Living without cable

Serious Business Backup 30 replies 758 views
Benny The Jet's avatar
Benny The Jet
Posts: 2,987
Jan 6, 2010 7:38am
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?
C
Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
Jan 6, 2010 7:43am
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.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Jan 6, 2010 7:45am
What if you have young children? Oh, and a nagging wife.
Benny The Jet's avatar
Benny The Jet
Posts: 2,987
Jan 6, 2010 7:52am
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?
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Con_Alma
Posts: 12,198
Jan 6, 2010 7:53am
I have two children and a wife. That's why I don't have time to watch TV!!
Fab4Runner's avatar
Fab4Runner
Posts: 6,196
Jan 6, 2010 7:54am
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.
ernest_t_bass's avatar
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
Jan 6, 2010 7:55am
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.
McFly1955's avatar
McFly1955
Posts: 1,441
Jan 6, 2010 8:22am
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...
V
visionquest
Posts: 206
Jan 6, 2010 8:25am
I've done this before. What it forces me to do is listen to more music...which is nice.
sej's avatar
sej
Posts: 540
Jan 6, 2010 8:25am
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.
RedRider1's avatar
RedRider1
Posts: 3,850
Jan 6, 2010 8:41am
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.
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muffy
Posts: 128
Jan 6, 2010 9:00am
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.
Apple's avatar
Apple
Posts: 2,620
Jan 6, 2010 9:06am
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.
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cbus4life
Posts: 2,849
Jan 6, 2010 9:52am
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.
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jan 6, 2010 10:17am
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.
McFly1955's avatar
McFly1955
Posts: 1,441
Jan 6, 2010 10:21am
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....
Fab1b's avatar
Fab1b
Posts: 12,949
Jan 6, 2010 10:23am
I haven't used a LAN line in 6 years, only cell phone.
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
Jan 6, 2010 10:51am
I haven't had a land line or cable for 6 years. The only reason I would want it is for ESPN/Big10 network.
Thunder70's avatar
Thunder70
Posts: 748
Jan 6, 2010 10:52am
I love DirecTV mostly because of what Fab said..the dvr. not sure how I watched tv without it...
TBone14's avatar
TBone14
Posts: 6,383
Jan 6, 2010 10:57am
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.
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fan_from_texas
Posts: 2,693
Jan 6, 2010 11:10am
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.
Benny The Jet's avatar
Benny The Jet
Posts: 2,987
Jan 6, 2010 11:16am
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.
McFly1955's avatar
McFly1955
Posts: 1,441
Jan 6, 2010 11:48am
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.
darbypitcher22's avatar
darbypitcher22
Posts: 8,000
Jan 6, 2010 12:09pm
I like cable, but they screw you over half the time.

Whenever get my own place I'm thinking about Direct TV
Thunder70's avatar
Thunder70
Posts: 748
Jan 6, 2010 12:11pm
DirecTV is the way to go. I love it and haven't had a single problem...