Comments on: The Cost Of Watching Television

By: CattOfTheGarage

CattOfTheGarage — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Just wanted to say thanks for this useful article. I had read that TV in the States didn’t come cheap, and so I was looking for numbers to back it up – it’s certainly true. In the UK people are always complaining about the licence fee (£142.50/year, or about $19 USD per month) – but with that and a freeview/freesat box you get a basic digital/sattelite service with quite a few channels for no extra monthly payment. Certainly seems like we’re getting a good deal here!

By: The Simple Dollar’s New Financed Car | The Happy Rock

The Simple Dollar’s New Financed Car | The Happy Rock — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:33:42 +0000

[...] then knock them off of it. For example, not too long ago Frugal Dad detailed his decision to go back to extended cable service after a year of basic cable. He got 70 comments, very few agreeing with his decision, but none of them were shocked or [...]

By: choosydad

choosydad — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:03:00 +0000

We gave up television programming entirely about three years ago and have had no regrets. We still have a DVD player and watch what we want to watch when we want to watch it. And what most people don’t realize is that you can rent movies for free from the local public library. And not just educational movies, either. In fact, just last night we watched the newer “Twilight” movie.

By: Bill in NC

Bill in NC — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:11:06 +0000

Basic cable ($10/month) plus Amazon Unbox to buy commercial-free episodes of shows like Psych which are pushed down to my Tivo.

Much cheaper than paying $60/month for analog extended basic (digital packages even more expensive)

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:39:39 +0000

#67 – I totally agree! We already do a lot of reading, outdoor activities, etc and if we didn’t have TV (even my hour a week or so) I would be spending much more money elsewhere.

I guess it really depends on your lifestyle: if you rarely spend time with family, read, etc yet you watch 4 hours of TV a day – that’s a problem.

By: NatureMom

NatureMom — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:34:36 +0000

My biggest money sucker is entertainment and it always has been. I just know that if I did not have True Blood, Big Love, or Bill Maher to watch some evenings I would be out at the theatre, the opera, or a concert. THAT would be expensive. I read a huge amount already so cable TV is a two or three nights a week vice. Premium cable channels don’t have commercials either. Cable TV saves me money IMO and it is also prime time for cuddling with hubby.

By: A Frugal Diet, Or A Frugal Lifestyle | Frugal Dad

A Frugal Diet, Or A Frugal Lifestyle | Frugal Dad — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:02:06 +0000

[...] week I mentioned our project to cut the cost of watching television for one year. That project recently came to an end, and after some internal discussion as a [...]

By: k2ofcu

k2ofcu — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:26:53 +0000

It’s not having/not having TV that makes you connect with your family, participate in your community, read books, save money, etc. – you can have it all if you are in control of your actions and finances. Sure there are tradeoffs, but this is no different than other tradeoffs that people willingly make.
The cable/uncabled TV doesn’t make you watch it anymore than the cigarette ‘makes’ you smoke it, nor the food ‘makes’ you eat it.
While giving up TV is an option for some, we find that a terrific local library cable (TV internet) works for us. Then again, we actively use both, so it’s not a waste of money.
We don’t go to movies, don’t rent movies, don’t really go out as much as we’d like anyway (due to demanding work schedules that often result in giving tickets away/at cost to friends or canceling dinner reservations).
Then again, we just paid off the house and the cars- even with the upgrade to the DVR, we still are significantly increasing our $ diverted from mortgage/car payments into savings/investments.
This may be a ‘waste of money’ to some, but we don’t spend money on MANY other things that others regard as essentials (disposable diapers (you HAVE to be kidding!!), designer things, dinners out nightly, video rentals, gym memberships, PPV, video consoles & games, etc.)
We live in an area with TERRIBLE antenna reception, and we need a robust internet connection anyway (for work downloads, not videos).
Sure, we could watch more online, but have found many programs are just excerpts, not the entire program, and huddling around the laptop perched on a lap for a cozy evening isn’t always practical for more than 2 people.
We have found that the combination of a terrific local library, DVR, and OnDemand allows us to pick-&-choose information at times when we’re available- it’s a combination that works for us.
Since we don’t go to the movies on a routine basis, the free movies available on demand work for us. Sure they’re not THE most current, but we don’t have to pay $ for transportation/tickets/concessions to then deal with people yakking in the movie theatre, either. Besides: there’s enough discussion online that you can still get the ‘gist’ of most popular movies/events without actually seeing them anyway, so you can still be culturally relevant (ha!).
The ExerciseTV option (included in the cable cost- not PPV) offers MANY exercise options that change monthly (so we dropped the gym memberships as a result).
We’re currently enjoying the U2 concerts (anywhere from 7-120 minutes in length) that are currently included in the service, too. Clearly not as terrific as the actual experience, but far more convenient (given work demands) and likely less expensive, too given concert ticket prices (even if you’re available at the given time).
Not for everyone, but not everyone is in our position, either- works for us.

By: SJ

SJ — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:29:55 +0000

I’ve never really had cable, in college i would leech off my friends and neighbors =D

In all honesty, while it’s good to have tv or stuff to watch when hanging out or what not; video games and movies are more fun…

Another question to consider is how much watching tv costs in other terms… i.e. Time. One reason I am trying to cut tv/internet/etc. use…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:06:43 +0000

We got rid of cable about a year ago and don’t miss it. Granted, we got Netflix and the Roku watch instantly player, so it’s not like we’re TV free, but we save about $45 a month. And like I read somewhere else, instead of spending my weekends watching someone else do home improvement on HGTV, I’m actually out doing home improvement!