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Here's How Rich You'd Be If You'd Invested $500 in FAANG 6 Years Ago

Damian Davila — Thu, 31 May 2018 09:00:19 +0000

Warren Buffett said it best: "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." One of those big trees in the investing world is FAANG, an acronym for five high-performing technology stocks: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet, Inc.).

Let's find out how a cool $500 investment in FAANG would have fared over a six-year investment period.

2012: Off to a good start

Since Facebook held its initial public offering (IPO) on May 18, 2012, this date will be our starting point. And it's a great one because Facebook's IPO at that time was the largest technology IPO in U.S. history, raising more than $16 billion.

Let's imagine that you allocated exactly $100 to each one of the FAANG stocks. Assuming that you could buy fractions of shares, here's how many shares of FAANG you would have acquired back on May 18, 2012, rounded to the nearest hundredth. In this and all calculations throughout this article, we'll use the closing price.

Facebook: $100 @ $38.23 per share = 2.61 shares
Apple: $100 @ $75.77 per share = 1.32 shares
Amazon: $100 @ $213.85 per share = 0.47 shares
Netflix: $100 @ $9.99 = 10.01 shares
Google: $100 @ $300.50 = 0.33 shares

At the end of 2012, your initial $500 in FAANG would be worth $537, up 7.51 percent mainly due to a 32.43 percent jump in Netflix's stock price over the same period.

2013: Netflix leading the pack

You would have loved watching Netflix's stock price this year, as it went up 297.6 percent year-over-year, closing at $52.60. After 2012, Facebook traded sideways and didn't trade above its IPO price until July 31, 2013. But then it too ended 2013 strong with a 105.30 percent year-over-year increase in price. At the end of 2013, your FAANG portfolio would be worth $1,147.50, up 113.69 percent from the previous year.

2014: A year of stock splits and slow growth

On June 9, 2014, Apple issued its fourth stock split — this time, a seven-for-one stock split. This means that your 1.32 would have become 9.38 shares. Earlier that year on March 27, 2014, Google executed a 100 percent stock spinoff, which is similar to a two-for-one stock split.

All said and done, your portfolio's 2014 year-end value of $1,160.95 ended slightly above that of 2013 (a 1.17 percent year-over-year increase). What caused the small return? On December 31, 2014 the stock prices of Amazon, Netflix, and Google were down 22.18, 7.22, and 4.24 percent respectively from exactly the year before.

FAANG beats the S&P 500 over six years

Let's fast-forward a few years to May 18, 2018 and analyze the performance of our investment in FAANG against the most common stock market bench mark, the S&P 500.

Assuming that you were to hold onto your entire $500 FAANG portfolio from May 18, 2012 until May, 18, 2018, your portfolio would have been worth a cool $5,059.62, a whopping 911.92 percent return over the six-year period. If you had put the same $500 investment in the S&P 500 you would have ended with $1,047.30 at the end of the six-year period. That's a very decent 109.46 percent return over the same six-year period, but far below that of the FAANG portfolio.

Should you invest in FAANG?

If it ain't broke, why fix it, right? After all, the FAANG investing strategy continues to pay off in 2018. However, this doesn't mean that you should put your entire nest egg in FAANG. Here are three key caveats when considering an investment in FAANG.

Investment strategy fit

"Does FAANG match my investment strategy?" This is the biggest question that you should ask yourself before considering an investment in FAANG. If you're very close to retirement age, are very adverse to risk, or require a consistent stream of dividend payouts for income, then FAANG stocks may not be right for you. Make sure to first analyze FAANG from the perspective of your portfolio strategy.

Tolerance for volatility

As FAANG companies continue to push the boundaries of technology, the stock market continues to reward their valuation. However, sometimes the pendulum swings in the other direction. Remember the Facebook CEO's testimony before Congress on April 10, 2018 due to privacy concerns? The price of one Facebook share went from a high of $185.09 on March 16, 2018 to $165.04 on April 10, 2018. Could you have stomached a 10.83 percent loss over a 25-day period?

Overexposure to FAANG

If you hold an S&P 500 index fund, you're already exposed to FAANG. Let's assume that you hold the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares. By owning one share of this Vanguard index fund, your portfolio has an allocation of 3.7 percent to Apple, 2.8 percent to Amazon, 2.7 percent to Google, and 1.80 percent to Facebook.

And that's before taking account any other investments you might hold. If you also have another index fund in the technology sector, you probably have an even greater holding of each one of those investments. For example, the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund Admiral Shares [Nasdaq: VITAX] has Apple, Amazon, and Google among its top four largest holdings.

There are many mutual funds out there that already include Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Google, or Netflix among their holdings. Make sure to consider how much your existing portfolio already has allocated to FAANG before you add even more shares of these high-growth stocks.

How can you invest in FAANG without breaking the bank

With individual shares of Amazon and Google trading at $1,574.37 and $1,066.36, respectively on May 18, 2018, it is impossible to make the same original investment of $500 to buy all five of the individual stocks that make up FAANG as we did in this experiment.

Still, there is a simple way to start investing in FAANG: exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Similar to an index fund, an ETF tracks an asset or basket of assets. Unlike an index fund, an ETF can be traded several times throughout the day and doesn't require a minimum investment.

There are three key reasons why ETFs make investing in FAANG more approachable for the average investor.

The expense ratio (the percentage of assets deducted each fiscal year for fund expenses) for ETFs is generally lower than that for funds tracking the same type of investment. For example, the Vanguard Growth ETF has a 0.05 percent annual expense ratio, while the average annual expense ratio of similar growth funds is 1.10 percent.
Some brokerage houses charge no trading fees when you stick to in-house ETFs. For example, users of the Vanguard Brokerage Account can trade without fees as long as they buy Vanguard ETFs.
There is no minimum investment, so you could buy as little as one share of an ETF. Generally, prices for one share of FAANG ETFs range from $10 to a few hundred dollars. This prevents you from putting all your eggs in one basket. Remember that historical returns (even as great as those from FAANG) are no guarantee of future returns. So, you still should diversify your portfolio.

Here's a list of FAANG ETFs to get you started on your research, but make sure to look at other lists as well. Buyer beware: By definition, a FAANG ETF is one that offers an investor at least 1 percent exposure to FAANG stocks. While diversification is great, select an ETF that best matches your target exposure to these five high-growth technology stocks.

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Ways You Can Get Paid to Watch TV

Paul Michael — Thu, 31 May 2018 08:00:17 +0000

Full disclosure: I work in TV. I am a creative director at a premium cable channel, and I can tell you right now that I get paid to watch TV. I don't watch it all day, every day. But I do spend some portions of my week watching series from my own network, and occasionally, competitor networks and stations.

I love my job. I love being able to read scripts and watch series, in many cases a year before they hit the airwaves. And I can assure you, there are many opportunities for you to earn money doing something you love — watching TV. Here are just a few.

1. Work for a company that airs TV series and movies

Let's start with my own personal area of expertise. From HBO, Showtime, and STARZ, to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, there are thousands of jobs available in the TV and movie industry. You may think that the only people getting paid to watch TV at these companies are high-end executives and producers, but that's not the case. In my own company, everyone from IT and legal, to HR and creative services, has access to a wide variety of movies and series.

We are often required to watch our own series to be educated on what our own company does, much like employees at a brewery get free ale and hotel employees get free rooms. The more you know about what your company does, the better you are at your job. We also have companywide screenings of series and movies, and similar companies do the same for their employees, too.

If this sounds like the field for you, take some time to search the career web pages of any company offering TV and movie services. You may be surprised at the opportunities available.

2. Start your own YouTube channel

It's a slow burn, but if you're willing to invest the time and a little money, it can really pay off. As you probably know, there are a lot of wealthy YouTubers out there. Some of them create original content, some are comedians, some play video games. And, some watch TV and movies and record their reactions, or provide reviews of the latest movies and series. In fact, there are even YouTubers who review YouTube review channels! That's some Inception-level stuff right there.

The best way to start on this path is to review the movies you either really love … or really hate. Audiences love both kinds of reviews, with the latter usually being more funny and satirical. All you need to start is a computer or smartphone with a decent camera (if you use a phone, get a tripod).

Record your review, upload it, and share over social media. As you get more comfortable, start adding graphics and some simple cutaways using basic editing software. As your views and subscribers grow, you can monetize your YouTube page, and eventually, if you're big enough, see some major dollars roll in. (See also: How to Make Money by Creating YouTube Videos)

3. Download apps and visit sites that reward you for watching

There really is an app for that. Well, multiple apps, actually. One of the most popular is Viggle, which rewards you for logging in and watching TV shows from providers like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. It's done on a points-per-minute basis, although sometimes you can double, triple, or even quadruple the amount of points you earn. You can also get bonuses for engaging with your friends on social media, and you can redeem your rewards for gift cards, cash, and even debit cards.

You can also check out Perk, their sister company, which offers cash rewards for watching TV, playing games, and shopping, and Inbox Dollars, which also offers surveys. Will it make you rich? Doubtful. Will you get cash for watching TV and movies? Yes. What's not to love about that? (See also: Effortless Ways to Make Money Online That Don't Require Skills)

4. Become a Netflix "tagger"

Fair warning: There are only about 30 of these positions in existence, and they are in extremely high demand … for good reason. Taggers are a team of 30 media-savvy reviewers who get paid to watch Netflix day in, day out. The job of a tagger is to watch the content and tag it as it's being viewed with relevant metadata. In layman's terms, that includes factual information about the content, like year of release, language, cast, and so on, but also the tone, style, and how to categorize it for a search.

As FastCompany reported this past March, it's a dream job for Sherrie Gulmahamad, who watches over 20 hours of TV and movies per week in her role as "originals creative analyst." But, as she pointed out, it's not always an easy ride. Much like a food critic, you don't always have an appetite for what is put in front of you.

"I've also been assigned a 60-hour Colombian crime drama about Pablo Escobar's hit man," she told FastCompany. "No, I did not have to watch all of it — but I tried!" If you want to try and get into Netflix tagging, Gulmahamad recommends first getting into an archival or library studies program, and going from there.

5. Become a Nielsen family

Neilsen is a household name in America, and is the driving force behind all those ratings figures you see for TV series and movies. You can become a part of this process.

There are a couple of ways to go about it; one is by choice, the other by chance. First, you can go to Nielsen Digital Voice and join the panel. Thousands of people in the U.S. do this, and it's a way to provide information on what you're watching via the internet. The rewards aren't going to let you quit your day job, but you'll get the chance to win up to $1,000 every month, with 400 members getting a chunk of the monthly $10,000 sweepstakes.

The other way is the traditional Nielsen route, and that is purely in the hands of fate. Nielsen families are randomly selected from a section of different communities across the nation, and although you have just as much chance as anyone else, there are only 40,000 homes being monitored. With over 126 million households in the U.S., that's a slim chance.

6. Take up mystery shopping

These days there are all kinds of mystery shopping gigs available, and they are not just limited to retail stores and restaurants. You can actually get paid to go to the movie theater and check out the latest movies, and who wouldn't want to be paid for an activity you usually have to pay for?

One of the biggest names in theater mystery shopping is VeriTes, and they are looking for independent contractors in all 50 states. You can also check out CFA or Imyst.

Now, while you will obviously have fun watching the movie, you do have to pay attention to the entire experience and report back on it. Everything from the purchase of the tickets, the customer service, the quality of the snacks, and the resolution of the movie will come into play. Make sure to bring something you can take notes on (not your phone — that's a bad move in a movie theater) and file your report to receive your reward. (See also: Check Out These 5 Legit Mystery Shopping Gigs)

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Simplify Your Life With These 27 Monthly Subscription Services

Samantha Stauf — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 08:30:10 +0000

As TV on-demand services have flourished, all sorts of companies are beginning to offer subscription services to meet a variety of specialized needs. Do you spend way too much on games, books, or music? Do you need a way to get around town, but can't afford a bike? Wardrobe a tad drab? There's a service for each of these.

Before we delve into the types of services you might want to check out, it's important to know the difference between subscription boxes and subscription rental services.

Subscription boxes are a service where you can sign up to pay a flat fee to purchase a variety of items. The items are bulk ordered by the company for cheaper than you can purchase them individually. The boxes are usually themed and the individual items in the boxes are often unknown until the box arrives. (See also: The 10 Best Monthly Subscription Box Services)

Subscription rental services are services where the buyer pays a flat fee for access to the service. The main difference between a box and a rental is that the subscription rental doesn't give the individual ownership of any items offered by the plan.

Below are 27 types of subscription services you might want to check out.

Games

Gaming, whether it's video games or board games, can be an expensive hobby. Board games can run anywhere from $10 to $100 each. New video games are typically around $60. Game enthusiasts might be able to save money by signing up for a monthly subscription.

1. & 2. PlayStation and Xbox

Both PlayStation and Xbox have monthly rental subscription services that grant players access to free games on their consoles for $9.99 each month.

3. OnePlay

OnePlay is a monthly rental subscription service that grants access to 2000+ PC video games for $9.99.

4. GameFly

GameFly is a monthly rental subscription service that allows gamers to play one or two games at a time for $15.95 or $22.95, respectively. New games are delivered once the old game or games are returned.

5. & 6. Board Game Bento and Hasbro Gaming Crate

Board Game Bento and Hasbro Gaming Crate are subscription boxes that run $50 per month. Board Game Bento, in particular, promises $80 of value in their $50 subscription box. The boxes can be a stellar way to add a variety of games to your collection for a slightly lower price.

7. Board Game eXchange

Board Game eXchange is a rental subscription service that allows individuals to receive a shipment of rental games every two months. Depending on the subscription, the subscriber will receive two to 12 games in the package.

8. NetMeeples

NetMeeples is another rental subscription service that ships rented games to subscribers each month. Subscriptions tend to run anywhere from $10 to $50, depending on how many games you want each month.

Books

Reading and listening to books can be a very expensive hobby for avid bookworms. When free books won't do, individuals can save money by signing up for a book subscription service.

9. & 10. comiXology and Marvel Unlimited

comiXology and Marvel Unlimited are comic book subscription services that allow readers to read hundreds of free comics each month for $5.99 and $9.99, respectively.

11. & 12. Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Scribd

Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Scribd are subscription services that grant access to a library of books and audiobooks for avid readers to enjoy. The books in the services can be a tad limited. This is more of a service that grants access to dozens of slightly less popular titles and older classics with a few gems thrown in occasionally.

13. Other book boxes

You can also find dozens of paper and e-book subscription boxes online. A few paper book subscription boxes to check out include: Book of the Month, OwlCrate, Powell's Indiespensible.

Movies

Do you desire to go to the movies, but just can't stomach the high price of movie theater tickets? There is a movie pass subscription service that could save avid moviegoers a lot of money.

14. MoviePass

MoviePass allows individuals to pay one flat monthly fee of $9.95 to see a movie at the theater every twenty-four hours. The price of the service differs by location based on the regional cost of tickets.

It can lead to a far cheaper movie going experience, but there are a few downsides that might limit the appeal of this service.

You can only see each movie one time.
There probably won't be 28 to 30 movies per month that you're dying to see.
The service doesn't cover the cost of 3D, Imax, or VIP 21 tickets.

Transportation

Car or bike ownership can be an expensive investment. Alternate transportation (bus, train, or subway) is not always convenient.

Transportation subscription services have cropped up in big cities and have slowly been expanding into less populated regions.

15. Canvas

Canvas is a month-to-month car subscription service available in the San Francisco Bay Area. The service allows individuals to choose a car, a mileage package, and when the vehicle will be delivered to them.

16. FlexDrive

FlexDrive is a car subscription service located in Atlanta, Austin, and New Jersey. The service allows individuals to rent a car on a weekly or monthly basis.

17. YOYO

YOYO is another car subscription service located in the San Francisco Bay Area. This particular service has a yearly membership fee and regular payment plans that are based on the type of car selected.

18. CitiBike

CitiBike is a New York City-based bike sharing service that allows individuals to sign up for a subscription plan for one-day, three-day, or yearlong service plans. The plans allow members to take out bikes for an unlimited number of 30 or 45-minute rides.

19. Unlimited Biking

Unlimited Biking is another NYC-based bike subscription service. The service offers plans that allow the rider to take the bike out for one to four hours per day.

Clothing

Dressing fashionably can be expensive. There are dozens of subscription boxes and rental services to help individuals who would like to cultivate a diverse, trendy wardrobe for a fraction of the cost. You'll own every item you decide to keep from these boxes. A few examples of boxes to get you started are Five Four Club, Stitch Fix, and Le Tote.

If you want the ability to really diversify your wardrobe, I'd recommend looking into a clothing rental subscription service. How does it work? The service sends the subscriber a few pieces of clothing and accessories. Once the subscriber is tired of them, they return them, and new pieces are delivered.

20. Parcel22

Parcel22's subscription allows individuals to 'rent' three garments and two accessories at a time for $49.99 per month.

21. Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway's subscription allows individuals to rent three designer garments at a time.

Food

Eating healthy is a time-consuming process. Finding recipes, buying the food, and preparing the meals, can take hours that a lot of us just can't spare. Grocery delivery services and meal prep boxes are one solution to help busy professionals and families eat well without dedicating an exorbitant amount of time to cooking and shopping.

22. AmazonFresh

With this subscription, you'll get free deliveries on AmazonFresh orders over $50. (Amazon Prime membership is included with this subscription as well.) AmazonFresh offers prices lower than most delivery services and has an unrivaled selection of products. They can even deliver items from local shops and restaurants. (See also: 21 Fresh Food Delivery Services That Can Save You Big)

23. Farm Fresh to You

Get fresh, seasonal and organic products delivered to your doorstep. Farm Fresh to You works with local farms and bring you the best of the season's produce. You can customize your box and even pick and choose from specific items if you'd prefer not to be surprised (although that's the most fun). (See also: 6 Ways Having Your Groceries Delivered Can Save You Money)

24. Crate Chef

Crate Chef is a monthly box of specialized ingredients, cooking tools, and recipes. This service sends out one themed box every month and allows subscribers to skip boxes that they have no interest in.

25. Freshly

Freshly is a cooked meal subscription that delivers four to 12 fresh meals to your door every week. The service allows individuals to choose between 30 different dishes per week. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

26. & 27. Hello Fresh and Plated

HelloFresh and Plated allow individuals to choose meals, receive the ingredients, and recipes in insulated boxes each week. Both services come with easy to follow cooking instructions. Different plans are available based on the number of servings per delivery and the number of recipes delivered per week. (See also: Are Meal Prep Subscription Boxes Worth It?)

Life can be expensive. Dozens of little purchases can easily snowball into a high monthly budget. Netflix-style subscription and rental services can, if chosen carefully, slash your monthly expenses.

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This article is from Samantha Stauf of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

3 Subscription Services Every Traveler Needs

Amanda Gokee — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 08:30:06 +0000

Subscription services are everywhere these days, and some of them are great for frequent travelers. We've compiled a list of convenient ways you can save money through subscriptions that will work whether you're at home or traveling.

Netflix

Since it came out in 1997, Netflix has grown to be an international entertainment giant. And with good reason. While it can be great to watch movies or TV shows from the comfort of your home, Netflix can also travel with you to 190 different countries where you can stream content around the world.

I have personally used Netflix in both France and Mexico. The selection of films and TV shows varies from country to country, but I love having the option to watch Netflix while I'm traveling. First, it gives me the ability to easily watch my favorite shows while I'm abroad, which can be a big comfort when I'm surrounded by a foreign language and culture. But secondly, I also like Netflix in that it is adapted to the local context and offers a good selection of some of the classic and contemporary films from the country I'm visiting.

For instance, in Mexico, there's a very popular Netflix original show called Club de Cuervos, which is about a fictitious soccer team. Having a Netflix subscription made it easy for me to check out local pop culture. Watching local shows is also a great way to practice a foreign language, and you can always turn on the subtitles if you're struggling to understand.

At $7.99 a month for online streaming to one screen in standard definition, a Netflix subscription costs less than one movie ticket and about one-seventh the price of the average cable bill. For that you get a wide selection of movies and TV shows in your home or hotel.

Spotify

One of my favorite subscriptions is Spotify. For a music lover like me, the premium subscription is well worth the price tag. The sign-up offer gives you a month for free, and then it costs $9.99 a month after that. You can save even more money with a student or family subscription.

With the premium subscription, you're freed from advertisements popping up every few songs when you stream, and you get the option to download tracks to your device, which is great for travel. Having the tunes on your phone or tablet saves you the cost of data that you'd need to use to stream songs.

Plus, with either the free or paid versions of the service, you have access to a huge library of music that's more affordable than buying lots of CDs or album downloads.

Amazon Subscribe & Save

If you're spending lots of time away from home, it can be hard to keep up with tasks like keeping the house stocked for when you get back. When you get home from a trip, you'll want to spend time with friends and family, not out buying toilet paper.

Amazon's Subscribe & Save can help by automatically delivering household staples, including groceries, office supplies, and beauty products. You choose the products you want to receive and set up an automated delivery. Deliveries of at least five products on a monthly basis are eligible for discounts of up to 15 percent.

If you normally spend $300 a month on these types of items, that means you're setting yourself up for a monthly savings of $45 and the cost of gas, not to mention the time it takes you to do these errands yourself.

Depending on how often you're on the road, you may need to check in just to make sure you don't end up with a large supply of paper napkins that you don't have space for.

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This article is from Amanda Gokee of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

3 TV Must-Haves Once You Cut the Cable Cord

Kyle James — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 09:30:33 +0000

Is it time for you to join in on the cord cutting movement? You know that you're only watching a few channels out of the hundreds that you're paying for. And cutting the cord on your cable bill will undoubtedly be good for your budget. But can you still watch the shows you love? Yes. You'll be surprised at the variety of options you have without paying for hundreds of channels you don't use.

Here's a basic breakdown of the great options you have available when cutting the cable cord. (See also: How to Cut Cable and Still Watch What You Love)

An HD antenna

The first option to consider when you're ready to cut the cord is an HD antenna that you can install in your home. Here are a few of your best options.

Mohu Leaf 50 Indoor Antenna

For about $50, you can pick up a Mohu Leaf and depending on where you live, score a bunch of HD channels for free. The Leaf has a 50-mile range and can be placed indoors on a window or bookcase shelf. To figure out how many free HD channels you can get at your home, visit NoCable.org and enter your address.

Antennas Direct 50 Clearstream Eclipse

If you're cutting the cord from DishNetwork or DIRECTV, the Antennas Direct 50 is a great alternative. This is due to the fact that you can install the antenna directly onto your abandoned satellite dish, or a wall or window indoors, making installation really easy. You can then connect the antenna to the existing infrastructure of your home and start watching free HD channels immediately.

Mohu Sky 60 Antenna

If you live in more of a rural area, especially with mountains and hills, the Leaf probably won't get you many free channels. So instead, check out the Mohu Sky 60, which should be attic- or roof-mounted and will offer a much better solution. For example, I live 10 miles out of town with hills in every direction. The Leaf gives me only two HD channels, while the Sky 60 gives me six HD channels including FOX, CBS, and ABC.

A subscription to a streaming service

For the rest of the TV shows and movies you've come to depend on through your cable or satellite service, choose among these affordable streaming services.

Netflix

A Netflix streaming account starts at $7.99 per month, or $9.99 per month if you want HD quality. While you won't pick up cable channels with Netflix, you will pick up a ton of original programming as well as thousands of movies, TV shows, and documentaries. Besides viewing on your TV, you can also access all of Netflix's programming on your tablet, computer, or smartphone.

Prime Streaming

Prime Streaming is available free to all Amazon Prime members. Prime membership costs $99 per year and gets you access to thousands of titles, including popular TV shows and movies. You can also use Amazon's streaming service to rent or buy current TV shows and new movies to view immediately. You can also pay an additional fee to get access to HBO, Cinemax, Starz, and Showtime. Plus, get access to special programming like animé, foreign dramas, and more, as add-on services.

Hulu

If you're interested in streaming the current season of your favorite TV shows, get Hulu. For $7.99 per month, you can stream many of the current shows that won't be available on Netflix until next year. Movies are also available on Hulu.

DIRECTV NOW Streaming

Just recently DIRECTV introduced a streaming option to try and capture a new customer base and it actually looks promising. For $35 a month, you can stream live TV from over 120 channels plus over 10,000 on-demand titles. With the cheapest DIRECTV satellite package coming in at about $55, this is a solid alternative if you don't want to give up your satellite options.

HBO Now

For $14.99 per month, you can access HBO's original shows, documentaries, and their movie selection, without having a cable subscription. This is the main difference between Now and HBO Go — which you're only able to access with cable.

Livestream

There still aren't many streaming options for sports programming, but Livestream is one of the few available at the moment. This app allows you to stream live events through your Chromecast, Roku, or Apple TV. The app is free and you can also use it on your iPhone or Android device.

Sling TV

If you're one of the many who hasn't cut the cord because of a lack of streaming sports options, Sling TV just might be for you. Sling TV is the first true internet-only alternative to a traditional cable package. For only $20/mo, you can get the Sling TV Orange package which includes ESPN, TBS, and CNN plus about 25 other popular channels.

A streaming device

Using streaming services doesn't mean you can only watch on your computer. There are some nifty devices that allow you to stream these shows to your TV, so you can sit back and still enjoy shows and movies on your big screen TV. Most newer TVs have the required USB port that the streaming sticks and players directly connect to. On older TVs without a USB port, you might be able to use an HDMI-to-USB adapter cord, but it depends on your HDMI setup in the back of your TV.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick plugs into the back of your TV and lets you immediately start streaming. Of course, you need a Wi-Fi connection in your home, too. The Fire TV Stick is compatible with all of the popular subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video, as well as free streaming options like YouTube.

Roku Streaming Stick

The Roku Stick stands out from the Fire TV stick in the number of apps available, as well as a convenient search feature. The Roku Stick actually searches across all streaming services to find you the exact program you're looking for.

Chromecast

This is Google's streaming device, and it also uses your Wi-Fi connection to stream music and videos on your TV. The main difference with Chromecast compared to the options above is that there's no remote. You use your phone, iPad, or laptop computer to control your programming.

Apple TV

Much like the two options above, Apple TV comes equipped with all the video/streaming apps you could ever need. Apple TV has over 1,600 of them, and the video quality is outstanding. It also connects to your iTunes library so you can seamlessly access your favorite music on your TV.

Gaming consoles

If you're a gamer, you might not need a streaming device at all, because new gaming consoles come equipped with a streaming interface. Nintendo Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS4 are all gaming consoles that are able to stream TV through their wireless connection, so you can download the streaming apps (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) and watch your favorite shows and movies through your console.

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Family Plans Can Save you TONS

Ashley Eneriz — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 09:30:38 +0000

While house phones and cable may be on their way toward obsoletion, the subscription market is booming. You can find a subscription or membership plan for just about anything — your favorite TV shows, your cell phone, music, and even Uber.

While these subscription plans can save consumers money, especially if you switch from a $100 cable bill to a $7.99 Hulu bill, they can still add up. Thankfully, many subscription or membership plans offer discounts for families. Here are the top shareable accounts you can take advantage of to save money.

TV Streaming

There are quite a few TV streaming services available right now. Most of them don't openly advertise a family sharing plan, but you can activate the streaming on multiple devices.

Netflix

Netflix allows users to stream shows on up to six devices, have up to five profiles, and even stream simultaneously on up to four devices at a time. (See also: 6 Tricks for a Better Netflix Experience)

Hulu

Membership can be activated on however many devices you wish, but streaming can only be done on one device at a time.

Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime allows users to add one adult to their account, and have up to four children profiles. Sharing Amazon Prime means the shared user has access to the large library of Prime shows and movies. Two different shows can be streamed at the same time on two different devices.

HBO Now

HBO Now doesn't offer specific rules on sharing, but several devices can use the same HBO account, though simultaneous streaming is limited. Funny enough, HBO CEO Richard Pepler said, "It's not that we're unmindful of it, it just has no impact on the business. In fact, the practice of sharing usernames and passwords serves as a terrific marketing vehicle for the next generation of viewers."

Spotify

Spotify just rolled out its revised family plan in May. It allows you and up to five family members to enjoy a Spotify Premium account for only $14.99 a month. That works out to about $2.50 per person. What is neat about Spotify's family account is that six people are not sharing the same account. Instead, all six individuals in the family get their own premium account, which means they can play their favorite music ad-free and offline.

There are some restrictions to Spotify's family plan. All members must reside at the same address, though it is unclear how Spotify enforces this rule. Also, the account head will be billed the $14.99 each month, so you could get stuck with the $14.99 monthly bill if other family members don't pay you their portion.

Uber

Uber launched its Family Profiles in March for select cities. Even though Uber called its new program "Family Profiles," the company does not discriminate if you add friends or coworkers. Once this feature is more widely available, the profile can include up to 10 riders under one payment option.

This makes it easier to arrange rides for college students in other cities or to help older family members who cannot drive to do errands.

Cell Phones

It is no secret that you cell phone providers offer family share plans. Before we got married, my husband and I joined his sister's family plan with Verizon. It was the cheaper alternative to getting on our own plan. Somehow our bill kept growing (because his sister's family was charging us the same amount as their phones, even though they were using premium services). We were able to pay less on our own family plan with T-Mobile.

With T-Mobile, we are not on a contract and only pay about $55 for both of us. To get that price, we added my father and sister at $25 per line. With T-Mobile, the phones are pricier, since you are not under a contract. However, there are no extra charges for using too much data or texting. When one of us goes over our allotted data, instead of receiving a hefty charge, our browsing and streaming just slows considerably.

Another affordable family plan to consider isCricket's five lines for $100. The basic plan starts at $40 ($35 after autopay discount). Then you can add on a second line for $30, the third line for $20, the fourth line for $10, and the fifth line should be free. This would equate to $20 per person on the plan (or less, depending on the autopay discount).

Kindle Library

If you share an Amazon Prime account with another adult, they will be able to access the Kindle Owners' Lending Library if they own a Kindle. Even if you do not add on someone to your Amazon Prime account, you can still lend out books to friends and family members, as long as the book has lending rights.

Using family plans and sharing accounts is a great way to save money on membership and subscription costs. Just be sure to know the terms and conditions before sharing. Some companies have specific programs designed for family sharing, while others frown upon sharing your password.

What's your favorite way to save money on subscription services?

This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Tricks for a Better Netflix Experience

Kyle James — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 17:15:33 +0000

While the recent price increase of the Netflix standard plan by $1 a month ($8.99 to $9.99) might not seem like a big deal, it certainly can be if you feel you're not using your subscription to its fullest potential. Here are some way to greatly improve your Netflix experience.

1. Access the "Hidden" Stream Manager

One of the most frustrating aspects of Netflix is you're often at the mercy of the quality and speed of your Internet connection. Fortunately, there is a trick to change the quality of your stream to avoid any buffering issues. When streaming Netflix content from a desktop or laptop, access the little-known stream manager and use the following keyboard shortcuts to your advantage.

Control + Alt + Shift + S

This will allow you to access the control panel for your video. You can then change the bitrate and CDN (Content Delivery Network) of the stream you're watching. If you're having buffering issues, select the lowest bitrate. Or at the very least, select both available bitrates and your video will stream in-between both selections.

Control + Alt + Shift + D

This allows you to view important statistics about your stream. Things like bitrate, buffering speed, and framerate are displayed. Check out these stats after you change your bitrate to see how it impacts overall performance.

Control + Alt + Shift + L

This will display a record of all the changes you've made to your settings so you can easily track your progress in getting a stream speed that works for you.

2. Reactivate App to Kill Buffering

If you view Netflix via a Smart TV, game console, or Blu-ray player, and are having recurring buffering issues, try deactivating the Netflix app, and then reactivate it again. According to the folks at Netflix, a handy little trick to quickly make this happen is to press the following sequence on your device's controller or remote: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Up, Up, Up, Up.

After pressing this sequence select, "Sign Out" or "Deactivate," then simply follow the on-screen instructions to sign back into your Netflix account. In many cases this should solve your buffering issues, especially if you're receiving the "AIP-701" connection error.

3. Know the Right Time to Watch

If you can wait and do your binge watching late in the evening, or in the early morning, your streaming experience will be noticeably better, according to Digital Trends. From their in-depth research, they "discovered that the biggest factor influencing stream quality is time of day, and whether that time falls under typical peak hours for watching."

4. Rate Everything You Watch

By getting into the habit of rating everything you watch on Netflix, the service can better understand the programming that you enjoy. Also, it's worth the effort to complete your "Taste Profile" to better help Netflix make selections that interest you.

5. The Best Netflix Viewing Guide… EVER

Another one of the complaints that Netflix users have is trying to figure out which programs come and go each month, along with weeding through the large amount of content. I recently discovered a fantastic solution to this problem via an amazingly thorough Reddit forum titled NetflixBestOf. It currently has over 287,000 readers and is chock full of information to make your viewing experience more enjoyable.

6. Consider a Netflix Unblocker

While this tip might be not be for everyone, if you're the techy-type, it could be right up your alley. Did you know that Netflix offers different content to different countries? You can tap into that content by using a free Netflix unblocker service like TVUnblock.com or Hola!, which helps you change the DNS address settings of your device to point to their servers. Once this is done, some of your web browsing will be routed to a proxy server which modifies your location and gives you access to Netflix content beyond your borders.

How are you getting the most out of your Netflix subscription? Is the $1/month increase going to be a deal-breaker for you?

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Netflix Hacks You Should Know

Amy Lu — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:00:13 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on Netflix hacks to make the most of your account, balancing your side gig with your day job, and how to deal when you're overwhelmed.

How to Get Netflix and Hulu to Play on Your TV

Carlos Portocarrero — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:24:36 +0000

"Cutting the cord" was something only doctors and new fathers used to do. But thanks to the explosion of online streaming content services like Hulu and Netflix, more and more people are saying sayonara to their cable bill.

As I learned when I tried to cut the cord myself, the big advantage to paying for cable doesn't have anything to do with paying less or accessing only the shows you want to watch. It's about convenience. With cable, you turn your TV on and all the shows you know and love are a button press away — right there on your big screen. (See also: 8 Alternatives to Cable TV That Will Keep You Entertained)

Once you move into the world of online streaming, people start to get a little worried. The question I've heard most often is: Will I have to watch on my computer screen? What do I need to watch on my TV? Is it going to be complicated?

And I'm here to tell you that no — when it comes to services like Hulu and Netfix, there are so many options that you'll inevitably find one that works with your current setup so you can enjoy your shows where they're meant to be seen: on your TV.

Start With the Official Sites

It might be overwhelming at first, but what you'll want to do first is check out the device lists for both Netflix and Hulu. There are a LOT of TVs, video game systems, and other devices listed that can help you play streaming content on your TV set. Odds are you'll find something you already own on the list. In fact, most people are already watching Netflix streaming content on their PS3s over their actual computers!

If you don't already own a Wii, XBox, Wi-Fi enabled TV or DVD player, or a streaming device like a Roku — then you'll have to buy one. Or, if worse comes to worst, you can always just hook up your laptop or PC to your TV via an HDMI cable and watch your shows that way.

Choose a Device

If you don't own any of the supported devices, then you'll have to make a decision on which one you want to buy.

But if you do want buy a device, first ask yourself if you'll be buying a new TV soon. Most of the new TVs are "smart," which means they'll automatically connect to your Wi-Fi network and be able to stream Netflix and Hulu, plus content from a lot of other services. That way you don't have to have another "thing" in your TV cabinet — the TV can do it automatically.

Luckily, Hulu and Netflix (and especially Netflix) have been at the forefront of this move to online streaming of content, so they've made sure they are compatible with as wide a range of devices as possible.

All you have to do now is login to your account via whichever device you've chosen and — voila! — you're ready to go!

Tweak Your Signal

All of this sounds easy enough, right? But there's one more thing you need to double check — how good your Internet connection is going to be wherever your TV and streaming device is in your place.

If you have a device that can connect to an actual hard line (an Ethernet cable), then by all means do that; it'll give you the fastest connection you can get.

If not, you'll need to rely on your Wi-Fi connection, which means the closer your Roku/Wii/TV is to your router, the better the connection will be. And the better your connection, the smoother your streaming experience is going to be.

For tips on improving your Wi-Fi connection, check out Lifehacker's Top 10 Wi-Fi Boosts, Tweaks, and Apps. Because let's face it...no one wants to watch a show with a big BUFFERING icon spinning away in the middle of a nail-biting scene.

Once you've got your device connected to your account and have it playing smoothly on your TV, sit back and enjoy watching TV in the post-Cable world!

Have you "cut the cord?" Was the switch to streaming Internet video easier — or more difficult — than you expected?

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This article is from Carlos Portocarrero of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Cutting the Cable Cord Has More Than Financial Benefits

Aaron Crowe — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:36:11 +0000

Cutting the cable TV cord has benefits that go beyond the financial. Sure, you're saving $50 or so a month by going without cable. But there are other good things that happen when you go without cable, many which may not come to mind when you first start thinking about making the move because you're focused on saving money. (See also: Massive List of Things to Do While Watching TV)

There's the obvious satisfaction of "sticking it to The Man" and not having to support a business that won't let you pay for only the stations you want to watch. Other benefits, however, may not be so obvious. But before I get into those, it's worth pointing out that the expected financial savings might not be as good as you might think.

The Somewhat Surprising Reality of Living Without Cable

My family cut cable at our house in early June, mainly as a test run during the slow summer TV season to see if we could live without it. We also wanted to save some money, which I'm quickly realizing is being eaten up by other costs that Wise Bread has covered. While our cable bill dropped by $50 a month, we still pay for alternatives that don't look like a lot by themselves, but add up.

Here are some of them, some of which are one-time expenses and others monthly:

Netflix streaming at $8 per month.
Hulu Plus at $8 per month. We don't have this yet, but I can see it coming in handy in the fall.
Occasional TV series purchase such as "Curb Your Enthusiasm," about $20 a month.
Redbox movie rentals at $1.20 or more each, for maybe five movies a month at $6 total.
Roku box to watch shows, a one-time cost of $100.
Antenna for TV, a one-time cost of $25, though much more can be spent.
HDMI cable and adapter to hook up computer to TV so online shows can be viewed. A one-time cost of $50.

After spending about $42 a month on shows, I'm only spending $8 less each month than I did with cable. (It's worth noting that we had Netflix streaming when we had cable, and I'm not including our monthly Internet fee because it's an expense we'd have with or without a TV.) Add in the $175 for equipment, and the $8 monthly savings will take almost 22 months (two years!) to pay for it. Then I'll really start saving money.

Benefits of Cutting Cable

Since I'm not saving any money for two years, what do I gain by not having cable TV? A lot, in my view. Here are some benefits.

Less Channel Surfing

Since we no longer have hundreds of channels to scan, there's less mindless channel surfing and wasting time looking for something to watch. There's something hypnotic about scrolling through channels that's sort of relaxing, but it's also a waste of time that leaves you wondering why you're paying for cable TV if there's nothing on.

Paying for What You Want to Watch

There's plenty of extra stuff on Netflix and elsewhere in the non-cable world, but it's nice knowing that I'm not paying for a channel that I'll never watch and can instead buy a season of a show I really want to watch. I may not come across a great show by accident, but I'll take that chance.

Free Time

If we don't know ahead of time what we're going to watch, we're unlikely to turn the TV on. I don't want to make it sound like my family has turned Amish and we're not watching TV at all, or that we've discovered more family time and are playing more board games together and reading more books. But we are finding time to do other things, and my library card is being used more.

These are things you can't put a price on, though I suspect that even these may not be enough to prevent us from calling the cable company back in six months when we get tired of missing pro sports.

This article is from Aaron Crowe of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

4 Lessons from Netflix's Price Hike

Julie Rains — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:47:22 +0000

Link:

http://www.openforum.com/articles/4-lessons-from-netflixs-price-hike

Was Netflix’s decision to increase prices wise?

Company execs say, “yes.” Industry analysts say, “no.”

No matter what you think about the wisdom of the price increase, the move is bold. Less than a year ago, the company raised its base price for DVD + Streaming to $8.99 per month. Now, Netflix is changing its pricing structure so that this option now costs $15.98. At the same time, the company is introducing a DVD-only rate of $7.99 along with a streaming-only price of $7.99.

Drawing on statements of Netflix’s CEO Reed Hastings and chief service and operations officer Andy Rendich along with reactions of industry analysts and subscribers, here are four key things to consider when plotting a change in pricing.

1. Market Positioning

From a marketing perspective, the price increase moved Netflix from a low-cost provider of movies and entertainment to, well, a nebulous, yet-to-be-defined position.

Before the change, at $8.99 per month for DVD + Streaming, subscribing to the service was a no-brainer for many customers. The expense was comparable to viewing a movie in the theatres, renting a DVD on a monthly or more frequent basis, or subscribing to basic cable.

At the new price points, perceptions change. Customers are more likely to scrutinize their options in order to get access to a fresher and broader selection of content and/or reduce expenses for entertainment. They may opt to rent the occasional DVD from Redbox, or sign up for premium movie channels offered by cable companies.

However, price increases can succeed if synced with a redefinition or clarification of the brand and market position. For example, a stationery and gift retailer raised its prices at the same time that the company moved to luxury level of products, retail interiors, and virtual presence. Owner Heidi Kallett said that the change helped her business thrive as a premier brand.

Bottom Line

Be aware of the price schemes offered by your competitors, both direct (e.g., streaming businesses) and indirect (e.g., cable companies). Make sure your price points are aligned with a viable market position. Match price increases with brand elevation.

2. Cost Control

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, “Netflix's chief service and operations officer, Andy Rendich, said the new prices ‘better reflect … the underlying costs’ and represent a better value for people who want only DVDs.” The implication, then, is that the old pricing did not absorb costs. Plus, the company needed more money to improve quality and volume of streaming selections. Bloomberg.com reports that CEO Reed Hastings stated that the price increase will enable Netflix to license “amazing new content.”

Customers expect good cost control from their merchants and vendors. They want to see businesses holding prices steady by instituting process improvements and leveraging assets, that is increasing sales volume based on existing resources (such as DVDs and digital content). They also believe that smart execs can predict growth in customer demand, anticipate increases in operational costs, and set prices appropriately.

So, frequent, erratically-timed price increases make customers question how expertly the company is making decisions. Well-spaced, periodic changes in prices or regularly timed price increases make more sense to customers as even the savviest of businesses can’t keep expenses down forever.

Bottom Line

Be discreet about how much information you share about your costs. Introduce price increases at regular intervals to demonstrate a command of your cost structure. Tie price increases to value associated with immediate, rather than anticipated, product innovations.

3. Market Segmentation

Netflix seems to have delineated its customer base into three distinct groups:

DVD only;
Streaming only;
DVD + Streaming.

If the company considers historical consumption, then these segments seem reasonable.

What complicates this picture is that customers opt for the best choice offered at the time, rather than enjoying the optimal solution. That is, many customers prefer the convenience of streaming but want the title selection offered by the DVD plan.

Bottom Line

Acknowledge that there are many factors affecting customer behavior including how you have structured pricing and deals in the past. Know your customers, and design products and set pricing to serve customers in well-defined market segments.

4. Customer Value

The thought process in favor of raising prices is that:

higher revenue per subscriber will offset loss in subscribers;
new subscriber growth will continue, adding to the bottom line.

Certainly, there are scenarios in which prices can be increased with little or no change in the number of customers. But this calculation should not be made in a vacuum, ignoring subscriber reaction. Profitability rests on being able to determine how many customers will leave and how many customers will sign on as well as the cost of new customer acquisition.

Bottom Line

Be certain that some customers will opt out when you raise prices. Be realistic rather than optimistic when predicting how many customers will stay and how easily you will be able to attract new customers at the higher rate.

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Netflix Pricing Changes: What Now?

Julie Rains — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:24:07 +0000

I flinched when Netflix raised its monthly rate for DVD + Streaming from $8.99 to $9.99. Briefly I pondered whether I should discontinue one or the other; I decided to stick with the combination service. But when the company upped its prices for the same services to $16 (okay, $15.98) just months later, I was upset. The change represents an overall +70% increase in less than a year, making me wonder about the stability of future pricing and rethinking the value of the service altogether. (See also: The Psychology of Pricing)

Decision: DVD or Streaming?

When I told my family that Netflix prices were increasing, I gave them the option of choosing DVD or Streaming (rather than both). The fast, unanimous decision was "streaming."

The truth is that we use the streaming option more often because of its convenience, despite the deeper selection available on DVD.

Still, I am torn. Having never been a big movie-goer, I saw Netflix as my ticket to seeing the movies that I had missed in the past couple of decades, partly because of other priorities and partly because of the expense of viewing first-run movies in the theater. And, after having children, I rarely visited the movie-and-game-rental stores, opting to purchase children’s titles like the Veggie Tales series and watching these over and over.

As my children turned into teenagers, they became more interested in current movies, and I decided I finally had time for them myself. But my first visit to the nearest Blockbuster location became my last, as the store closed soon after my initial rental.

Soon, with the help of my youngest son (who has the family’s biggest appetite for culture and entertainment), I discovered streaming video. I decided to try Netflix, as its monthly price was below the typical expense of a movie ticket. Since then, we have viewed some movies on DVD, but mostly watched television series and full-length movies through the streaming option. So, when the email about the price increase came, the decision to drop the DVDs was straightforward, based on actual usage rather than predictions of future habits.

Possible Glitch: Cost of Bandwidth

The cost of a subscription to Netflix or a similar service is just one component of a total entertainment package. Expenses for over-the-cap usage of bandwidth can also increase, as Internet service providers move to change how they bill Internet usage (even as they insist that few customers will be affected). Likewise, those who stream movies to mobile devices may see higher costs associated with limited data plans.

For now, bandwidth issues may not be a factor affecting expenses. But as consumption-based billing or usage-based billing becomes more prevalent, overall expenses will rise and decisions will become more complicated.

More Entertainment Options

Having been new to streaming content specifically and entertainment options in general, I didn’t realize that there were so many choices. According to a Wise Bread post on ways to watch TV and movies without cable and a recent article by Consumer Reports on Netflix alternatives, consumers have plenty of choices. Both sources mention Amazon Prime, which offers free access to thousands of titles as a benefit to its flat-rate membership program for free-and-fast shipping of Amazon.com orders.

Even more options for entertainment via DVD and/or streaming:

Watch streaming movies on a pay-per-view plan, rather than unlimited option (great if you watch occasionally)
Switch back and forth from streaming-only to DVD-only plans in order to view movies from both categories
Rent DVDs at the library (DVDs are free at my library, but the selection is limited)
Buy and swap DVDs using PaperbackSwap's sister company Swap-A-DVD (I have used Paperback Swap, but not the DVD service)

Did the recent Netflix price increase affect you? What is next for you in terms of movie viewing?

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

You Own Your Finances: How Much People Spend to Watch Movies

David Ning — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:00:12 +0000

Many people falsely assume that living frugally means missing out. True, it takes compromise and adjustments to live simply and conservatively, but the sacrifices are often much less than what people think. Let me illustrate this point with a simple example: movie-watching options.

Movie Theaters

When I was young, I went to the cinema a ton. It just seemed like a good way to kill time. If those $50 million opening box office debuts are any indication, many Americans agree with me. But you've got to wonder, what does $10 times every other weekend add up to? It's $260 a year for 26 movies.

Discounted Movie Tickets

I've seen them at Costco, the apartment complex I used to live at offered them, and my wife's workplace also had a way to get them. It takes a little more work than going to the movie theater and just paying with your credit card, but you are saving quite a bit: $2.50 a pop in my experience. Go this route and your expenses become $195 for the same 26 movies.

On Demand TV

Nowadays, you can order movies right on your television set. The prices are around $2 a pop, so you are only paying $52 for 26 movies a year. Yes, you need to wait a few months, but do you watch movies because they are good, or do you actually watch them because they are new?

Netflix

If you watch more than a few movies a month, then movie costs can go way up. Luckily, you can subscribe to services like Netflix, and for $9, you can watch a practically unlimited amount of movies, soap operas, and other TV shows for the entire month. You can give the service a spin via those Netflix free trial coupons too, but let's not even count that, because $9 a month is still pretty good, especially considering that some people are able to use this to substitute their $70-a-month cable TV bills.

Redbox

Many grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores have these DVD kiosks where you can rent the newest movies for $1 a night. If you always return the DVD the next day, your movie-every-other-week expense drops down to $26 a year.

Free Redbox

There are actually quite a few Redbox coupon codes being circulated on the internet, like the code DVDONME, which works once for every credit card that you own. If you are diligent about finding the codes, which is easy with coupon sites these days, then your movie expenses, no matter how many movies you watch, drop down to $0 (or thereabouts).

Now you might argue that going to the movie theater is not the same as watching free movies via coupon codes, and it's not. But many people are willing to wait the few extra months if it means saving $500 a year and still be able to watch a movie once a week. $500 may not be a ton to some of you out there, but multiply that by the infinite number of spending decisions that we make, and it quickly adds up. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what's right for you, but how much you save, how much you spend, and how you run your life are personal choices that you have to live with. You may not need the money now, but you might one of these days.

Financial decisions may not be easy, but they're completely yours.

This article is from David Ning of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Life Without Television

Andrea Karim — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:26:44 +0000

I haven't owned a television in over 7 years. I haven't lived in a house with a set in over 5 years. I spend my days largely television-free, and I actually like it.

This isn't to say that I don't watch some television shows over the internet. I have to get my Heroes fix somehow. But as someone with an addictive personality, I've found that keeping myself away from the boob tube has kept me happier and healthier.

While saving money on a cable bill is a good impetus for some people to cut the cable, I already pay $30 a month for internet, and cable wouldn't cost me that much more; a mere $5.

For me, it's not about the money; at least, not directly. It is about the following:

1. Time not spent watching really stupid crap

I'm the kind of person who can veg in front of the television for hours. I'll come home from work, plop down in front of the TV, and before I know it, it's midnight, and I'm rapidly losing IQ points watching local news — nothing is worse than local television personalities. And that's just with basic television! I shudder to think what would become of me if I had something like HBO. I'd become one with the couch, literally, within a few days.

2. I live by my own schedule

Not having a glowing television beckoning to me allows me the freedom to, say, go on longer walks in the afternoon with my dogs. What's the rush to get back inside? There are no shows that I need to watch. I frequently run into neighbors while strolling around the block who would love to chat, but have to get back to the house before Ghost Whisperer (or whatever) comes on. Sure, you could argue that I could still live by my own schedule if I had a TiVo or other DVR, but the truth is, I'd still be a slave to the shows I recorded. Back when I used to watch TV regularly, I would get so incredibly grumpy if I couldn't make time to see my favorite shows. I don't do that anymore.

3. The joys of radio

I've always liked radio better than television, and I'm happy to live in an area where we have a good public radio station. I enjoy talk radio — news, interviews, stories. In the same way that books allow your imagination to run wild, radio gives you the words and the freedom to create scenes in your mind. I like that, and I appreciate being able to enjoy a medium that doesn't require more than one of my senses at a time. With the radio on, I can listen to the news and cook dinner without taking my eyes from the stove. I've listened to the presidential and vice presidential debates on the radio this year, and find it to be a more than adequate way to take it all in. (Mind you, I did miss all of the Palin-winks and the frighteningly bright-white Biden teeth, but still.)

4. The joys of reading

I used to enjoy falling asleep in front of the television, but since I don't have one, I like to read in bed until I'm sleepy. Usually, I don't get more than a half hour of reading in before I start to doze off, but I can get through one book a month that way.

5. The joys of the internet

I love the internet — it's where I get the majority of my news, entertainment, and extracurricular writing. I can watch movies online through Netflix or Hulu, or on my DVD player in my laptop. I've never been one to tout the big screen experience — to me, seeing a movie on a small screen is just as rewarding as seeing it at the theater. However, watching a movie on my laptop while lounging in bed is not nearly as comfy as watching one on a television from my couch. The result is that while I do catch some TV shows, I watch many fewer than I actually would if I had a TV set up in my living room.

6. No remote controls

I used to get frustrated with my mother's refusal to accept new technology, but I have to admit that the multitude of remote controls in your average living room is baffling to me. Every time I watch a movie at my sister's house, setting up the television, DVD player, and sound system ends up feeling as complicated as performing a live concert. Remote controls are passed around the room like batons as we try to get the picture, balance, and volume JUST right. And one of the remotes is ALWAYS missing. In my house, I don't have a single remote control. Hey, it's hard enough to find my shoes and keys in the morning.

The Downside

I never know what people are talking about when they make inside jokes featuring plotlines from The Office or South Park. I don't watch these shows online because they don't interest me, but if I had a TV, I probably would watch them. So then I would know what people were talking about. But then again, I'd probably never leave the house.

I eventually have to explain why I never have a grasp of pop culture, and I hate sounding like one of those self-righteous jerks who never watches TV. I don't avoid TV to be more high-falutin' than other people — it's just better for me, overall, if I don't.

I can't invite people over to watch TV; this is a big season for debate parties, and I can't host one, because no one wants to sit around the radio with me and imagine how angry John McCain looks. Also, watching television or a movie is a nice way to end a date, but I have to skip that and go straight to the making-out part. Awk-ward.

I almost never see commercials. And commercials are a lot smarter than they used to be. The internet-TV commercials are exceptionally tame.

A picture paints a thousand words. Sometimes, descriptions of events simply can't tell the story the way footage of a suicide bombing or a miraculous rescue after a natural disaster can.

Do Wise Bread readers watch TV? Do you think it's worthwhile for you and your family?

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: