Living without cable

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Benny The Jet's avatar

Benny The Jet

Senior Member

2,987 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:38 AM
Have always had cable my whole life and watched a good amount of TV. About a week ago, we got rid of it to save money. Only have the basics, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS. This might be the best decision ever. Find myself obviously watching less TV, the TV I do watch is usually the news now, I'm reading more, taking the dog on more walks, gettin to the gym more often and for longer times. I highly suggest this if you want to be more active.
Anyone do the same thing? If so what do you find yourself doing more of now that you're not watching TV as much, besides more time on freehuddle?
Jan 6, 2010 7:38am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:43 AM
We currently have basic cable but disconnect the service each summer for three months. TV just isn't that important and I think you'll find you don't miss that much.

I can't believe how much some folks can and do watch TV. I just don't have that much free time even if I wanted to.
Jan 6, 2010 7:43am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:45 AM
What if you have young children? Oh, and a nagging wife.
Jan 6, 2010 7:45am
Benny The Jet's avatar

Benny The Jet

Senior Member

2,987 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:52 AM
ernest_t_bass wrote: What if you have young children? Oh, and a nagging wife.
Ha, luckily I just have a roommate who doesn't care. Maybe netflix?
Jan 6, 2010 7:52am
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Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:53 AM
I have two children and a wife. That's why I don't have time to watch TV!!
Jan 6, 2010 7:53am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:54 AM
We went without cable for a year when I was younger. At the time I didn't care because I was always outside or at a friends house when I wasn't at school. Now...I couldn't do it. I love my TV shows. I know they take up a lot of time but it's something I really enjoy and don't want to give up.
Jan 6, 2010 7:54am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 6, 2010 7:55 AM
Honestly, I think getting rid of cable, and possibly... GASP... internet, might be a very good solution to a lot of things.

We could spend more quality time together as a family, and I could read more. However, I would get more nagging, I'm sure. But, hey... I could take the dog on more walks. Possibly some week-long walks.
Jan 6, 2010 7:55am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Jan 6, 2010 8:22 AM
Basic $15 per month cable....That includes all local channels in HD, some extras like Travel, Bravo, etc.....

I use the PS3 and the PlayOn program for streaming content from Hulu and a few other sites....I kind of use it like a DVR, if I miss an episode, it's there the next day in TV/DVD quality.

Internet is something I could not get rid of....I love it. Plus I play on Xbox Live or PSN a few nights per week for fun/stress relief...
Jan 6, 2010 8:22am
V

visionquest

Senior Member

206 posts
Jan 6, 2010 8:25 AM
I've done this before. What it forces me to do is listen to more music...which is nice.
Jan 6, 2010 8:25am
sej's avatar

sej

Senior Member

540 posts
Jan 6, 2010 8:25 AM
I haven't had cable in nearly 5 years, and I don't miss it. Typically I watch (or at least listen to) the news while I'm making dinner, but that's the only show I regularly watch. It drives me crazy when my friends say they can't do XYZ because a certain show is on at that time.

When I do have the opportunity to watch cable, it's typically Food Network or Discovery.
Jan 6, 2010 8:25am
RedRider1's avatar

RedRider1

Senior Member

3,850 posts
Jan 6, 2010 8:41 AM
Thought about it...cable company has their hooks in deep with us...basic cable, dvr, internet and phone.

Thought about cutting the phone and saving $30/mo. and just having cell phones....would probably keep the cable and the internet.
Jan 6, 2010 8:41am
M

muffy

Senior Member

128 posts
Jan 6, 2010 9:00 AM
Earlier this morning I started thinking about going back to basic cable, rates are to go up again soon and I've just had enough. There are channels I'll miss but it is just costing too much money.
Jan 6, 2010 9:00am
Apple's avatar

Apple

Prost!

2,620 posts
Jan 6, 2010 9:06 AM
I haven't had cable since the first Gulf War. We actually got rid of it because we were having kids. Probably the only thing I miss is ESPN.
Jan 6, 2010 9:06am
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cbus4life

Ignorant

2,849 posts
Jan 6, 2010 9:52 AM
I just have basic cable and internet.

Couldn't go without the internet, but cable i could probably get rid of.

But, basic cable is so cheap it really doesn't make a difference, getting rid of the internet is what would save money.
Jan 6, 2010 9:52am
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:17 AM
I have full cable and internet. The great thing about it is DVR. I don't sit in front of the TV a lot, I catch shows when I can through my DVR. About the only thing I watch live is sports. TV doesn't keep me in the house. I love cable and won't cut it out of my budget unless I had too for financial reasons.
Jan 6, 2010 10:17am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:21 AM
RedRider1 wrote:
Thought about cutting the phone and saving $30/mo. and just having cell phones....would probably keep the cable and the internet.
My wife and I are 23 and when we got married and moved into our home last year, we just stuck with cell phones and haven't missed it one bit....Since then both of our parents have dropped their land line and they don't mis it either....Almost everyone carries a cell phone in each family all of the time....
Jan 6, 2010 10:21am
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:23 AM
I haven't used a LAN line in 6 years, only cell phone.
Jan 6, 2010 10:23am
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:51 AM
I haven't had a land line or cable for 6 years. The only reason I would want it is for ESPN/Big10 network.
Jan 6, 2010 10:51am
Thunder70's avatar

Thunder70

Senior Member

748 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:52 AM
I love DirecTV mostly because of what Fab said..the dvr. not sure how I watched tv without it...
Jan 6, 2010 10:52am
TBone14's avatar

TBone14

Senior Member

6,383 posts
Jan 6, 2010 10:57 AM
Fab1b wrote: I have full cable and internet. The great thing about it is DVR. I don't sit in front of the TV a lot, I catch shows when I can through my DVR. About the only thing I watch live is sports. TV doesn't keep me in the house. I love cable and won't cut it out of my budget unless I had too for financial reasons.
This. Especially the "tv doesn't keep me in the house" part. I do what I do and the DVR picks me up.
Jan 6, 2010 10:57am
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fan_from_texas

Senior Member

2,693 posts
Jan 6, 2010 11:10 AM
We're debating about dropping our basic cable (going from $44/mo. to $49/mo.). But we went out last year and finally got a new TV (old one wouldn't work anymore), so it seems like a bit of a waste to have a nice tv but work the rabbit ears for a signal. I guess we could probably cut out our landline, too, as I don't remember the last time we've actually used it. Now that I think of it, spending $20/mo. on that really does seem like a bit of a waste.
Jan 6, 2010 11:10am
Benny The Jet's avatar

Benny The Jet

Senior Member

2,987 posts
Jan 6, 2010 11:16 AM
fan_from_texas wrote: We're debating about dropping our basic cable (going from $44/mo. to $49/mo.). But we went out last year and finally got a new TV (old one wouldn't work anymore), so it seems like a bit of a waste to have a nice tv but work the rabbit ears for a signal. I guess we could probably cut out our landline, too, as I don't remember the last time we've actually used it. Now that I think of it, spending $20/mo. on that really does seem like a bit of a waste.
Was in a similar situation, have about a 1 year old 42' HD tv, but we bought the HD antenna reciever things by Phillips and get the NBC,CBS,FOX,ABC channels in high def now, so don't feel like it was a waste.
Jan 6, 2010 11:16am
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
Jan 6, 2010 11:48 AM
fan_from_texas wrote: We're debating about dropping our basic cable (going from $44/mo. to $49/mo.). But we went out last year and finally got a new TV (old one wouldn't work anymore), so it seems like a bit of a waste to have a nice tv but work the rabbit ears for a signal. I guess we could probably cut out our landline, too, as I don't remember the last time we've actually used it. Now that I think of it, spending $20/mo. on that really does seem like a bit of a waste.
Check and see if your cable provide offers basic CATV....Just the cable line into the TV, that's it..No boxes, etc., just the cable.

That's what I have for $15 per month, I get all the main stations in perfect HD, 10-15 other standard channels including travel, hallmark, bravo, and as I mentioned above I stream anything else I want with the PS3.
Jan 6, 2010 11:48am
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Jan 6, 2010 12:09 PM
I like cable, but they screw you over half the time.

Whenever get my own place I'm thinking about Direct TV
Jan 6, 2010 12:09pm
Thunder70's avatar

Thunder70

Senior Member

748 posts
Jan 6, 2010 12:11 PM
DirecTV is the way to go. I love it and haven't had a single problem...
Jan 6, 2010 12:11pm