Yes, I do subscribe to cable and I wish that I did not have to. My husband and I watch alot of tv. We are seniors living on S. Security and can only afford the basic cable. Where we are living we could not have DTV like we had at the house-they do not permit DTV here. Saw an advertisement for the Moho Antenna that makes tv free and am thinnking seriously to looking into this--we also have internet with the same company as a pkg deal for both. It seems too high for this and it is very hard to pay for this each month. This is an option for us to think about.
I am happy to we do not pay for TV service of any kind. We have not had a TV service bill for EIGHT YEARS now since we moved to the new house. Honestly, the main reason was because the monopoly cable company wanted to charge us $300 to "install" the service. A few years later we received an offer to have them waive the fee, but, no thanks!
Now we have kids and there is no way we would get it now because there is just too much garbage on TV.
At this point we see no reason to add the service, and we also don't have any favorite shows we feel we must watch. I must say, it feels liberating.
No, we do not pay for cable. We do not have Netflix either. We have a toddler and just don't have time to watch much TV anymore. I am surprised which how much free time we have after we got rid of our cable (we did this last summer)
When I was a kid, milk tasted amazing -
then about the 1980s, milk started tasting like it had a slightly metallic, and very medicinal taste. I thought it was just my older taste buds, and unfortunately I raised my sons on it because kids 'need' milk. My younger son developed a structural condition that after years of research appears to likely be caused by pesticide/hormone/antibiotic residue in milk. We began drinking Horizon Organic Milk, which tasted fresh and creamy and without strange after-taste. Within months it was clear that my son's condition stopped worsening. Perhaps this article means well, but is absolutely misdirected - Horizon Milk is an excellent, untainted product. I am not an employee or paid advocate, just a mom who wants the best milk products for my children.
No, we haven't had cable in almost 3 years. We have an antenna in the backyard and also Netflix. It's all the tv we need, along with shows available online.
I don't pay for cable and spend my time looking for ways to save on our very tight budget due to medical expenses and donate to our local church and food drives. Netflix is a much cheaper option used once in awhile.
Yes, I pay for cable TV. It's one of my few "luxuries". I like the convenience of just being able to turn on the TV and find something interesting to watch.
We only pay for basic cable (about twelve channels) because it is included with our internet service. We do pay for Netflix ($10 a month) because we don't have cable, and this also includes Netflix Instant. We have a Blu Ray player so we can stream Netflix Instant on our TV. I'm a librarian, so we also get lots of DVDs from the library, including DVD sets of cable TV shows. We also watch the free shows on Hulu. We do have to wait for shows and movies to come out on DVD, but there's lots of stuff to watch in the meantime. There are certain cable shows I miss but in addition to saving money, I think this saves us from spending a lot more time in front of the TV.
Nope, I've been free of cable(more specifically Comcast) for 6 months. I'm sooooooo happy to get rid of them. I bought a Roku box(best 69.00 I've spent in awhile) -- I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu Plus, I get most of the popular network shows, but I'm not much of a fan and might get rid of Hulu -- it's difficult for me to get over the air channels, so the one thing I thought I would miss was live news -- that hasn't been an issue because I found private channels that stream CNN, BBC, MSNBC, CNBC -- I think Roku comes with Live Al Jazeera(not the most popular channel for an American, but it is live) --I even got in on the Youtube channel(a constant source of amusement) before it was blocked to all new subscribers -- so I'm all set. Bills went from a gazillion dollars a month to around 18.00 bucks and there's more than I ever could or would watch, wish I could have done it years ago --very happy.
It is not just America, but labour laws and (even higher) taxes (than another commenter believes the high salary folks are hit with) make the choice for the employee in many European countries. Elsewhere, where the laws and taxes are more moderate, people tend to make the same choices.
I know, I came to America, landed a position with a Fortune 500 and worked my way up to well over $100K compensation, with bonuses. In return, it required 50-70 hour weeks, and ever higher hoops to jump through. Then came downsizing. I was hit, and was very disappointed with the company. Then I come to realize that I have saved plenty so I don't really have to worry so hard. Only in a place like America can this happen!!!
So, Kate, you are absolutely correct. If you want to make that kind of income, so that you can build a sizable nest egg, there is a price to pay. It will take lots of work. A simple 9-5 job is not going to cut it, not anymore. You will have to put in that kind of effort either working for a company or as an entrepreneur. Those internet billionaires (Yahoo, Google, Facebook) are really just lucky guys, the right place at the right time, with the right idea. I'm not talking about them. The rest of us have to work our butts off to make it to the point we don't have to worry about the costs of living.
As for rich is relative...agree. Mankind proved a long time ago that we only need a cave to live in. Anything more is really a want...McMansion and BMW anyone?
I'm a college student, I can have cable b 1) there's free cable and social interaction in the many lounges 2) there's hulu 3) I should be studying, college is expensive.
No. I had Comcast's basic cable on a special for a while, it was about $35 per month. I'd gripe at the end of each 3 month period, and they extended it for about 18 months, but finally I couldn't go above anyone else's head.
The interesting thing was that they had one special at the time, but it was for new customers only. I asked if I could cancel for a week then get the new special. They were confused but decided that wasn't allowed. I asked why they were more interested in attracting new customers than retaining existing customers. More confusion.
I wasn't going to pay $80 per month for basic cable. I cut the cord.
That was about two years ago. I've used Netflix and Blockbuster Express, both of which have their merits, which, combined with plenty of internet (and SiriusXM), provides more than enough media in my life.
The combined cost of Netflix, Internet access, and SiriusXM is about $70 per month. Cable is not worth it.
I'm with you, blogger. It ticks me off that they send out things like this unsolicited. I'd be surprised if netspend didn't send its customers here to post all the positive stuff... It's hooey! Thanks for writing about your experience!
We do not pay for cable. The $100 a mont it costs just seems like too much for too little. We subscribe to netflix for $10 a mont which more than suits our needs. We watch about 1 hour of tv a day. Though I do miss watching PTI os espn everday. We have been cableless for about 18 months now
No way. Antenna and Home Theater PC FTW!
Yes, I do subscribe to cable and I wish that I did not have to. My husband and I watch alot of tv. We are seniors living on S. Security and can only afford the basic cable. Where we are living we could not have DTV like we had at the house-they do not permit DTV here. Saw an advertisement for the Moho Antenna that makes tv free and am thinnking seriously to looking into this--we also have internet with the same company as a pkg deal for both. It seems too high for this and it is very hard to pay for this each month. This is an option for us to think about.
I am happy to we do not pay for TV service of any kind. We have not had a TV service bill for EIGHT YEARS now since we moved to the new house. Honestly, the main reason was because the monopoly cable company wanted to charge us $300 to "install" the service. A few years later we received an offer to have them waive the fee, but, no thanks!
Now we have kids and there is no way we would get it now because there is just too much garbage on TV.
At this point we see no reason to add the service, and we also don't have any favorite shows we feel we must watch. I must say, it feels liberating.
It can be done :)
No, we don't pay for cable TV. We pay for internet service and Netflix.
Yes only because Internet price goes up without it. I am on a promotion rate with comcast and when that is over the tv and phone will get cancelled.
No, we do not pay for cable. We do not have Netflix either. We have a toddler and just don't have time to watch much TV anymore. I am surprised which how much free time we have after we got rid of our cable (we did this last summer)
Yes, we pay because our phone and internet service is cheaper when it's bundled with cable.
When I was a kid, milk tasted amazing -
then about the 1980s, milk started tasting like it had a slightly metallic, and very medicinal taste. I thought it was just my older taste buds, and unfortunately I raised my sons on it because kids 'need' milk. My younger son developed a structural condition that after years of research appears to likely be caused by pesticide/hormone/antibiotic residue in milk. We began drinking Horizon Organic Milk, which tasted fresh and creamy and without strange after-taste. Within months it was clear that my son's condition stopped worsening. Perhaps this article means well, but is absolutely misdirected - Horizon Milk is an excellent, untainted product. I am not an employee or paid advocate, just a mom who wants the best milk products for my children.
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/Mama2Goosie/status/78279832869412866
like on facebook
No, we haven't had cable in almost 3 years. We have an antenna in the backyard and also Netflix. It's all the tv we need, along with shows available online.
I don't pay for cable and spend my time looking for ways to save on our very tight budget due to medical expenses and donate to our local church and food drives. Netflix is a much cheaper option used once in awhile.
Yes, I pay for cable TV. It's one of my few "luxuries". I like the convenience of just being able to turn on the TV and find something interesting to watch.
We only pay for basic cable (about twelve channels) because it is included with our internet service. We do pay for Netflix ($10 a month) because we don't have cable, and this also includes Netflix Instant. We have a Blu Ray player so we can stream Netflix Instant on our TV. I'm a librarian, so we also get lots of DVDs from the library, including DVD sets of cable TV shows. We also watch the free shows on Hulu. We do have to wait for shows and movies to come out on DVD, but there's lots of stuff to watch in the meantime. There are certain cable shows I miss but in addition to saving money, I think this saves us from spending a lot more time in front of the TV.
Nope, I've been free of cable(more specifically Comcast) for 6 months. I'm sooooooo happy to get rid of them. I bought a Roku box(best 69.00 I've spent in awhile) -- I subscribe to Netflix and Hulu Plus, I get most of the popular network shows, but I'm not much of a fan and might get rid of Hulu -- it's difficult for me to get over the air channels, so the one thing I thought I would miss was live news -- that hasn't been an issue because I found private channels that stream CNN, BBC, MSNBC, CNBC -- I think Roku comes with Live Al Jazeera(not the most popular channel for an American, but it is live) --I even got in on the Youtube channel(a constant source of amusement) before it was blocked to all new subscribers -- so I'm all set. Bills went from a gazillion dollars a month to around 18.00 bucks and there's more than I ever could or would watch, wish I could have done it years ago --very happy.
I tweeted! http://api.twitter.com/#!/carrotrunr/status/78270385853972480
Yes, we pay for cable each month but no premium channels.
I like wisebread on facebook!
No, I don't pay for cable. Most of the shows I am interested in air on network channels. For the rest, I use Hulu or DVDs.
It is not just America, but labour laws and (even higher) taxes (than another commenter believes the high salary folks are hit with) make the choice for the employee in many European countries. Elsewhere, where the laws and taxes are more moderate, people tend to make the same choices.
I know, I came to America, landed a position with a Fortune 500 and worked my way up to well over $100K compensation, with bonuses. In return, it required 50-70 hour weeks, and ever higher hoops to jump through. Then came downsizing. I was hit, and was very disappointed with the company. Then I come to realize that I have saved plenty so I don't really have to worry so hard. Only in a place like America can this happen!!!
So, Kate, you are absolutely correct. If you want to make that kind of income, so that you can build a sizable nest egg, there is a price to pay. It will take lots of work. A simple 9-5 job is not going to cut it, not anymore. You will have to put in that kind of effort either working for a company or as an entrepreneur. Those internet billionaires (Yahoo, Google, Facebook) are really just lucky guys, the right place at the right time, with the right idea. I'm not talking about them. The rest of us have to work our butts off to make it to the point we don't have to worry about the costs of living.
As for rich is relative...agree. Mankind proved a long time ago that we only need a cave to live in. Anything more is really a want...McMansion and BMW anyone?
I'm a college student, I can have cable b 1) there's free cable and social interaction in the many lounges 2) there's hulu 3) I should be studying, college is expensive.
No. I had Comcast's basic cable on a special for a while, it was about $35 per month. I'd gripe at the end of each 3 month period, and they extended it for about 18 months, but finally I couldn't go above anyone else's head.
The interesting thing was that they had one special at the time, but it was for new customers only. I asked if I could cancel for a week then get the new special. They were confused but decided that wasn't allowed. I asked why they were more interested in attracting new customers than retaining existing customers. More confusion.
I wasn't going to pay $80 per month for basic cable. I cut the cord.
That was about two years ago. I've used Netflix and Blockbuster Express, both of which have their merits, which, combined with plenty of internet (and SiriusXM), provides more than enough media in my life.
The combined cost of Netflix, Internet access, and SiriusXM is about $70 per month. Cable is not worth it.
We only pay for "basic cable" that is required to have cable internet. It gives us channels 1-18. For everything else, we use netflix and hulu!
I'm with you, blogger. It ticks me off that they send out things like this unsolicited. I'd be surprised if netspend didn't send its customers here to post all the positive stuff... It's hooey! Thanks for writing about your experience!
We do not pay for cable. The $100 a mont it costs just seems like too much for too little. We subscribe to netflix for $10 a mont which more than suits our needs. We watch about 1 hour of tv a day. Though I do miss watching PTI os espn everday. We have been cableless for about 18 months now