Comments on: Goodbye Expanded Cable TV: What Will I Miss Most

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:46:30 +0000

We had been wasting $85 per month on Comcast Cable when we decided that the next time it went up event one cent we’d drop to basic service. In March, 2010, we made a guess that it would go up so we downgraded to basic for about $15 per month. Sure enough, we got a letter 3/25 that they were raising what had been our old rate by $3 per month. Were were thrilled to have beat them to the punch.

I’m an attorney for a boutique private bank. I’ve seen the habits of people who are worth millions and have learned from talking to them how they got there. They got there by not wasting a dime, foregoing short term pleasures for long term gain, by investing instead of spending. You can never make money by spending it.

Over a lifetime, you don’t lose $1 million by misplacing it. You lose it $50 at a time, buying things you don’t need and will throw away. Or by paying Comcast for worthless programs peppered with commercials and reruns of the same films. Cancel or downgrade cable today and invest the money in your retirement plan. You can bet that’s where Roberts and the other Comcast executives put the money they drain from you each month.

Good Luck. Change your habits today and don’t wake up one day at age 50 or 60, having earned a lot of money, with nothing to show for it but old Comcast bills and a bunch of receipts from restaurants and bar rooms.

By: C

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:48:23 +0000

With the conversion to digital broadcasting- you can pick up good free local TV. No need to pay even for basic cable. All you need is the conversion box or a digital TV and an atenna. In trying several indoor antennas – we found the cheapest Radio Shack atenna worked best. The web site http://www.antennaweb.org allows you to put in your address and determine the local channels you can receive for FREE.

By: downtown

downtown — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:06:55 +0000

There is too many online choices that are available for free to waste money on cable. Hulu.com is a good source.

By: Lisa G

Lisa G — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:51:33 +0000

I just canceled my DirecTV two days ago. I am coughing up the $180 early cancellation fee, but it will pay for itself in 3 months. I say it’s better to pay $180 now than over $600 in the next 10 months if I chose to fulfill my contract. I am suffering from cable news and ESPN withdraw, though.

By: gabriel oakes

gabriel oakes — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:59:25 +0000

I remember when I first axed cable- I realised the only things I missed were 24 (then in it’s first season) and The Simpsons. 1 1/2 hours of essential television per week, the rest just a waste of time.

Now I waste my time with internet of course but I’m not wasting my money paying for both…

By: One Year Of Frugal Dad, A Look Back | Frugal Dad

One Year Of Frugal Dad, A Look Back | Frugal Dad — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:22:13 +0000

[...] 4, 2008 – Goodbye Expanded Cable TV: What Will I Miss Most. A sad day in the Frugal household. Here I shared a few things I miss without cable television. [...]

By: Gym Memberships Still Worth It Despite Recession | Frugal Dad

Gym Memberships Still Worth It Despite Recession | Frugal Dad — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:01:48 +0000

[...] have taken our own advice in the Frugal household by cutting the cable back to basic service, lowering our cell phone plan, signing up for the value Internet plan, and a [...]

By: Clair Schwan

Clair Schwan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:36:23 +0000

I haven’t watched TV in my home for more than 10 years. It hasn’t hurt me one bit.

I don’t know what to be afraid of anymore, but that doesn’t scare me. I don’t have any talking heads spoon feeding me my opinion, but that’s only what I think. And, satisfaction with my life is much higher because I don’t have commercial advertising to tell me all the things I really should be buying in order to be a worthy part of the American pop culture.

All in all, it is a great choice to turn off the tube. Life is much better if you live it instead of just watch it. At the end of my life I will never regret not having spent more time staring at the TV.

Clair

By: Twelve Reasons to Turn off the Television | Frugal Dad

Twelve Reasons to Turn off the Television | Frugal Dad — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:01:32 +0000

[...] family time. We’ve been living without expanded cable now for over four months and it has been one of the best decisions we have ever made. My wife and I [...]

By: Use Social Security Statement to Determine Lifetime Earnings | Frugal Dad

Use Social Security Statement to Determine Lifetime Earnings | Frugal Dad — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:42:56 +0000

[...] by becoming a voracious reader on the subject. By eliminating time-wasting activities such as watching television, or playing video games, I have managed to free up more time for reading books. Second, I plan to [...]