Pulling the Plug on Television
When I first tried to cut my budget, I wanted to cancel cable, and become one of those people who "doesn't watch tv." Well, not that I looked forward to not watching tv, but I mean, it's very clearly a want and not a need, and I wanted to cut out all wants.
The problem with doing that though, is the roommate factor. When roommates move in, they move in with the understanding that they will have television, so I can't cancel it.
Today a notice came in the mail that Comcast is taking over from the crappy cable company we have now. With our current cable company at least one channel is frozen at all times. We only get 30 channels, and 26 and 29 are both the CW. The cable goes out all the time.
So in telling 9am about this upcoming change to Comcast, I mentioned hoping Comcast's rates aren't higher than the shitty company we have now. Which leads to a conversation about how 9am wouldn't be upset if we had no cable at all, and we could just watch dvds instead. Now I am thinking about actually canceling cable. Which means canceling all television. You might have the urge to tell me that I can borrow dvd's from the library, but before you do please know I've already looked at what they have, and it's VERY slim pickings.
What I'm considering is firing back up my Netflix account (you know they'll hold your queue for you for up to two years and just put your account on hold if you can't afford it?) and just ... reading a hell of a lot more. A lot more. To be clear, I watch the old Friends reruns most weekday evenings. Tv and I are friends, really good friends. If I had birthday parties, I wouldn't just invite tv to my party, I'd want it to sit next to me when the cake was being brought out. I'd let tv play with some of my new presents even before I did.
I'm not one of those hippies who uses recycled tampons and rages about hearing that someone uses Clorox Wipes. Who says, "Oh, I don't have time to watch television; I'm way too busy leading a prayer circle for people in prison during any spare time I have." I'm a good person in that while I'm laughing because you tripped, I'm also helping you pick up whatever you dropped. But I still watch tv almost every day.
Basically what I'm saying is that I'm scared. This is a little thing, but it's still a big deal, espeically when you're not working and can't afford to go anywhere. Please tell me your experiences with cutting out television from your life. Feel free to say things to make me feel better about this decision. Because really, if 9am is okay with cutting out cable, I kind of *have* to do it. Hell, if I still had a car, I'd totally be living in that instead of spending so much money on rent. I'd pay for a monthly parking space, a gym membership (showers), and a storage space. Most gyms have televisions after all.
The problem with doing that though, is the roommate factor. When roommates move in, they move in with the understanding that they will have television, so I can't cancel it.
Today a notice came in the mail that Comcast is taking over from the crappy cable company we have now. With our current cable company at least one channel is frozen at all times. We only get 30 channels, and 26 and 29 are both the CW. The cable goes out all the time.
So in telling 9am about this upcoming change to Comcast, I mentioned hoping Comcast's rates aren't higher than the shitty company we have now. Which leads to a conversation about how 9am wouldn't be upset if we had no cable at all, and we could just watch dvds instead. Now I am thinking about actually canceling cable. Which means canceling all television. You might have the urge to tell me that I can borrow dvd's from the library, but before you do please know I've already looked at what they have, and it's VERY slim pickings.
What I'm considering is firing back up my Netflix account (you know they'll hold your queue for you for up to two years and just put your account on hold if you can't afford it?) and just ... reading a hell of a lot more. A lot more. To be clear, I watch the old Friends reruns most weekday evenings. Tv and I are friends, really good friends. If I had birthday parties, I wouldn't just invite tv to my party, I'd want it to sit next to me when the cake was being brought out. I'd let tv play with some of my new presents even before I did.
I'm not one of those hippies who uses recycled tampons and rages about hearing that someone uses Clorox Wipes. Who says, "Oh, I don't have time to watch television; I'm way too busy leading a prayer circle for people in prison during any spare time I have." I'm a good person in that while I'm laughing because you tripped, I'm also helping you pick up whatever you dropped. But I still watch tv almost every day.
Basically what I'm saying is that I'm scared. This is a little thing, but it's still a big deal, espeically when you're not working and can't afford to go anywhere. Please tell me your experiences with cutting out television from your life. Feel free to say things to make me feel better about this decision. Because really, if 9am is okay with cutting out cable, I kind of *have* to do it. Hell, if I still had a car, I'd totally be living in that instead of spending so much money on rent. I'd pay for a monthly parking space, a gym membership (showers), and a storage space. Most gyms have televisions after all.
Labels: 9am, Cash Flow, Tube-Watching
posted by Green at 2/02/2009 11:04:00 PM
17 Comments:
You have a few options.
First of all, most of the shows you watch can be seen for free online. I can email you the good free sites. Secondly, if you really hate not having TV, you can get it again when you're able to. Lastly, if you miss stuff, you can get the DVDs from Netflix when they come out.
I hear you. I lived in Finland for awhile, with no tv, and just about died. Seriously, I was going to slit my wrists at one point. Not because I missed tv, but because I didn't know a soul, and I was alone ALL the time, and tv would have provided a little comfort on that time.
BUT. Try it. Read more. Watch the library's slim pickings. Go online. Personally, Youtube can keep me entertained for HOURS. Good luck.
I had rabbit ears that would get me 2 channels, but the internets saved me. I can find hours and hours of entertainment in front of this computer. I can live without TV, but internet.. Cold, dead hands.
Can you request items from different libraries in the same system? I have been surprised at what the entire system has available, because the library I go to, has nothing. I find tons of great things by searching their website and just placing holds for items.
My parents never had cable at home. Never. They still don't. My first experience with cable was during my senior year of college, and only because the apartment we were renting came with it...right now I'm on my own again and I have no cable.
Frankly, I don't see what's to miss about it. I only get the "free" tv channels, and for the most part those are the ones I watch. If I miss a show most networks have it for free online. If they don't, then the world doesn't end and I end up doing something else.
If it's much cheaper than cable, you can always get Netflix...I think I used to pay about 16 dollars per month for the unlimited-3-at-a-time plan. I used to order a lot of TV seasons (and they have almost EVERYTHING), which kept me busy for a while even if there was nothing on television.
Another option is to visit your library and rent movies/books from there, though I know they are sometimes lacking in good titles. However, it's free.
yes it can be done as long as you have internet. I did it for 10 years w/ rabbit ears (10 channels) but now with hulu.com, netflix and the major channels you can stream most stuff thankfully.
besides writing more, the best part without TV was feeling just a tad more in control of my money...or lack of.
Livin' in the big city you should be able to get good reception with the new digital rabbit ears for the basic channels so you wouldn't be TOTALLY cut off.
I think you'll be ok. The digital rabbit ears work really well and get you the basic channels. Then hulu.com has a lot of good shows, too. We went 4 years without cable - 2 tv addicts who thought if we didn't have cable we wouldn't watch so much tv. Definately not true!
Internet is the only way I watch TV. You'll be okay... you may not be able to watch certain shows right when they air but most shows are available the next day.
I do Netflix for Lost. And other movies. The instant watch thing is pretty cool.
Hub and I have the $5 a month Netflix plan. 1 movie at a time and you can only get I think 2 movies per month? We're cheap. We don't have cable, but we have the "free" channels (PBS for the kid, most importantly). I also watch a lot of the ABC shows online.
But all in all, we don't watch a lot of TV. We flirted with the idea of being a crazy no TV household (as in not even owning one), but that~ was a little scary. Still, if I had internet, I think I could survive.
I love TV like you do and (don't faint!) have NEVER had cable! You may have to buy a converter box for your TV, along with an antenna. That gives me 16 channels - all the major networks and 4 PBS ones. If I can't find something to watch on all those, I know I should be reading! What I'm saying is - you don't have to go cold turkey.
Dude. I feel you. I watch tv way too much and a few years ago, I went about two years without it. I watched a lot of Sex and the City DVDs but honestly didn't miss it after a while. And now, as Nicole said - you can watch everything online. And trust...she DOES have the good sites. I've spent about two weeks working my way through entire series. You can do it. It gets easier with time :)
When your cable goes out, call them and get your cable bill pro-rated down. Time Warner cable down in SoCal is down a lot so I have the customer service on speed-dial and usually get about $10-$15 knocked off each month. Also depends on the customer service rep...one gave me $10 off for 3 months because both the TV and internet were out for a good chunk of the day.
It's easier to face quitting if you lie to yourself. At least, it was easier for me. I swore that cutting cable would get me to the apartment complex's gym, where I could watch cable while I pedaled. It didn't, but I found I could survive quite nicely without it.
Do you have any DVDs you'd like to get rid of? Swapadvd.com lets you trade DVDs with other people if you're willing to pay postage.
Good luck!
I agree with everybody, at least in the comments I've read. You'll have a brief withdrawal period, then it'll be so fun you won't be able to stand it. Or at least, it'll be so bearable you'll totally be able to stand it.
Put $5 of your monthly savings into a Netflix account. Get GNY to e-mail you all the free sites. Use YouTube and stuff. The SFPL sux, don't bother. And don't forget to gloat about your moral superiority! ;)
I believe you can get just the local channels from comcast without any of the extras but they don't advertise it. You might have to ask a representative about the bare bones service. Otherwise, I lived with rabbit ears for years and didn't watch much at all. Reading, computer etc filled my time instead.
I agree. We didn't have cable for like 8 months and survived on downloaded movies and TV shows. it was totally fine. Now we have the whole 60 channel shebang and what do we watch? Family Guy reruns (of which we own every season on DVD) and fraser (which is one of the channels we got on rabbit ears). why are we still paying for this? right... hubby wants to see the sports.
google projectfreetv - that is the way I watch most of my shows! Also, most of the major networks (fox.com, for example) have their new programs available online with like 2 minutes of commercials attached to them. Hulu.com is also a great choice.
I grew up without tv, and I LOVE watching it now - but I ONLY watch online, because then I can watch just teh shows I love, whenever I want, without commercials.
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