Anyone cut cable?

[estrellita]

With all of our bills and realizing how expensive daycare is, we're thinking more seriously about cutting cable to save $100+ a month. I'm feeling better about it because I'll be able to watch our shows online (ABC shows). I was wondering though, isn't there a way to just get the basic channels without the cable package? Apparently we have the most basic package which is weird because I swear they had one with just like, 30 channels or something. This is probably a dumb question but I've never been without cable, lol. Isn't there a box you can get?

[Deleted]

For the past year we had a Comcast package for Cable and Internet. The TV package is the lowest tier, plus HBO. The entire thing (TV plus Internet) is $70 a month.

Prior to this, we had no cable at all, just used an antenna and a converter box (old TV, it wasn't high-definition). I think with newer TVs you don't need a converter box, but I'm not positive. I'm sure someone here is more familiar with this, or you can ask at any electronics store. We got very few channels, just the major networks, like NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, PBS, etc., so I think it was 10 or so channels total. There was no charge for TV except for the cost of electricity. Reception also wasn't great, pretty grainy.

ETA: Now, with cable, we get about 40 channels, including Hallmark, Lifetime, Animal Planet, History, Comedy Central.

[rockinrobyn]

We dont have cable. We have an apple tv which was a one time purchase. Witht that we are able to sign up for hulu plus, netflix, etc... We also have a friend who still has cable and HBO who gave us their username and password so we can get A&E, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, Lifetime, and a few more. We still get all network shows with our antenna and if we miss it, we can vet all but the CBS shows on hulu.

[katespade]

When I called to cancel our cable they offered me around 30 channels free of charge just too get us to keep the cable box, so we pay $70 per month for our internet and that handful of channels. Between Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime we rarely watch the channels that we have.

[ginkgoleaf]

We're planning to do it within the next 3-6 months or so. We use a Roku to get Netflix, Amazon streaming video, etc. I'm planning to tap into my parents cable by putting in their login stuff so DS can watch Disney Junior through the Roku. I still need to look into what that would do for our internet cost since right now cable and internet are bundled for us.

[estrellita]

Geez, ours is so expensive compared to yours @moonbeam! Ours is just over $160/month for cable (lowest tier, HD but I can't remember if that's extra, a DVR and extra box they require) and Internet (including modem rental) with Charter. We were going to get DirecTV even though I hate satellite but we're on the wrong side of the building

ETA: we do also have Netflix and might subscribe to the HBO service depending on the cost when that's available. I'll respond more to this when I get home later

[Deleted]

estrellita Yikes! That's a really high price. I see why you're thinking of cutting cable. They were going to increase the cost of ours to $90, but I told them to just cancel it altogether, so they gave me a deal. We bought our own modem to avoid paying the monthly rental fee ($8 a month).

[estrellita]

Is Hulu Plus even worth it? I just don't understand Hulu because when I've used it before, it would just defer to the station websites to watch the shows. What's the point then if they don't have what's already available for free?

[estrellita]

jjwritergirl yes, that! Where would we get one of those boxes?

[grover]

Comcast jumped our tv/internet package price up to $170, and they refused to lower it or offer us a cheaper alternative. I quit Comcast tv that day. Unfortunately, we had to keep their internet. We're now on year 2 of a 2 year DirecTv contract. In November we're cutting DirecTv because between that and the internet we're back up to the $170 .

[travelbug]

Our internet and cable are included in our rent so we don't have the option to not have cable. If it wasn't included we would not have it. It's rarely on as it is. We don't have Netflix or Hulu plus either. We watch everything online for free

[ginkgoleaf]

Jan 2, 2015 16:46:10 GMT -5 estrellita said:

jjwritergirl yes, that! Where would we get one of those boxes?

I think you just need a souped-up antenna.  My IL's did that, they bought one off Amazon and just had reception for local channels for free.

[estrellita]

So I was just talking to H and I think our plan might be to go a Roku or Chrome stick thing because they offer more apps than the Xbox does (ABC for example, that's where 99% of our shows are, haha). I'm just so annoyed with cable companies. I forgot that we used to be able to plug other TVs into the wall for free (as long as we had a plan) but then they decided we needed digital boxes and charge us for the stupid thing. I swear it's someone's job to come up with ways they can force their customers to pay more for the exact same things. Ugh! Why are all cable companies so terrible?

Anyone have opinions on Roku (ILs have one) vs. Chrome stick vs. Amazon Fire stick?

[estrellita]

Jan 2, 2015 18:20:59 GMT -5 ginkgoleaf said:

Jan 2, 2015 16:46:10 GMT -5 estrellita said:

jjwritergirl yes, that! Where would we get one of those boxes?

I think you just need a souped-up antenna.  My IL's did that, they bought one off Amazon and just had reception for local channels for free.

Where would I hook the antenna up? Just to the TV? Or does it need to be outside? I don't think the apartment building would allow it but I'm not sure, I'd have to look into it.

[christy082]

We cut cable a few years ago and save $80+/month. My H got indoor/outdoor antennae for our TVs, but we use them indoors. Apparently you are supposed to get better reception if they are outside.

We got one antenna (~ $19 on monoprice.com) and one Roku for each of our large TVs and my H used a splitter on one so he could get reception on our basement TV. (None of this means anything to me, lol. I'm just asking H the logistics of how we cut cable and telling you what he tells me).

We have Hulu Plus which allows us to watch most shows we like, except shows from CBS (the networks have to agree to let Hulu have the shows, so CBS must just not). They do offer the shows on CBS.com though. Some Hulu shows are online only, but for those, my H uses an HDMI cable (~$10 on Amazon) to hook up his laptop to the TV, so we can watch it over the TV.

We also have Amazon Prime, but don't use it too often for TV shows (though there are free ones with that). We do use it for movies though.

The only thing H really misses about cable is sports, but we are still happy we cut it.

[estrellita]

Ok here's a question. Right now, certain apps are on the Xbox and we can't use them because we have to log in with a cable provider (we have one, but it's not supported apparently, but if we cut cable totally we won't have one anyways). An example is the Fox app. Can I watch Fox shows on Hulu Plus without having to log in? That's the only thing I think would make Hulu Plus worth it. Ugh, why can't cable just be cheaper! Haha.

[ginkgoleaf]

Jan 2, 2015 18:22:56 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Jan 2, 2015 18:20:59 GMT -5 ginkgoleaf said:

I think you just need a souped-up antenna.  My IL's did that, they bought one off Amazon and just had reception for local channels for free.

Where would I hook the antenna up? Just to the TV? Or does it need to be outside? I don't think the apartment building would allow it but I'm not sure, I'd have to look into it.

They had theirs sitting on top of the tv.

[ginkgoleaf]

Roku has a set now that looks like a USB and plugs into your tv, so it would be very portable between tv sets, I'd think.

[christy082]

Jan 2, 2015 19:07:48 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Ok here's a question. Right now, certain apps are on the Xbox and we can't use them because we have to log in with a cable provider (we have one, but it's not supported apparently, but if we cut cable totally we won't have one anyways). An example is the Fox app. Can I watch Fox shows on Hulu Plus without having to log in? That's the only thing I think would make Hulu Plus worth it. Ugh, why can't cable just be cheaper! Haha.

You probably would just have to log in to you Hulu account.

[anyastroud]

Cable is not something I have ever wasted money on in my adult life. Ever since I turned 18 I have been out of my parent's house. They had cable when I was a kid and still do. I do not miss it. I do however have a massive dvd collection. It's mostly been taken over by Disney movies the past 6 years but I don't mind. We got Netflix last year that shit is well worth the 9 bucks a month. 

[estrellita]

Jan 2, 2015 19:30:24 GMT -5 ginkgoleaf said:

Roku has a set now that looks like a USB and plugs into your tv, so it would be very portable between tv sets, I'd think.

The ILs have a Roku and they like it. I think we might be leaning towards the Amazon one just because with cutting cable, Prime might be affordable, haha.

anyastroud I do love Netflix, but sometimes we spend way more time searching through the lists than actually watching things, lol.

[grover]

estrellita are either you or your husband in school? If so, take advantage of the Amazon Prime Student free for 6 months, then half off as long as you are in school.

[sarahsas]

We don't have cable. We haven't since we have lived together- 5+ years. We do get the basic channels- abc, nbc, cbs, fox, the cw and pbs. We get them through an antenna and pay nothing. I don't miss it. I watch some shows on Hulu or through the affiliate website. I also subscribe to a few through iTunes that aren't online for free. The $ I spend is still wayyyyy less than cable!

[christy082]

Jan 2, 2015 19:47:20 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Jan 2, 2015 19:30:24 GMT -5 ginkgoleaf said:

Roku has a set now that looks like a USB and plugs into your tv, so it would be very portable between tv sets, I'd think.

The ILs have a Roku and they like it. I think we might be leaning towards the Amazon one just because with cutting cable, Prime might be affordable, haha.

You can still stream Amazon Prime tv/movies with a Roku, just fyi. Also, if you do get Amazon Prime, Amazon Mom is free with that (separate sign up but free with Prime, and completely unrelated to cutting cable, but good to know anyway!). 

[estrellita]

Jan 2, 2015 20:59:53 GMT -5 grover said:

estrellita are either you or your husband in school? If so, take advantage of the Amazon Prime Student free for 6 months, then half off as long as you are in school.

No, although H does want to go back at some point to finish! I will have to remember that whenever we're able to get him back in school!

[awick14]

We normally don't have cable, but we currently do because the company we have Internet with offers discounts every once in a while. We are currently paying $4/ month for cable, for 6 months. Once that ends we will cancel cable.