The Frugal Guide to Cutting the Cable Cord (And Saving $$$): Learn How to Stop Paying Cable Companies Thousands a Year
Author: Kaylee Cole
Date: 2013-04-09T04:00:00+00:00
Description: Tired of paying $80 to $100 or more for hundreds of cable channels each month that you don't even watch? Wouldn't you like to pick only what shows you watch and pay for those or even better pay no cable bill at all?You've heard of online services such as netflix, hulu and amazon prime but the names and hardware devices are migraine inducing. Who has time to keep up with the constant shift in technologies.Look no further as the Frugal Guide to Cutting the Cable Cord will guide you through the maze and clear the confusion. Offering you insights and explanations in an easy to read and understand
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Art Of Frugal - Cut The Cord

Save Thousands a Year by Cutting Cable and Utility Costs

By Kaylee Cole

Table of Contents

Spending and Saving. 3

Cut the Cable and Raise the Antenna. 6

The Best of the Online Mainstream Alternatives. 9

The Best Hardware Cable Alternatives. 14

Geeky Hardware Choices. 19

Keep Cable but Get Drastic Rate Reduction. 23

Some Alternatives to Cable TV. 27

Throwing Away the TV Set
31

Challenges with No Cable. 36

Non Cable Cost Cutting. 40

Family Acceptance. 48

Conclusion. 52

How much money do you spend on cable TV? Quite a lot I bet. There are thousands of people out there who consider this a waste of money.  Why?  Do they hate tv?  Do they never watch movies?  No, because there are other options to watch TV without having the cable at your home. Yes, this is the emergence of an era where cutting the cord is a buzzword and mainstream.

This book is your friend who will guide you through the process of cutting the cord. You will learn what a big chunk of money you spend (or shall we say “waste”) on cable TV every year. Also discover the truth about how much money you can save if you just ditch the cable.

You will learn how you can cut the cable but watch TV using an Antenna and enjoy premium quality. I wonder why so many people look down upon OTA where it offers you a range of options to choose from.

With online mainstream alternatives, such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon and iTunes, come even more options. Besides saving tons of money every year, you have the freedom to watch whatever you like. What about the new kind of TV? Roku, Apple TV and TiVo all are far better than cable TV. You can either replace your cable service entirely and use one of the many alternatives, or find one that supplements your service. There are other alternatives, too, such as DVDs and Blu-Rays, the Internet, local libraries and public domain.

If you don’t think you or your family can deal with the fact that there will be no TV at all, then you should try getting a drastic cost reduction. Find out all the valuable and sure-fire ways to find the best deal on cable TV.

This book will help you discover the positive and many benefits of cutting out TV from your household entirely. But of course, there will be challenges, too.

As a book of frugality, we will also introduce you to all the effective ways to reduce your living cost, from telephone bill to internet bill to energy cost.

Happy cord cutting!

Spending and Saving

Let’s take a look at how much we spend on cable TV:

The monthly spending has been almost the same throughout the year, from November 2010 to November 2011. We are going to go over how much we can save off cable TV services later, but first take another look at how much time we spend on cable TV:

Total Use of Television

Data

Average time spent watching television (U.S.)

5:11 hours

White

5:02

Black

7:12

Hispanic

4:35

Asian

3:14

Years the average person will have spent watching TV

9 years

Source: BLS American Time Use Survey, A.C. Nielsen Co.

Now, let’s say you spend around $950 a year on cable and TV. If you use conventional cable for over the next 5 years, the total spending would be about $4,750.

Now if you choose, say, Hulu which will cost $7.99 per month, the total spending for the next 5 years would be around $479.40. So, you save $4,750 - $480 (let’s round up) = $4,270. Voila! However, it turns out that quitting cable TV (and kicking the habit) is a bit challenging, doesn’t it? So, this is the best time to learn how to cut the cord but still watch TV [shows].

Cut the Cable and Raise the Antenna

Despite the fact that some are adamantly of the opinion that cable is king and antenna is dead, believe it or not, the opposite is true.  Antennas are perfectly capable of displaying HD in a way that makes some of the HDF cable channels look old. Most of the latest flat screen televisions, along with a high proportion of those that still have a tube, incorporate an ATSC tuner – all you do is slot the antenna in and set the television to pick up any OTA channels. Hey presto, top quality HD viewing. You may need to fine tune your antenna before it will pick up the channels but that a fairly simple job.

In June 2009 analog NTSC broadcasts were switched over to ATSC digital.  Virtually every television broadcasting station now uses this standard and most have at least one HD channel. The ATSC standard is versatile in that it allows for the broadcast of a range of resolutions and signals along with 5.1 audio.

Over The Air, or OTA as it is more commonly known, can be used to provide live streaming content from some of the more common local network stations.  The most common ones you will see are Fox, CBS, ABC, PBS and CBS. Each of the local television stations has the ability to stream a variety of different channels so, by using OTA you might just find yourself with more to choose from. Many of the channels provide alternate language stations as well as multiple channels with varying content.  On its own, it’s a great option; add it to another service like Netflix and you won’t need to hook up your cable service ever again.

You can use an antenna either indoors or outside.  Outdoor ones are usually located on the roof, or as high up as possible to get the best signal.

No matter which you are using, both type so antennas need to be able to get a good signal. There are several factors which affect this; how far to the transmission tower, what obstacles stand between the tower and the antenna and where the antenna is placed. This is why outdoor antennas are a lot more powerful and reliable than indoor ones.

UHF and VHF

You will find that virtually all antennas are capable of receiving UHF, VHF or both. This is similar to a radio that receives both AM and FM signals. Making sure you choose the right one for your requirement is essential.  Check out which channels you want to pick up and whether it requires UHF or VHF – Channel 8, for example requires VHF, whereas Channel 27 needs UHF.

A report from the Federal  Communications Commission states that Channels 2 to 13 are VHF, with frequencies ranging between 54 – 216MHz. Channels 14 to 83 are UHF, frequencies between 300 and 3000MHz. As we draw to closer to complete transition to digital, the higher frequencies will be earmarked for that and analog frequencies will gradually decrease.

Many believe that digital and HD signals are strictly in the UHF bandwidth – not true. There are some, although not many, on the VHF frequencies.

An upstart alternative to antenna: Aereo (streams and records TV)

The idea behind Aereo is intriguing. Connect thousands of tiny physical antennas to data storage and let their customers view live or digitally recorded TV to their device via the internet. Technical the customers are leasing each antenna.  The service is based in New York but they have announced that they will be rolling out to 22 cities this year.

The website at www.aereo.com lets you quickly and easily select from a range of plans. It even has a free account that lets you view live broadcasts for up to an hour per day. The yearly option is the cheapest, at $80 plus tax, giving you the ability to record from one antenna while viewing another and storing up to 40 hours on your virtual DVR.

Aereo works on all popular browsers with Windows or Mac based computers and on Roku and Apple TV. While iPads and iPhones are supported, it is somewhat disappointing that other devices are not supported at present.

The service works as advertised and the speed and quality are amazing. The limit on the service at the moment is that it will only work in the New York area and as the multi city rollout expands then each city will have its own antenna farm and data storage area. This to comply with copyright provisions.

The Best of the Online Mainstream Alternatives

Have you ever stopped to add up just how much money it costs you each month, just to watch a few programs on the television? How much are you spending on Cable or Sky, only to find you are watching a mere fraction of what you pay for and a that many of the shows are repeated constantly?  How about changing your viewing habits? Cable packages do not let you pick and choose channels al a carte.

Get rid of cable and save yourself a small fortune by going over to one of these online mainstream alternatives, all of which are completely legal:

1. Netflix.com

Price: You get a free trial for a period of one month then you can choose form a number of streaming packages, starting at just $7.99 per month.

What you need: A fast internet connection, a TV and a device that is compatible with Netflix – these usually cost between $180 and $300 but remember this is a one-off cost. Choose from the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii or maybe the Xbox 360, all of which you can use for gaming as well as watching the television.  If you are not bothered about a small screen you can also make use of you PC display monitor.

Pros: Netflix currently has more than 10 million subscribers, a figure that has got to be making cable companies a little twitchy.  You don’t get any adverts and you can pause your program, stop, rewind it or forward through it as often as you want to.

Cons: To make it worthwhile your internet connection should be affordable but fast, as Netflix does use up quite a large amount of bandwidth. You will also find that you sometimes can’t get the latest movies.

2. Hulu

Price: Completely free if you are using your PC but Hulu Plus HD is $8 per month and can be streamed onto a range of devices.

What you need: A good internet connection and a device that is compatible with ulu – your PC connected to the television is as good as any.

Pros: On demand television viewing with a good range of TV shows available.

Cons:

1.     Hulu does contain adverts

2.     Hulu is only available to citizens in the US and overseas territories.

3.     A fast internet connection is a must without any restrictions on usage.

3. YouTube

You might just be surprised at what is available to watch on YouTube. It isn’t all home movies that have been uploaded by users; there are also some films, full length TV shows (in USA) and other goodies as well. It’s free to join and could save you a small fortune.

Price: Completely free.

What you need: A good internet connection and a computer, or internet enabled tablet, iPhone or even a PS3.

Pros: YouTube is Google-owned and supplies endless entertainment in just about any format you want – home videos, TV shows music and film.

Cons:

1.     Can only be played back using a web browser.

2.     Better suited for short clips, music videos and personal videos than full length programs.

3.     Most of the videos do contain advertising.

4. Amazon Video on Demand

This allows you to watch a wide range of PPV films and TV shows, made available by what is probably the world’s largest online retailer.

Price: Pay per View so price is according to what you are watching, plus a compatible device for streaming content.

What you need: A good internet connection, television, and a compatible device, such as TiVo or Roku players. These cost anywhere between $80 and $100. Or you can use your PC for playback.

Pros: More than 75,000 different movies and shows and quite a few HDTV’s and other devices that are fully compatible with it.

Con: Can only be watched in the USA

5. iTunes

This is the third biggest media content retailer and definitely worth a visit.

Price: While you can get some free stuff on iTunes, most are priced at $0.99 and upwards. If you want to watch a TV serial you can buy a pass that is valid for a whole season which does work out a bit cheaper. You can also get HD programs but they’re more expensive.

What you need: A PC with iTunes downloaded on to it – it’s free – and a good internet connection.

Pros: iTunes is an online retail store and a media player combined so it offers one of the largest choices of media to watch.

Cons: You can’t get everything on iTunes and it could start to work out expensive if you watch a lot of shows. Be careful of the cost of downloading if your bandwidth is expensive as well.

6. Network Websites

Most of the major networks will stream their content on their own websites, usually after it has aired on TV.

Price: FREE

What you need: A fast internet connection and a computer.

Pros: Because you get to see your favourite shows on your favourite networks it’s a bit like having cable, except it’s on the internet and on demand, so no having to worry about missing start times.

Cons:

1.     Some programs start with adverts that cannot be forwarded through.

2.     The network may only be able to show up to the last 5 episodes of a series because they don’t always store the older ones.

3.     You will have to look for your shows through a few different websites as they won’t all be in one place.

4.     You may only be able to watch from within a web browser meaning a lack of viewing quality.

7. Sezmi

This is a DVR that has some local channels, a couple of cable channels and some on-demand stuff.

Price: About $300 for the Sezmi device and $19.95 per month.

What you need: A good internet connection and the above-mentioned Sezmi device.

Pros: It is cheaper than cable and satellite and you get a combination of both TV and internet content.

Cons:

1.     Sezmi device is expensive.

2.     Can only be viewed in some of the larger US cities.

While it might seem like a lot of hard work to get rid of cable, once you’ve bought the device your yearly savings can amount to a large amount each year.

The Best Hardware Cable Alternatives

1.     Roku 3

How to get it: Check out Roku on the internet. You can purchase the service either through their website or at selected stores – the website lists these.

What's available: Roku provides a single access point for a range of different TV shows and movies. It uses other services, such as Hulu and Netflix, to get its content from.

Cost:  A Roku box will cost anywhere between $50 to $100 depending on what you want on it.  Separate payment is required for all of the movie services as well.

Pros: Roku is perfect for bringing together all of your viewing options into one place.  Rather than having to download your content before you watch it, Roku streams it, so no messing around.

Cons: You do need to have a fast internet service and you will also need to pay out for extra services to get your TV shows and movies.

Overall: A great way of getting to watch you want without having to pay for and rely on cable services.  The latest Roku 3 which was released in 2013 is regarded as the best overall media device by many.  The unit balances ease of use, cost and compatibility with most of the content providers.  This is the go-to unit!

2.     Apple TV

How to get it: Apple TV can be purchased either online or via your nearest Apple retail store or online at apple.com.

What's available: You can watch just about anything you want to buy and download, whether it’s a movie or a TV show. Apple TV also provides easy access to Netflix, or you can check out your photos or play music using iCloud.

Cost: The Apple set top box costs $99 and then you pay for your downloads, usually between $1.99 and $3.99 per film or show.

Pros: The set top box is small, perfect for those who are limited for space. The iTunes store is packed full of content, even the latest releases and for storage options, you can put your bought contents on iCloud rather than onto the Apple TV set top box, giving you loads more room for more purchases.

Cons: This could work out to be a very expensive method of watching the television, unless you are just using it for occasional downloads. If you start looking at downloading full seasons then be prepared to pay for it.

Overall: For those who just want to watch the occasional movie or show, it’s a great way to do it.  If you already have other Apple devices, you will be able to sync them together with the television as well.

3.     TiVo

How to get it: Go to the TiVo website if you want the best price although the set top boxes can be purchased at large electronics stores as well.

What's available: TiVo as a supplemental service to cable TV. The cable service goes via your TiVo box to your TV and, from there, you can watch ordinary cable plus any other services that you are willing to pay for, like Netflix, and you can also use it to record from cable so you never miss an episode of your favorite show again.

Cost: TiVo boxes can be purchased for between $80 and $500, depending on what amount of storage space you require.  There is also a monthly fee of $20 for the use of the TiVo service.

Pros: A great way of keeping all your programs together in one place and for recording. And you get the added benefit of being able to skip through commercial breaks.

Cons: The $20 monthly fee is going to add up although, it’s not bad when you compare it to the cost of a DVR supplied through your cable service. And it does have more features.

Overall: This was one of the first DVR options available and is still going strong. It lets you manage your TV viewing and it’s easy to use as well.

4.     Boxee

How to get it: Boxee can be purchased by going to their dedicated website.

Cost: For $99 you get a DVR, access to live TV and internet apps as well.

Pros: Boxee includes a web browser, allowing you to access the internet direct on your television set.  With a full QWERTY keypad on one side, the remote control is double sided. The other side features buttons that allow you to move across the screen, pick specific options and it lets you go back if you’ve made a mistake or changed your mind.  You can set up Repositories in which you can store videos or films that can be shared with other Boxee users.

Cons: It’s not easy to set up a repository and sometimes, the videos you store in it will disappear for no reason, and then turn up again.  You can’t subscribe to any actual TV shows and most of the content is just links to websites, meaning you are basically using your television to watch web content at poor resolutions, and with ads as well.

Overall: Boxee is good if you just want to access web content easily and watch it on the TV.

Depending on what you are trying to do, there are loads of different services that are either cheap or completely free. You can either replace your cable service entirely and use one of the many alternatives or find one that supplements your service. Be aware though, prices do change and what may be free now, may not be in the future. Laws do change regularly and you might find your chosen service is the target one day. At the moment, the choice is yours so get choosing from these alternatives to cable TV.  As of August 2013 I personally cannot recommend a boxee solution.  I think Roku and others have provided a much more vibrant and stable option.

5.      Chromecast

How to get it:   Chromecast can be purchased at Best Buy and online at play.google.com

Cost: For $35 you get a usb sized device that plugs into your TV or receiver HDMI and is wifi enabled.

Pros: Google, Google, Google… and Cost.  The device is a $35 gamble that google will continue to increase the compatibility and services around it.   It works with any hdmi device and uses any android OS enabled system on the same WIFI network as a remote.  The potential upsides are huge for Chromecast with possibilities of Plex support, HBOGO, Hulu and more.

Cons: Although cheap the technology is brand new (released in July 2013) and unproven.  Many consumers will want a physical remote control and not to be forced to use an android tablet or phone.  Compatibility today is limited to Google Play apps such as Youtube, Google Music and Netflix for Android. This device is not for everyone, today.

Overall:  Chromecast is brand new to the market and exciting technology due to the very low cost.  A $35 investment is low enough that many consumers are willing to take a chance and see how the product evolves.  The Chromecast device is sold out in most stores as of August 2013, but Google is expected to ramp up production in the fall.  The potential upsides for a device such as Chromecast combined with support from a large company such as Google are enticing.  If Netflix (already compatible), Hulu, HBO, ESPN and others join in and make their services compatible the device and ecosystem will be hard to beat for value and performance.

Keep an eye out for the Chromecast device and how it evolves.  It could very well replace your DVR or Cable box.

Geeky Hardware Choices

While large screen TV’s, DVR’s and Blu-Ray players are increasing their functionality they are not really an easy to use all in one device when it comes to controlling and viewing content from the internet (or content is stored on your home network).  A device that is becoming increasingly popular is the HTPC or Home Theater Personal Computer. It has all of the advantages of a computer, such as cheap components that you can choose yourself, compatibility and the ability to use many different formats of media files both on and off the internet.

The advantages of a HTPC over a normal computer are that an HTPC is designed to integrate with your audiovisual system (and fit in your living room). The visual appeal and the size are important but also the low noise and multi connectivity set it apart from your normal computer.

The two main software interfaces used in HTPC are XBMC and Windows Media Center for HTPC. The Windows Media Center is found as part as part of some versions of Windows XP, Vista Windows 7 and can be downloaded for Windows 8. It is not available for other operating systems. Windows Media Centre is a robust interface that sits on top of the Windows installation.

XBMC original stood for X-Box Media Center and is an open source project that now supports Windows, Mac, Linux and iOS and Android it even comes in a standalone version known as XBMCbuntu. It uses add-ons to increase functionality, while keeping multi-platform support. These add-ons allow integration of services such as YouTube and Hulu among many others.

The XMBC platform also has the ability to share content with other devices such as computers and network attached storage (NAS). XBMC has modest hardware requirements and is compatible with most hardware video decoding standards that are found in all-in-one or integrated systems. This gives an inexpensive system the ability to stream and display 1080p High Definition video that gives the best experience on today’s large screen displays.

A basic system for a HTPC build are listed below and target a $250-$300 price range. These components are just for representation and you can exchange your preferred brand name without sacrificing the end product.

·        Motherboard + CPU Combo:  The ASRock E350M1/USB3 with on board AMB dual core CPU. This an inexpensive Combo that gives some 3D performance, 7.1 Audio, great video decoding and has USB 3.0 ports for fast access to USB devices. It also has VGA DVI and HDMI outputs that give greater flexibility when connecting to your HDTV.

·        Drive: Crucial CT064V4SSD2. This SSD drive has 64GB is SATA3 compatible and inexpensive.

·        Memory: G.Skill 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 1333 MHz Ram. The Motherboard has 2 RAM slots, with a single stick of 4GB RAM and upgrade to 8GB at a later date is simply a matter of plugging in another stick of Ram.

·        Cooling Fan: SY12225SL12L 120mm fan from Sythe. This 800 RPM Slipstream fan is rated at a whisper quiet 11 dB but will make sure that the HTPC does not overheat.

·        HTPC Case: Apex Mi-008 Black ITX case with 250W power supply. It is important to choose a case that matches the rest of your AV gear as well as provides a cool and quiet home for your HTPC components.  There are smaller cases but this model enables expansion for a GPU and a DVD/Blu-Ray drive.

·        Infra-Red Remote Receiver: HP OVU400102/71 USB Infra-Red Receiver. The HP seems to have the least problems but any RC6 device should be ok.

This is a basic setup that will happily play 1080p video from many sources. It has upgradeability built in and is a good basis to try HTPC before deciding what else you want to include in your HTPC project.

SSD storage

Solid State Storage is rapidly increasing its market share because of its ultra-fast speed, noiseless technology and light, weight. SSD’s are more expensive per GB than hard disks but this HTPC is designed to stream content from the internet and other devices on a home network. The SATA3 ports and USB 3.0 ports offer easy upgrade paths to attach further storage if you need it.

SSD size for a HTPC

Linux and XBMC only requires 3GB minimum while Windows 7 requires at least 16GB minimum. With a 64GB SSD there is sufficient free space for many other files. The prices are falling and sizes increasing so always keep your eye out for the best prices when building your system.

Back Panel

The rear ports on the motherboard are accessible as with most AV equipment. The HTPC as illustrated here has 5 x audio outputs for 7.1 sound, SP-DIF for optical audio, network connection, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports and an e-SATA connector. There are also outputs for VGA, DVI and HDMI to connect your display.

Front of the HTPC

The uncluttered front panel has a pull down flap that hides the headphone, microphone and USB 2.0 ports. This allows easy access to connect a USB keyboard, USB flash memory device or hard disk.

Closing the Case

This case has a matte black finish with a glossy finish on the front. The case has the ability to add more SSD, Hard disks and a DVD or Blu-Ray drive. There is also room to expand the GPU with a PCI-e 2.0 16x slot.

Ventilation is important and the installation of a low noise high volume fan will keep the temperature down. This ensures that there is no overheating and also stops the CPU fan from operating at its fastest speeds which can increase noise levels.

HP IR remote receiver

To properly use your HTPC with Windows Media Center or XBMC then you need either a mouse and keyboard or more conveniently (and inconspicuously) a remote control. There are many RC6 compatible receivers but the brand with the widest support and greatest compatibility is HP.

The HP OVU400103/00 is difficult to find but is the best model for compatibility.

The HP OVU400120/71 is also good and has support in the latest version of XBMC.

A note if you are buying from Ebay there have been a lot of fake HP IR Receivers that look identical but do not have the same internals. Be aware when you are looking at the price of an item you are buying.

Another option when it comes to remote controls is the Logitech Harmony line. Any of the harmony remotes can be programmed to work with your tv, AV system and htpc.

Keep Cable but Get Drastic Rate Reduction

Cable TV has been with us since 1948 and has grown to cover about 60% of households. There are many competing networks with the largest being the Comcast network that has a reach of more than twenty two million subscribers.

Cable providers normally have a basic package that includes local network channels, public channels and infomercial shopping channels. Some providers include the major cable network stations while others have a slightly more expensive tier that includes then known as standard cable. The premium channels come in many packages that allow the subscriber to mix and match according to their tastes and budget.

Competition between cable companies, satellite providers and phone companies has seen many alliances formed where package deals are made to try to lock in a customer with pay-tv, phone and internet services through a single provider. This has led to some of the smaller providers in each market being absorbed into larger entities in an attempt to get to a position where economies of scale reduce the company’s overall costs.

Find out what is out there

The first step to get a better deal is knowing what is available. The internet can be very helpful as you can quickly and easily search out the providers in your area. Their websites will have their latest offers shown prominently but make sure you compare any set up costs and contract terms so that you can compare apples with apples.

The local phone providers are also good places to look for combination deals. They will supply the phone services and may have a partner such as dish networks that supplies the pay television service. It is important to understand what sort of service that is being supplied and if they are right for your needs. The satellite-based services have transmission difficulties in certain weather conditions and they need line of sight to the satellite in the sky. Before considering a switch checkout what others in your local area have found you are aware of any drawbacks.

Review what you really watch

Many people have expensive premium plans that they never use. Check out the plan options that will allow everyone in the household to watch their favorite programs and see if you can move to a less costly plan without losing any of your needed channels. This can reduce the monthly fee significantly and there is nothing to be gained by paying for channels that go unwatched on the chance that something might appear in the future that you would be interested in.

This is a great time to get the family involved so that everyone gets a say and understands how much cable and the programs shown cost. It may surprise you that some packages that your significant others or your children wanted are not important at all.

Remember to ask your current provider how they can help you get a better deal

People sometimes think that, their current providers are not about to let them pay a lower price, but this is not true. The buzz word in the industry is ‘customer retention’ they want to keep you and will do anything that they can to keep you. So do not be worried by contacting them and letting them know that you are looking for ways to reduce your bill the very worst thing that could happen is that they apologize and say no.

If your company has a special offer for new customers ask if you can get the same deal. You may be able to get a better deal by bundling other services such as mobile phone, home phone or internet with your existing service. This can generate large reductions on the overall cost but it is important to make sure that you are not contracted with your current provider or you may have to pay a contract break fee that could nullify any savings.

You catch more flies with honey

It is important to be calm and clear when you contact your provider. A good customer representative will try to help you and will have the training and product knowledge to offer helpful suggestions. They are trained on the products that they deal with and know that they need to retain you as a customer if at all possible.

If you are pleasant and calm, then the person you are speaking to will also be much less stressed. They are more likely to be able to use their knowledge to find a way to help you or to offer suggestions that can reduce your bill.

If you get someone that is not being helpful or comes across in a way that is making you upset, then stay calm and ask to speak to a manager or supervisor. They can then give you more authoritative information and can arrange for the call to be reviewed and the representative to be counseled or retrained.  Worst case simply hang up and call back, chances are high that you will be connected with a differed (and possibly kinder) agent.

Mention any special offers

When you are talking to your current cable supplier do not forget to mention any offers that their competitors are making. In many call centers there are specific people that are tasked with keeping customers that may be tempted to leave because of a competitor’s special deal. When you let your representative know they can then forward you to them or make a counter offer. This isn’t always available but is quite common as it is an effective tool that both retains you as a customer and makes the competitors advertising spending ineffective.

Consider alternatives

The internet has spawned many different content providers such as Netflix, iTunes and Hulu that deliver the latest shows and some pay per view programs to you over the internet. They offer the same shows with either a per episode fee or a per series fee. This allows you to target only the content that you want and to watch it on your TV, computer or portable device. This can be a great way to reduce your overall bill by switching to basic cable and then downloading only, what you want to watch at a low per episode price.

Some Alternatives to Cable TV

Cable TV has become mainstream and paying for access to various programs is seen as a normal expense. This can add up to a thousand dollars or more a year and in many peoples cases they only watch a very tiny proportion of what they are paying for.

There are many ways to get entertainment without spending hundreds of dollars so why not save some money and consider a few before you pay your next cable TV bill.

Internet access

The internet has a lot of content, some that you pay for and some that is entirely free. The main networks all have extensive websites that carry some live broadcast, catch up episodes and older libraries of television that you can access for free. This is a great resource and allows you to view what is available in many different formats. Most newer TV’s have the ability to access the internet and so these websites can be accessed directly. If your TV does not have this ability then there are very cheap set-top boxes that can add on this ability.

These programs can also be watched on your computer, notebook, or portable device. This is great because you can watch one program on the computer while the kids watch another on the TV and your partner has another on their portable device.

Premium content that previously was only available on cable TV is now also available for viewing on the internet. These companies including Apples iTunes have low per episode pricing that offers a real alternative as you only pay for what you use.

Another free resource are the various companies that make the content. There are sites like South Park and the Simpsons that have the entire library of episodes online. You are given a commercial or two to watch to view the content but that is a small price to pay for free viewing. The other free source of content is of course YouTube with literally millions of videos that range from full release TV episodes and music videos to exclusive professional content and amateur uploads. The move by YouTube to encourage HD content also makes the most of today’s latest devices with ultra-high resolutions.

Purchase DVD’s or Blu-Ray discs

A good way to get the episodes of your favorite series is to purchase the DVD or Blu-Ray disk that will allow you to view them as many times as you want. This can be a great way to build your own media collection and if you have a few friends that also purchase disks you can set up an informal system where you swap between each other keeping the costs down and the selections wide spread.

Check with your family members as well, because disc sets also make great presents and they are likely to go on special when the next series or special box set becomes available. There are many online stores that specialize in these DVD and Blu-Ray sets and have very good prices. You do need to be careful that you deal with a reputable outlet as some online stores supply counterfeit copies that are illegal and lower quality than original disks.

Sell your disc and reduce your costs

There is a thriving secondhand market in good quality DVD and Blu-Ray disks so this gives you the chance to buy and sell to make savings on the video that you want to see. If you buy a boxed set and then sell it for at or near the same price then you are paying next to nothing for all of those hours of viewing. Most disks sell secondhand for between half and three-quarters of the original price. If you purchase a second hand set and keep them in the same great shape then you should get the same that you paid for it. In situations where there is no supply available for a specific set then the price can sky rocket, so if you have that set then sell them and make a profit.  On the flip side, if you are looking to purchase then perhaps holding off for a while will be better.

Check out your local library

It is surprising but many people do not use their local library. This is a great place to find many things that you can use for free. The library, of course, has a wide selection of books and you might like to check out the books that you favorite series or movie was originally produced from.

Many successful series also have books written to expand on the series that inspired them. Star Wars and Star Trek have whole collections that are written by many different authors that expand upon the universe that the movies have created.

They also have a large selection of DVD’s available that you can borrow, these can be reserved if they are popular and are entirely free. You can also make requests for what the library purchase in its next buying cycle and they are always happy to listen to your suggestions.

Many libraries have an extensive collection of children disks that can select as well as books. This is a great way to encourage them to read as well make visiting the library a fun activity. They can learn responsibility by having their own library card and checking their selections through.

Another service that libraries offer is inter-library loans. This allows books and DVDs that at one library has to be sent to another library for a short period. You can usually access this service through the libraries search system and you can ask your local librarian if you need help with a request.

There are some rare items that are no longer available to be purchased in most libraries and this service allows people to access these items instead of just sitting on the shelf. It is great fun looking through the lists of old DVD’s that are available and asking for a transfer. It reminds me of someone searching for buried treasures.

Throwing Away the TV Set

The television set is something that is found in every home in the country. It is a window into the world that before the internet revolution, was the main source of news and information for the majority of the populace. The major world events such as the moon landing, the fall of the Berlin wall and twin towers attack saw almost the entire population watching events live on a television.

With free to air, cable and satellite most people have access to tens or hundreds of channels with competing news services, sit-coms and the many variations of ‘reality TV’. Sports, music and documentaries are also prevalent with each genre split into more and more specialized channels.

If you ask some people to imagine life without TV they are horrified. Where would they get their information and news, what would they do for all those hours if they didn’t have TV to watch? There are other ways to keep informed and there are other less time-consuming ways to view your favorite shows. Let’s look at some of the positives that banishing the TV from the house can have.

Stop being a couch potato

Let’s face it being a couch potato is a very low impact activity. When you switch on the TV and grab the remote, it can be relaxing. Just flicking through the channels, looking for something that takes your interest. We have all done it but you are just putting yourself on hold for a few hours. Why not use this time to relax properly, getting to bed early or even reading a good book. You will find that you will be more alert after only a few days, so why not give it a try?

Think of the power you will save

The TV is a power hog because many people will switch it on as soon as they are in the home and leave it on until they go to sleep. One of my friends used to fall asleep in front of the TV so often he believed that his couch was seeing more sleep use than his bed.

Why not give yourself a week where you try to leave the set off unless you want to watch something in particular. Then check your electricity usage and I am certain you will be amazed at the difference.

No more irritating commercials

The bane of TV is the commercials that are specially crafted to drill into your brain causing you to hum the latest cereal jingle for the rest of the day. Imagine the freedom of never having to sit through another commercial interrupting your program. This has to be one of the best reasons to disconnect your TV, so let’s do it.

Viewing options

The TV was the king of entertainment but as the Internet has spread and the speed of these connections has risen, online viewing has taken over as the new king. The internet allows content providers to connect directly to their audience. This connection can be delivered on a smartphone, a tablet device or a computer, which means that you can view what you want when you want and where you want.

Companies such as YouTube have taken advantage of this and many shows have official releases that are available on YouTube. YouTube has also become the go to place for music videos. The latest music videos from around the world are available and the library of older music is truly amazing. Unlike with a TV you can pick exactly what you want you do not need to sit through hours of music just to see a few of your favorites.

If you don’t use your TV, then you can also save money on your cable or satellite TV service. The average price that is paid by people using subscription television services is more than $80 per month. That is considerable sum every month and that is only for the basic service with premium channels and pay per views this can rise dramatically.

Most households already have an internet connection that is capable of streaming high quality video so there are no extra costs to access these services. There are many sports packages available for viewing live on the internet. Some are free and some use a subscription model. A great service is the Major League Baseball site, which has a yearly package that is about the same price as a single month’s cable subscription.

Free to air and free to view online

The major networks have extensive sites that have an amazing amount of content all available to you free and in high quality. They normally have catch up episodes of their latest available shortly after they are aired and there are other episodes that part of the networks library also available.

The networks and other programming suppliers are offering more content such as older shows and repeats. These are a great resource although many now have a few ads placed in them. They are at least much less frequent than the commercials found on TV and usually consist of a single advertisement lasting fifteen seconds before the episode is shown.

[Re]Connect with your family

A positive of not having the TV taking everyone’s attention is that your family will start talking to each other and more importantly without the distraction of the TV they will listen as well. You can get out the old scrabble or monopoly game for some shared family time or if the weather is good or why not a walk to your local park? Having everyone parked in front of the TV just absorbing what is being presented and not interacting is not really shared time. Watching television provides no discussion or interaction, just a sharing of zombie like devotion to the great and powerful tube.

Sleep is easier

The TV can be very bad for sleep patterns. I know that I would be watching and feel really tired, but I wanted to make sure I finished watching the show even if I had seen it previously. The light from the TV also makes it more difficult to fall asleep. The body is conditioned to want to stay awake when it is light. If you are like me then you may find that without the hours of TV before bedtime that you can fall asleep much more quickly. In addition, without falling into the trap of just watching TV a little longer, you can go to bed earlier and sleep longer. I know I sleep at least an hour longer than I used to and the extra energy is great.

You can try avoiding the TV before bed if you just cannot go ‘cold turkey’ on getting rid of the TV.  Avoid late night viewing and record any programs for viewing on the weekends. Use this new free time to catch up on some chores, read a book or just relax. Do something with friends or family, and when you feel the slightest bit sleep, go to bed in a nice dark room. You will quickly notice that your stress levels will lower and your get up and go will return. It is easy to do so why not give it a few weeks to try? You may just permanently unplug the TV when you see how much better you feel.

No more TV snacks

As I have grown a little older, I had noticed that my waistline had also seemed to expand. I had thought this was just a natural progression and I wanted to go to the gym, I really, really did but I just did not have the time.

When the TV was relegated to the basement, I noticed that during my weekly shopping there was a group of items that I normally buy that where no longer being eaten at the same rate. You know these tasty treats that just seem to go perfectly with a few hours in front of the TV watching a sporting event or one of the weekly episodes of your favorite show. Corn chips, potato chips, cookies, dips and sodas were my snacks of choice (Cheetos yum!).

I had never really given much thought to these high-energy, high fat and high sugar snacks that I was eating when I was not really even hungry. I decided to try to limit these snacks even more and used some of the time I would normally have watched TV to go for a walk or a bike ride instead. After several months I noticed that my clothes fit better than they had been before.

I was not eating less overall but I did spend more time making breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening instead of rushing to buy or make something so I could get in front of the TV as soon as possible. Snacks are now for special occasions, not every evening and I must say I feel healthier than I can remember.

Challenges with No Cable

Yes, it should be admitted that cutting the cord has become more of a trend these days. However, ditching cable might not be a good decision for you for some reason that we are going to discuss now. While Hulu, AeroTV, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Apple TV are definitely good services, replacing cable TV COMPLETELY might be risky. If you think you are going to be able to face up to the following challenges posed after ditching cable TV, then go ahead and cut the cord:

Sports

You have to be ready to miss the sports. While most of the major sports leagues, such as MLS, NBA and MLB, can be streamed online, many fans cannot do this because of geographical location. The only options you have are:

·        Watching sports on your local bar

·        Go over to a friend’s place who has satellite or cable

·        Illegal ways that are not suggested

Programs for Your Kids

If your kids are one of those who stay home and watch TV while you make dinner or sleep on Sundays, then ditching the cable might be hard for your kids. While they can still watch the programs over the internet, you have little control over what they would be watching. Channels like Animal Planet, Spout, Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon are educational and act as virtual babysitters. When it comes TV, you can know if a program is appropriate for your kids based on the TV Parental Guidelines Rating System. You can also block certain programs that you think would inappropriate for your kids to watch just by using the cable set-top boxes. This is a big challenge for both parents and children.

Premium Cable Shows

Showtime and HBO do not put their shows up for purchase until the whole season is over. So, you have to wait until the Blu-Ray and DVD are out. Of course some illegally download the shows,, but you should avoid this. They know your IP address, right?

Live shows won’t be live anymore. You can download the shows from Vudu, Amazon and other services but the stuff arrives at least a few weeks later. But you should at least have the peace of mind knowing you are saving hundreds of dollars each year.

Sports Options Open to You Online

For live streaming of ESPN and other versions of is, you could go to Watch ESPN (espn.go.com/watchespn/). You will have to make sure access the site from the same computer.

Another source is Chrome Live Sports. You get to watch live sports on Google Chrome. All you have to do is use this browser and install Live Sports extension on it. Lots of room comes with the small toolbar.  This method is of questionable legality.

For NBA, NFL and NHL leagues, use the following chart:

Leagues

Where to Go

Descriptions

Fees (USD)

NBA

NBA League Pass

Watch games over the internet on any streaming device (Rokue, mobiles or TV).

179 per year

NFL

NFL Game Rewind

Watch replays of the whole season

40 each season

NFL Sunday Ticket

You get to watch live games, the all season.

200

NHL

NHL GameCenter Live

Watch on a variety of devices.

80 a year

NASCAR

NASCAR

Watch some of the best races from iTunes.

2 each race

With a several options available, hopefully you won’t have much of a problem without cable at your home.

For your kids to still be entertained by kids’ shows that they watch on Animal Planet, Spout, Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon, here are a few solutions you can find yourself.

If you have an HDTV at home, connect it with your computer and watch some popular shows on:

The Hub: Watch videos and full episodes of popular shows

Disney Junior: This is the new home for Disney Preschool and Playhouse Disney. Your kids can watch fun videos, play games, and do other activities that kids do.

Nick Jr.: Your children get to watch their favorite preschool shows.

Non Cable Cost Cutting

When your latest round of bills come in, it is always a downer. They sit in a big pile and you just know that your bank account is going to go down.  There is always some extra charge and fee and with an internet bill, a cable bill a cell phone bill and land line phone bill and there are a lot of trees that someone is killing just to tell you how much you owe them.

To help ease the burden here are some ideas that you might want to use to make your life easier and to reduce those always increasing bills.

Cost Cutting: Home Telephone

With the growth of the cellular market just about everyone has a cell phone with them wherever they are. This has led to a quarter of all residential telephone lines being disconnected. It is now almost unheard of for a single house to have two telephone lines, which was quite common not so many years ago.

The problem that many people see is that if there is an emergency at home, then even if you can’t talk to the operator just dialing 911 lets them know there is a problem and someone will come to investigate. The security this gives has kept many people from disconnecting their home phone as peace of mind just in case.

Move to a Basic plan

If you contact your phone company, they will have a low cost plan that has no long distance or other extras. The companies do not advertise these products much but they do have them and they only cost $11 or $12 from most providers.

Think about a Pre-paid phone card

Pre-paid phone cards are a cheap way to make long distance and overseas calls from home phones that only have local service or from cell phones. They have a toll free number that accepts the call and forwards it to the destination so you are only charged the per-minute rate for the call from your phone card balance.

Pre-paid phone cards cells and pay phones

Depending on the long distance card you are using might be charged a hefty surcharge if you use a payphone so it is important to check with the cards terms and conditions just to make sure. With a cell phone there is no surcharge but remember you are using you included minutes so factor that into your costs.

What about just using a cell phone?

The cell phone has become more than a phone with the majority of people opting for a Smartphone. They have a camera, a music player, internet access and many other functions that a standard home phone just cannot compete with.

The reliability of the network is now so high that people just do not feel the need to have both a cell phone and a home phone. Even in families, the children will probably be chatting and sms-ing rather than making voice calls so the home phone is relegated to a wall or desk ornament.

Reasons to go cell phone only

·        One bill and one monthly charge, so you can save money or get a better service for the same money. This is great for you but maybe not so great for your local phone provider but “tough for them”.

·        With a single point of contact it makes you easier to contact. People will not have to chase you at home, then on your cell as you just have a single number.

·        No more missed calls when you arrive home. No more voice messages or missed calls to check when you get in as you always know when someone is trying to contact you through your cell phone.

Think about using VOIP

VOIP or voice over internet protocol is a way of providing a full voice service on an internet connection, which means there is no infrastructure cost for a phone line, telephone switches and other related costs.

The VOIP market is very competitive with phone companies, Internet Service Providers, Cable companies and VOIP only companies all offering services through your internet connection. The rates are much cheaper than traditional phone services and vary between providers with some charging a monthly fee while others only charge per call. The payment method can vary as well. Some providers use a prepay system where once your balance gets to $0 you need to top up with a certain amount of credit while others use a traditional post-paid billing system.

Reasons to use VOIP

·        Providers that charge monthly fees normally have either unlimited local and long distance calls or very large included free minutes.

·        Providers with per call charges have rates that are much lower than other providers and can be ideal for people that do not make many outgoing calls.

·        International charges are normally on par with calling card services and different plans may include certain countries in its free call area or include free international minutes.

·        The normal phone features such as voice mail, caller id and call hold/waiting are normally included in most plans but check your preferred plan to make certain.

·        Special features are provided by many VOIP providers with options to send voicemail messages to your email with an audio attachment.

·        The connection from you to your provider is made via the internet so you are not tied to your home internet connection. You can use VOIP from many Smartphones and they can be anywhere in the world. As long as you are online and your VOIP device, be it a notebook, a pad device or a Smartphone is connected to the internet you are contactable and can make calls as if you were at home in the US.

Other internet phone services

The idea of VOIP has led some companies to add similar functionality to their services. This allows you to contact other users of the same software for free. This has then expanded with companies connecting to traditional phone services giving you the best of both worlds.

The increase in power and functionality of Smartphones has made them ideal for this type of application. They have the built in phone functionality and can run the software that allows you to contact your friends and family just using the internet.

Microsoft’s Skype

This company pioneered the use of computers to make calls over the internet. Many people use a headset so that they can make calls on their notebook using Wi-Fi all around the world while they are traveling.

The Skype calls are free and the quality of the product and the calls it makes is second to none. The Skype software allows you to chat, voice call and video call so you have a lot of options.

With Skype you can also use their paid service which is called Skype out which lets you call to phone numbers at low fees. This is a great way to stay in contact while you are traveling but it is probably not ready to take completely over from your phone just yet.

Expand Gmail with Google voice

Google has taken on the voice calling market at a slow and deliberate pace. There is a plugin that you can install, that lets you make and receive calls from your computer. It offers free calls within the US and cheap International calls, so it is an interesting and inexpensive way to stay in contact.

With Google Voice, you can also port your existing phone number to its service, alternatively you can select a number and an area code when you sign up. This is great if a family member is out of the area as you can set your area codes so that you are calling as a local call.

The Google Voice service can also enable call forwarding which lets you forward to a convenient number making it easy to receive calls. You can also save money by including the Google Voice number on your “family and friends” or “favorites” promotion that most cell companies have.

Cost Cutting: Internet Bill

Look for free Internet!

There are places where you can access the Internet for free. The Library is a good place to get internet access as they normally have a few stations free. Ask the librarian about what times are least busy and you can usually get as much time online as you want at the lowest usage times.

If you have a Smartphone, pad device or a notebook then a free Wi-Fi hotspot which at the time of writing had 66,183 free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the US. These can be a great idea and if you support them by spending the same money, you would normally spend in your usual café, restaurant or bar then you get free internet and they get a new customer.

A note on open Wi-Fi networks: you need to be aware of security implications. It is very unlikely that secured services like internet banking and online transaction could be compromised but other less secure service could be compromised (facebook, social networks, etc).

Find the best DSL deal

Some providers having no frills basic plans starting at $15. If you do not have a DSL modem then some providers will give you a free one. The catch is that you need to sign up for 2 years. A basic modem can be bought for $30 and a Wi-Fi model for $45 so weigh up what a long term commitment is worth.

If you are getting cable or one of the new fiber services to deliver cable television to your home then you may be able to get a better deal if you combine your internet with your existing service.

Some DSL providers have special arraignments with satellite suppliers. You may be able to get a better deal by combining your DSL and satellite on a single bill. The only drawback is that you might need to commit to a long term contract on both products.

Ways to reduce your Energy bill

The price of energy is always rising and until recently every new appliance, gadget and toy seemed to use more and more electricity.

The largest users of energy in a home are Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, Space Heaters, Hot Water Heaters and Lighting. Each of these uses about 10% of the average household’s energy each averaged over a year.

Insulation

Your heating, cooling and hot water costs can be reduced by improving the insulation around your house. Eliminating drafts, having a well-insulated roof space and putting a layer of insulating material around your water heater and hot water pipes can make large savings. These savings are not a one off, as they will be repeated year after year.

Spend to save

Ok, this sounds strange but some modern appliances such as refrigerators and freezers are so much more energy efficient that they will save you there price in as little as two years. The latest low wattage CFL lights last a lot longer and can use as little as 25% of the bulb it replaces energy. An old air conditioner might use double or triple the electricity the latest models with inverter technology. If something is getting to the end of its life then consider replacing it with a newer more efficient version.

Wind back heating and cooling

On a hot or cold day, it can be tempting to set the thermostat so you are either icy cold or warm and toasty. In winter you might have your thermostat set to 72f or even above. This is going to really suck up energy and cost a fortune. Try to slowly set the temperature lower. If you wear a sweater then 63f to 65f should be attainable and even if you cannot stand the cold, the 68f will give you significant savings.

With air-conditioning, it is the same but you should be aiming for a higher temperature. I would recommend 77f as a minimum. Use fans and the lightest grade clothing so that your body is as cool as possible and remember to drink plenty of water. A note in hot humid climates: if you are going to be in and out try setting the air conditioning to 84f  with a fan to keep the air moving and you will be surprised how cool the room feels when you come back in but also how you won’t get a massive heat blast when going outside.

Switch unused appliances off

It is amazing how many appliances we leave plugged into the socket. Many of these will draw some electricity and do not need to be plugged in. There's a product that detect when the main device plugged into it is switched off and it automatically disconnects all the associated products.

If you had your widescreen LED TV hooked to the device, then when it is turned off the DVD player, Nintendo, amplifier and a powered subwoofer are automatically disconnected as well.

Family Acceptance

There is a growing trend in these challenging economic times to question some of the expenses that a family has. There may be some things that are being paid for, that just don’t represent value for money anymore. With the rise of the internet and many television and online shows that are available free at very small cost it might be time to cut the cable to your cable TV subscription.

Talking to the family

It is a good idea to have a family meeting and layout that you think the cable TV subscription is an unnecessary expense. This will almost certainly trigger howls of protest and questions about the ability of them to continue living if they were separated from the sustaining nourishment of cable TV!

The best way to proceed is to ask everyone that is protesting to think about what they really watch and to make a list. This will give everyone a few days to think about what is important to them and might actually force some people to admit that they don’t really have anything important that they watch but had just got into the habit of sitting in front of the TV and flicking through the channels to find something interesting.

When everyone has calmed down and has a list of what they must be able to see then you can look for alternatives. In the end you probably won’t be able to satisfy everyone with every request that they have but the whole family will know that there are alternatives and that they are not being digitally marooned on the entertainment version of a desert island.

Mention the usefulness of cable alternatives

The internet is a huge source of free and low cost entertainment. The majority of shows broadcast on TV or cable TV are also available either at the same time or shortly after on the internet. Here are some place you should look at and show the family as they can soften the blow of cutting the cable.

YouTube

Youtube is as user friendly as it gets and has a mix of professional and amateur produced content. It has a massive collection of music video and most record companies release High Definition versions from the latest artists on YouTube first. There are literally millions of videos that have something to interest everyone, conspiracy theories, UFO’s, fashion even “how to videos” by the thousand.

Hulu

Hulu was brought into being as a joint venture between Comcast, News Corporation and Disney. It has some of the largest, media companies in partnership with it. Hulu has grown at a phenomenal rate since it started out in 2007. It has a free area that is the standard Hulu area and a subscription area called Hulu Plus that cost 7.95 per month. Hulu Plus offers a free trail for a week so this is a great way to get your family picking out some episodes to watch. The free Hulu service also means that any family member can watch Hulu content on any internet connected device so no more fighting over who is watching what on TV.

Netflix

Netflix has movies and TV series that it delivers over the internet to computers, devices and smart TV’s. The subscription model has proven popular and Netflix has a huge catalogue of movies and a growing stable of television content. It really can’t be beat if you like to watch a few movies a week and the delivery is fast and polished. The current monthly subscription is $7.99 per month.

TV websites

The major TV networks have extensive websites that allow you to view the latest episodes shortly after they are shown on air. They also have older episodes that you can also watch. Fox, NBC and ABC are a great place to get your favorite show and catch up on episodes you might have missed or want to see again. Don’t forget the PBS website as well; it has some of the best documentaries and investigative reporting episodes available and a huge back catalogue all free to access.

Use incentives to soften the blow

When you are talking about cutting off cable TV don’t only look at the alternatives but let your family know what the savings will be used for. This might need a little creative accounting but things like a family vacation or a visit to a local fun park can be objectives that you can put the savings from the cable TV charges towards.

This can be done as a chart with every months unused cable TV fee going until the pot has reached the target and you can have some family fun time.

Try before you commit

If your family is still not sure then why not unplug the cable for a week. Try it for a week and see what the family experience might be like. As with many things in life, most people are fearful of change, yet when they try something new they find it was not as difficult as they believed.

A week will give everyone a chance to settle in the new way of doing things and it is enough time to let everyone see that they are not really being deprived of anything. After the week is up then, if you can get even grudging acceptance be sure not to reconnect the cable, call the provider and have it stopped immediately. This will save any change of minds.

Introduce some family activities

Evenings and weekends can be a time when everyone just sits in front of the TV out of habit. It can be a good idea to do a few family activities instead. These can be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or a trip to the local park for a game of catch of Frisbee.

You might want to visit family or friends or even arrange a meet up for a picnic, BBQ or meal at somewhere family friendly. This can be a great way to strengthen family ties and keep friendships health and happy.

Conclusion

So, we have covered it all. How much we spend, how much we can save, what the cable TV alternatives are, what the odds are and everything regarding how to save money related to cord cutting. The most fortunate thing is that there are tons of options out there available to us; otherwise it would be impossible to quit paying thousands for channels that go unwatched.

However, it is advisable that you test run the alternatives before finally ditch the cable. And to make the most out of cost savings you should also compare the services and costs that every alternative provides. We have tried to include everything that you might want to know about cord cutting and money saving. And we really do hope that you succeed in saving money, at least during these hard economy times. Good luck!

Please feel free to drop us a note or comments at kaylee@artoffrugal.com

Art of Frugal Books

Please browse Kaylee’s other find books on frugal topics:

Art of Frugal:  Feed a Family on a Budget

Frugal Guide to Cutting the Cable Cord (and Saving Money)

101 Frugal and Fun Family Activities

23 Frugal Ways to Earn $1k (and more..)