Ask Stacy: How Can I Cut the Cost of Cable?

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Today’s question is about getting rid of the hassle and expense of cable TV.

Just this morning, one of my cable boxes went on the fritz. It’s one I replaced less than two weeks ago by driving to the local Comcast store and waiting 20 minutes in line. And my bill? Including internet, more than $300 a month.

At this point, it wouldn’t take much to push me over the edge.

Millions of people find their entertainment elsewhere these days. Should you — and I — join them? Here’s what I think.

For more information on this topic, check out “How to Cut the Cable TV Cord in 2018” and “How Much Time Can You Save by Ditching Cable TV?” If you’re not ready to cut your cable, maybe you can get someone to negotiate a better deal for you. See “Should You Hire a Service to Negotiate Your Cable and Other Bills?”

You can also go to the search at the top of this page, put in the word “cable” and find plenty of information on just about everything relating to this topic.

Got a question of your own to ask? Scroll down past the transcript.

Don’t want to watch? Here’s what I said in the video

Welcome to your money Q&A question of the day. I’m your host, Stacy Johnson. This question is brought to you by MoneyTalksNews.com, serving up the best personal finance news and advice since way back in 1991.

Here’s your question for today: It comes from Pat. Pat says:

“Every month when I get together with my friends, all over 66, the topic of the cost of TV and cable comes up. Will there ever be a package of paying just for the channels we watch?”

Pat, I feel your pain. My cable bill is nearly $300 a month, including internet. We have every single channel we could possibly have, along with multiple TVs. I’ve thought about cutting the cable, but I’m getting resistance from my wife, who needs to see “Game of Thrones” the instant it comes out.

But you don’t have to be like me. You should consider cutting the cable, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Here’s how to go about it.

First, get an antenna, and you’ll get a lot of stations over the air depending on where you live. You might be able to get up to 10 stations with a regular antenna. For example, where I live, in the Fort Lauderdale-Miami area, there’s at least a half-dozen stations you can get just with an antenna.

Next, explore online packages offering shows you want to watch. Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime and HBO Go are examples. Netflix, for example, is awesome and only costs about $11 a month.

The way to get started: Make a list of the shows you really want. Are you a sports fan? Do you have to watch “Game of Thrones”? Write down the shows you want, then simply search and find out how you can get those things without cable. You’re going to find you can get a lot of them.

Hope that answers your question, If you want more detailed info, it’s on MoneyTalksNews.com. Just do a search for “cable.”

If you have a question of your own, subscribe to our newsletter, which takes five seconds. When you get it in your inbox, hit “reply” and ask your question. That’s how Pat reached me.

Let’s close with our quote of the day. It comes from Francis Bacon.

“Money is a great servant but a bad master.”

Have a profitable day, meet me right here next time!

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About me

I founded Money Talks News in 1991. I’m a CPA, and have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

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