. We haven't missed it since. We do have Netflix & Hulu, which together it think costs us $16/month...let's just round up to $20 for argument sake. That is still WAY cheaper than the cheapest cable package around here, which is $70/month...and that is if you have their internet service too.

Honestly, cost wasn't our #1 reason for axing it. We felt we were spending way too much time in front of the t.v. & decided that just wasn't what we wanted for our family.

 

[gofordrew]

I really want to give up the cable but I'm just a huge sports fan. There's a new thing Dish is doing thats $20 a month and comes with Espn, Espn2 and some other channels, but then I still have to buy internet through Comcast so wouldn't even end up saving much.

 

[Sleepy425]

We cut cable a couple years ago. We pay for Netflix and a friend pays for a Roku account and we all share the two. My husband built an antenna.
We were up to almost $90/month for cable and Internet. We were down to $30 for Internet, but this last month it went up to $35.
So $55 savings, but we pay $8/month for the Netflix (or is it $9?). Either way about $45 savings per month - that is more than half of our DVC dues per month!

 

[Sleepy425]

We cut cable a couple years ago. We pay for Netflix and a friend pays for a Roku account and we all share the two. My husband built an antenna.
We were up to almost $90/month for cable and Internet. We were down to $30 for Internet, but this last month it went up to $35.
So $55 savings, but we pay $8/month for the Netflix (or is it $9?). Either way about $45 savings per month - that is more than half of our DVC dues per month!

 

[Disneychick75]

My husband and I enjoy premium series like Homeland and Ray Donovan. This is what has kept us from giving up cable. I did see that both HBO and Showtime plan to go stand alone, e.g. without cable/dsl this year. Crossing my fingers because I think we will cancel both our home phone and tv next week. Our internet will be $59.99 with net flix and amazon prime, it will be right about $75. We're paying over $220/month for the bundle. It will mean a savings of about $1700. Plus we've been paying the same for our college aged daughter and she's done so that will add another $2640 in savings just on cable/tv/internet bundle!

 

[buckirj1]

I got rid of cable television service after my 20-some year-old tv finally died a few years ago. I never got around to buying another tv. I can stream most anything I want to watch onto the laptop from the free version of hulu, pbs, or the major networks, and can go to a bar for the rare sporting event I'd watch. I'm considering subscribing to the pay version of hulu to have more options, but it'll probably be awhile before I buy another television.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Are Walking Dead, Survivor and Amazing Race all available, as they air on cable, via other sources?

That is really the only reason we keep cable We have Apple TV (don't even have it hooked up, only tried it once, didn't like it) and Netflix. As long as we can still see those three, we could cut cable!

 

[Lavaluma]

Are Walking Dead, Survivor and Amazing Race all available, as they air on cable, via other sources?

If you can use an antenna or rabbit ears, Survivor and Amazing Race are on CBS over the air. We watch Walking Dead on Netflix about a season behind. We just ignore spoilers and wait until it is released on Netflix and binge watch the entire season. If you want to watch it as the season airs, you can pay per episode or season on Amazon.

 

[smokeyblue]

If you can use an antenna or rabbit ears, Survivor and Amazing Race are on CBS over the air. We watch Walking Dead on Netflix about a season behind. We just ignore spoilers and wait until it is released on Netflix and binge watch the entire season. If you want to watch it as the season airs, you can pay per episode or season on Amazon.

I'm just "learning" how to live without the shows I like until they are on Netflix or available for purchase (HBO & Showtime). My house is nestled low between several houses and very tall trees so I would have to get a super antenna to pick up the network channels, so I have to try to watch Survivor and Amazing Race on the CBS web-site; their streaming works poor and is a bit of a pain, but it does the job.

 

[hsmamato2]

We cut the cord a few years back.... we get plenty of channels with a decent attic antenna + a standalone dvr box...add Netflix and Amazon and I will never watch all the choices! Once in a while our tv gets pixel-y due to wind,etc but nothing major, and I like saving 550.00 per year. (yes, I definitely put that into my vacation fund!) Even without the streaming options, an antenna is plenty for us.

 

[wenrob]

For those saying they are streaming major networks, how are you doing this? Most networks have gone to having to sign into your cable account in order to stream. If there is a way around this, I'd cut cable in a heartbeat.

Admittedly I am the TV junkie in this house. I like to watch "my shows" during the current season and am 100% spoiled by my Tivo. We don't subscibe to any premium channels but my bill IMO is ridiculous. As someone mentioned it started out as $39 but over the years has risen to $89. Then you add in Internet and phone (which they won't let me get rid of) and I just hate that bill every month. There are zero incentives or deals for long time customers and really no others providers that are any better.

I've looked into season passes and streaming services but when added up my savings really wouldn't be that much and we'd lose the channels my DH and kids enjoy. Science Channel, History Channel, Nick, Cooking Channel, TV Land (okay, that's me ) etc. All of those plus the major networks require me to sign in with my cable account in order to stream.