We finally pulled the plug!

[JeremyGNJ]

-We really, really love HBO. The extra price for HBO is worth it to us because we make an at-home "date night" out of our favorite HBO shows. Normal date night would mean hiring a sitter, paying the bill at the restaurant, and movie tickets & snacks (or whatever we end up doing on our date night). HBO saves us time & money! Haha

This is a big one for me too. There's still something fun and romantic about setting aside time on a sunday night to cuddle up and watch "the next episode" of whatever series.

If you can just do it whenever you want, there's a tendency to push it off, or force it in.

That's with $100/month.

 

[DawnM]

Who is Aereo?

I haven't ever heard of them before.

The short answer is that if Aereo wins, the broadcasters could put all their good programs and sports on cable and all you'd be left with is reruns of Maury if you watch via antenna. If the broadcasters win, that means Aereo shuts down.

 

[ilovebassets]

We've been cable free for five years.

Whenever we are in a hotel and I turn on the TV, I'm always amazed that people pay for the stuff that's on. One third of it is ads and most of it is garbage. I don't miss it one bit.

We have rabbit ears for network channels, an apple TV, and netflix. We are golden.

 

[wendow]

This is a big one for me too. There's still something fun and romantic about setting aside time on a sunday night to cuddle up and watch "the next episode" of whatever series.

If you can just do it whenever you want, there's a tendency to push it off, or force it in.

That's with $100/month.

Hmm, we still do this every single Friday night. We just watch the 'next episode' of something on Netflix or Amazon prime...it doesn't matter to us that it's not a current episode We love this time together. Put the kids to bed early and that is our time. We grab some snacks and at only $8 per month (for Netflix), it's a very cheap date night

 

[wendow]

Whenever we are in a hotel and I turn on the TV, I'm always amazed that people pay for the stuff that's on. One third of it is ads and most of it is garbage. I don't miss it one bit.

Me too! We lived in a hotel for 3 1/2 months in 2013 while looking for a house. So we had cable tv for the first time in 9 years. I found myself amazed that I had ever paid for all that. And we found ourselves watching WAY more tv than we were used to. So, I was glad to move and not have cable anymore

 

[MEM]

I would love to dump cable - here in the Boston area we pay $160 a month for Verizon Fios cable (no premium channels), internet and land line. We pay another $150 for three smart phones. Yes, obscene!! Today I looked into cancelling cable and the land line but they don't offer that option - everything seems to be a bundle. I'm guessing this is a regional thing but it is very frustrating. The only thing I watch on cable is HGTV and Food Network but I
could live without them. We do have a Wii and I am an amazon prime member so surely I could access shows l like without cable.

 

[DawnM]

Are you sure? My friends have internet Verizon FIOS only and it is listed on their site.

Also, could you dump FIOS completely and go with cable or DSL?

Dawn

I would love to dump cable - here in the Boston area we pay $160 a month for Verizon Fios cable (no premium channels), internet and land line. We pay another $150 for three smart phones. Yes, obscene!! Today I looked into cancelling cable and the land line but they don't offer that option - everything seems to be a bundle. I'm guessing this is a regional thing but it is very frustrating. The only thing I watch on cable is HGTV and Food Network but I
could live without them. We do have a Wii and I am an amazon prime member so surely I could access shows l like without cable.

 

[MEM]

Are you sure? My friends have internet Verizon FIOS only and it is listed on their site.

Also, could you dump FIOS completely and go with cable or DSL?

Dawn

I plugged in my zip code as instructed on the site and it doesn't offer just the internet. In my community west of Boston it seems we are held hostage by two cable companies - Verizon and Comcast.

DH is going to stop by the Verizon storefront and talk with a live human.

 

[AquaDame]

Cable free since 2006... do not miss it one bit!

 

[ssawka]

Are you sure? My friends have internet Verizon FIOS only and it is listed on their site.

Also, could you dump FIOS completely and go with cable or DSL?

Dawn

Yes, you could but if you have FIOS Internet, I seriously doubt you'd want to switch to Cable Internet. It depends on what you use your Internet for, but no matter what Comcast or any other cable provider tells you, copper cannot compete with fiber for speed.

 

[DawnM]

Let us know what they say.

You at least get to pick between two companies! I get TWC or TWC. No FIOS, no Uverse, nothing.

Dawn

I plugged in my zip code as instructed on the site and it doesn't offer just the internet. In my community west of Boston it seems we are held hostage by two cable companies - Verizon and Comcast.

DH is going to stop by the Verizon storefront and talk with a live human.

 

[DawnM]

Sigh, I can only dream.

My friends in VA just got offered FIOS. They are thrilled.

Dawn

Yes, you could but if you have FIOS Internet, I seriously doubt you'd want to switch to Cable Internet. It depends on what you use your Internet for, but no matter what Comcast or any other cable provider tells you, copper cannot compete with fiber for speed.

 

[Ranger111]

A question (or two) and a comment....

Have been cable/satellite free since 1994! We have OTA service (that is "old school antenna" or "over the air').

We get all the networks (ABC< NBC<FOX<CBS, etc.).

No issues....but....

At times I have been tempted to do a netflix or Amazon streaming service.

But....in the past, when I have hooked up our laptop to the TV and tried to stream March Madness, or Colllege Football, etc. from our DSL computer via WiFi it is so pokey and does that whole buffering thing so much it drives me crazy.

Would not I be facing the same issues with Netflix or Amazon streaming?

 

[Minnesota!]

We cut the cord last Friday...so far, so good. Tired of paying $$ for so little.

Honestly, we have not missed it...we have been playing cards each night, or reading. Will get Roku/Netflix at some point, i am sure. But for the mean time...not missing the tube..

 

[SDSorority]

We haven't had cable since.... wow.... 2008?? Maybe 2009.... I can't even remember now. We don't miss it one bit, way to go OP!

 

[JeremyGNJ]

A question (or two) and a comment....

Have been cable/satellite free since 1994! We have OTA service (that is "old school antenna" or "over the air').

But....in the past, when I have hooked up our laptop to the TV and tried to stream March Madness, or Colllege Football, etc. from our DSL computer via WiFi it is so pokey and does that whole buffering thing so much it drives me crazy.

Would not I be facing the same issues with Netflix or Amazon streaming?

Yes....your internet connection is from 1994 as well! hehe Time to upgrade to Cable/Fiber internet...especially since now things get streamed in HD.

DSL just doesn't cut it.

 

[Ranger111]

Yes....your internet connection is from 1994 as well! hehe Time to upgrade to Cable/Fiber internet...especially since now things get streamed in HD.

DSL just doesn't cut it.

O.K. Thanks Jeremy. I suspected as much.

In my area, (Oregon Coast Mountains) cable is not available. Indeed, I was very surprised when the phone company showed up -- oh, around 2009 or so -- and actually put in the DSL phone lines for all five houses in my area -- and let me say my area is a VERY, VERY large area. Nearest neighbor is just over half a mile away.

So, guess I will just live with my antenna. Thanks again!!!

 

[MillauFr]

Are you sure? My friends have internet Verizon FIOS only and it is listed on their site.

Also, could you dump FIOS completely and go with cable or DSL?

Dawn

Comcast tried to give me the same line of BS that if I canceled cable TV my internet bill would actually be higher that the internet/cable TV bundle. I said fine cancel them both. I told the rep I refuse to pay Comcast more than $40 per month for internet. They found an internet only plan that worked for me.

 

[brymolmom]

That's our problem too. Going to a restaurant every sat and sun in football season would cost more than the directv bill.

Most football games are on regular stations...And we get those with antenna. We only have to go out to the sports bar a couple times a season if the game we want isn't showing.

Also - for those saying 'it will get more expensive' - sure it will - eventually. That's why my theory was cut the cable NOW...while I can still save thousands of dollars before the other charges go up. We've been cable-free for 3 years...We had about $600 in 'start-up' costs (good antenna, PC to hookup to tv, cards to use as 'dvr's' to tape shows, wireless mouse and keyboard)...We made that back in about 8 months....Since then, we've paid under $10 a month for Netflix and that's it. Even if they triple their price in the next 5 years...We have saved a LOT of cash.

And...we watch a LOT of TV. I have 3 shows taping tonight that I will be watching when ds goes to bed.

LOVE being cable-free. And I totally credit this very Budget Board for getting me thinking about it/doing it 3 - 4 years ago.

We also just cut the cord on the landline...Went to OOMA. Have been paying $3.50 instead of $35.00 for the last 3 months.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Most football games are on regular stations...And we get those with antenna. We only have to go out to the sports bar a couple times a season if the game we want isn't

Most of them we watch seem to come on espn and espn2 or fox sports south.
I assume there is no way to get those without paying but I am not technically inclined, so feel free to correct me.