The first thing to do, is cut down the addiction. I got rid of cable a few months ago, and find myself watching a lot less TV in general. I just use antenna and Netflix.
I don't handle any tv bills. I moved into an old house about a year ago and soon found out that the aerial wasn't digital. I thought I would sort it out as soon as I got bored. Still hasn't happened. I get the barry broadcasts, the oxygen thieves on cnbc and tweedle dee and tweedle dummer on bloomberg for several hours a day in my office ( and they are mostly on mute). I have young children. Why the fuck do the kids need to be programmed to eat fast food, talk like some retarded cartoon character, drive shit cars and why on earth do I need to listen to some wannabe talk show host making retarded quips on a news channel while telling us that the world is going down the shitter? I don't need Barry in my home and I certainly don't need the rest of that shit. I don't want to be shouting at the tv and I don't want my kids programmed into thinking I have to spend $500 and buy them the latest apple Icannotthinkformyself -(IShit for short) Here's my advice. Turn off the TV. You don't need that shit and negativity in your house. Do you feel smarter because you watched Popidol, Oprah, Judge Judy, So you think you can Dance? Or do you feel like you actually know less after you watched those shows? Turn that shit off. Every once in a blue moon there is some tv woth watching, and guess what -you can watch it for free at your convenience on the internet. Kill your television. Try thinking for yourselves.
My cable company (comcast) just raised my rates something like $40 per month because my "promo" rate expired. I told them give me my old rate back or I will leave. They said they couldnt do anything. I checked out direct TV which looked good on the website, and I didnt mind the 24 month subscription, but when i found out that the "$59 package" was really $118 per month after 5 months, I didnt like that. I called comcast again and complained and they knocked 20 dollars off my bill. I think its actually cheaper though to cancel with them completely and then restart with them the next day to get the promo rates. My cable is now about $88 per month and another $50 for internet, but my internet speed is so darn fast, I'm scared to go with anyone else. I also have netflix and watch the instant movies through my wii.
I've gone a decade or two with no tv at all, and i've had a dvr and was watching hours per day... it's mostly bubblegum for the mind, nothing much memorable or usable but it can be addicting... I was watching a lot of shows on hulu recently then I just looked at the queue one day and decided it's not worth it...
I stopped over at the local Radio Shack and picked up a $35 indoor antenna. The picture quality looks pretty great for the dozen or so channels available. The TV in my house sits idle for sometimes days at a time already, so I don't think I'll miss cable one bit. Tomorrow I'm going to head over to the local office for Charter, drop off their equipment and say "no thanks". I was thinking about using some of that monthly savings to dump into a new improved "smart" phone, but you know, that is a huge waste of $$ for me as well. So I think I'll just keep my $$.
I love introductory rates. They make it so easy to get yourself hooked and then before you know it, your bill starts to blow up. No matter how much you cut out of your service, the bill just keeps steadily creeping up, every few months, they seem to tack on an extra few dollars. You practically need an advanced accounting degree to figure out where they have hidden the new charges.
I don't watch much tv, but when I do, there's really nothing worth watching. Reality tv makes me ill, the next top model crap my wife watches makes me ill, and 90% of the news is far left propaganda trying to make America into a 3rd World. There are a few ok shows on the history channel, but not much else out there I want to see. Maybe the weather channel to see if I need an umbrella or not. Lol! Oh yes, I got talked into one of those movie "packages," and it's not worth it imo. I've not found many good newer movies in ages. I don't think America has much talent anymore to make movies. Even the new music sucks! Anyone want a 50" tv?
It looks like more people are jumping off the bandwagon. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cable-subscribers-flee-but-is-apf-3875814716.html?x=0 Its been two months now since I dropped Charter in favor of a cheap Radio Shack antenna and Netflix. You know what, I haven't missed it a bit. Actually, I probably watch more TV now with less than 10 channels vs over 200 that I had with cable.
more people jumping off 'debt slave' train. Feels good. Feels good environment does not suffer that much either because of unwanted crap. Living $10 a day, what a joy. Things have changed. Some serious restructuring will follow after bubbling attempt proven to fail. Old farts hoping things will get back again. I dont think so. iMoney will be in directionless trades. buy a sell b.