Saving Money on TV and Internet

These days many homes have more TVs in them than people! According to U.S. News, after sleeping, Americans spend most of their time watching TV. So this category is a two-fer, reclaiming both time and money to be used more productively.

1. First off, reflect on whether you really need TV at all. Can you cut the cord? I know for me growing up TV seemed like a fact of life, always there and typically always on. Do you actually watch the TV or are you using it more for background noise? Try a week, a month without TV and see if it is something you truly miss. If it is, continue reading for additional savings ideas. However, you may surprise yourself with what you can accomplish in those reclaimed hours!
2. If you typically only watch movies or TV shows that are already out on disc, local libraries often have a wide selection of options. Additionally, thrift or consignment stores can have these for low prices. Or you can swap with friends and family. All you need is a player.
3. If you are more interested in local news, for a one-time, relatively low cost you can purchase an antenna. The price will depend on how strong of an antenna you need in your service area.
4. If you are more interested in hearing the news than watching it, you can use many radio apps to stream it. You will need internet, but there is no additional cost, unless you want to upgrade to premium options with fewer ads. We initially cut the cord by transitioning to online TV-streaming services, however, over the last several years they have gotten so much more expensive that we now use a free radio app to listen to the news since it’s usually only on occasion anyway.
5. We couple our free radio app with a few subscription services like Netflix and Disney+ since we have kids. These are still less expensive than real-time TV streaming services (for now…), but be careful not to subscribe to too many, that you ultimately pay as much as you had for cable service or perhaps even more. To keep things fresh, you could rotate among the options without paying for them all every month. Additionally, there are free options like PBS and PBS kids that has a litany of programs to watch. Some smart TVs also offer free programming options.
6. If you still want a larger spectrum of real-time shows to watch, there are still some TV-streaming services that are cheaper than cable options. They often offer deals so be sure to shop around and see which packages and options best fit what you are looking for.
7. If you are committed to cable, negotiate the price and options with your provider. Call you provider to see if they will offer a discount to keep you as a customer. This can be especially effective if you have been paying your bill on time. Always be courteous and polite, or they may be less inclined to work with you.

Internet service is a powerful tool for learning, generating income, finding community, entertainment, etc. Unfortunately, in some areas the options for access are severely limited to near non-existent. As we were choosing how rural to go for our recent home purchase, for us this was actually a determining factor for where to live. While the reach of broadband continues to expand, here are some tips to reducing the cost of internet where it is available:

1. Find a business or community library that offers internet service. Make a list of all the work you need to complete, and streamline it to the period of time you can be at one of these locations.
2. Be realistic about the service you need. Many internet packages provide much more upload/download speeds that the average user needs. See if the lowest package will serve your needs – you can always upgrade later if not.
3. Shop around! If you have the luxury of multiple providers, most allow you to easily price compare options online. Often getting internet by itself is much cheaper, especially if you pursue some of the options above that do not involve a cable provider. If you already have a service you like or are under contract, just as I recommend above, call you provider to see if they will offer a discount to keep you as a customer.