Living without cable

• Benny The Jet

  

  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?
• Con_Alma

  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

  

  What if you have young children? Oh, and a nagging wife.
• Benny The Jet

  

  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?
• Con_Alma

  I have two children and a wife. That's why I don't have time to watch TV!!
• Fab4Runner

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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...
• visionquest

  I've done this before. What it forces me to do is listen to more music...which is nice.
• sej

  

  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

  

  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.
• muffy

  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

  

  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.
• cbus4life

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  I haven't used a LAN line in 6 years, only cell phone.
• FatHobbit

  

  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

  

  I love DirecTV mostly because of what Fab said..the dvr. not sure how I watched tv without it...
• TBone14

  

  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.
• fan_from_texas

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  I like cable, but they screw you over half the time.
  
  Whenever get my own place I'm thinking about Direct TV
• Thunder70

  

  DirecTV is the way to go. I love it and haven't had a single problem...