Had it with high cable or satellite TV bills? You stand to save a lot of money in 2018 by ditching traditional TV services. Almost everything you might want to watch is now available online through streaming video services.
I got rid of cable TV almost four years ago, and I’ve found the switch to streaming video services to be well worth it.
I no longer have to buy bundled packages of cable channels to get just a few shows that I really want. I also don’t have to channel surf through reality shows, shopping channels or obscure sports on my way to the entertainment I want.
Most importantly, I saved least about $60 a month — $720 a year — by cutting the cable cord.
How I dumped cable TV
I used to have a fairly basic cable TV package with local channels.
It seemed good in the beginning, when I had a promotional rate as part of a big bundle of channels (many of which I never watched). Then the promotional period ended and my bill went up.
I decided to give up on traditional TV instead of paying more. So, I bought the following:
- Smart TV with built-in Wi-Fi, which enables the TV to easily connect to the internet
- Digital TV antenna, which brings in local stations, enabling me to still get local news
- Hulu and Netflix subscriptions
- Amazon Prime membership, which includes free access to Prime Video and gives me the option to buy Amazon Channel subscriptions
- Starz subscription (though Amazon Channels)
Then, I added the Hulu, Netflix and Amazon apps to my smart TV, and I was ready to roll.
So, now if I want to watch a show, I start up the right app and click to the right season and episode. That’s it.
Saving at least $60 per month
I was paying more than $100 a month for the cable TV package I had before switching to streaming video services.
Now, compare that with the current prices of the subscriptions I bought after the switch:
- Amazon Prime: $99 per year (or $8.25 per month)
- Starz: $8.99 per month
- Netflix’s Standard plan: $10.99 per month
- Hulu’s No Commercials plan: $11.99 per month
That’s a monthly total of $40.22.
To learn about how you might be able to save on cable or satellite TV without switching services, check out “Should You Hire a Service to Negotiate Your Cable and Other Bills?”
Are you paying for cable television, streaming, satellite or a combination? Share your thoughts in comments on them below or on our Facebook page.
Add a Comment
Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.