I gave up cable television for Lent last year and then ended up going on for months without reconnecting it. I used Netflix for a little while but relied on Hulu for my entertainment and watched television programming on the computer.
Along with giving up cable I also unplugged the television (which is OLD!!!!!) and have not turned it on except for about 5 minutes every couple of months to make sure that it was still working. I have gotten so accustomed to watching shows on MY time and not on the specified time from the network that right now I wonder how I lived without Hulu in the first place.
It is one year later and I am relieved that I do not have to base my schedule around the whims of the networks. I no longer have to rush from what I am doing to watch House at 7. I don’t have to flip to a different channel to watch CSI at 9 on one day and then 9:30 on a different day.
I no longer have to be upset that there are two programs that I want to watch that are BOTH playing at 8 on different channels.
Yes with Hulu I have to wait a day or two after the original airs to see it…but with Hulu I can watch CSI, NCIS, House and all the other shows back to back on a Sunday after church if I want to. I love having viewing marathons and watching a different show each time because that was something I just could not do when I was tethered to the cable cord.
Yes I see fewer options on Hulu because it is totally free and some of the shows are only available on Hulu PLUS which you have to pay for. It only costs $8 per month which is a lot less than what my cable bill used to be but I have found that the selection on Hulu is enough to satisfy me so I have not thought of upgrading as yet.
I did miss things like the Superbowl and the Grammys as those were not available for live streaming but I did not miss them. I like using Hulu currently and after one year of no cable I do not think that I will go back unless I have someone staying with me for an extended time.
In general I do not miss having cable because I like the freedom of getting on to Hulu and watching things at my leisure. I don’t miss the regular programming because I do not know what is going on so I do not see myself ever going back to having cable.
I cut cable too sometime back – not TV entirely, since I bought ROKU that can stream Netflix. Have to say best decision of my life! Initially it was weird, but then watching your shows and movies whenever you choose without commercials is awesome!
Plus bought a rabbit ear so I still get to watch local channels and the PBS.
This sounds like such a great idea but I’m petrified to cut the cable cord. I don’t have a good computer so I’m not sure how reliable the service would be on my old dinosaur.
I wish we had better options in Canada for TV…cutting cable would be so much easier. Congrats to you for going a year already.
I have Netflix and my husband bought this DVD player that allows you to watch NF shows/movies on our big screen and it’s awesome!! High recommend 🙂 And I also cut the cord, but on my land line. Seems the only calls i get anymore from that line are from those annoying telemarketers, and at all kind of odd hours! Since I have unlimited cell phone service with StraightTalk for only $45….all my phone needs are tko! So at home entertainment – checked, on the road entertainment (cell phone) – checked…now if I can only check off dream vacation I’ll bet starting off the year on a very good note:)
I am so jealous that you have the discipline to cut the cable cord. I would love to do the same but I just can’t stand the thought of only having one major media source in my home, especially depending only on my computer.
Great post! I have been thinking about ditching cable for a long time but just haven’t taken the plunge. Hearing your experience with other options makes me feel better about doing it. Now I just have to sell the kids on the idea! Thanks for all your great work here. I’m enjoying a lot of your older posts. Best wishes….
Well not everyone can do it and some find that they only last a few months before craving cable again. Think about the pros and cons and make your decision and be sure it is right for you.
I quit cable 3-4 years ago. Before that, I had basic, basic, which cost about $13/mo that most people don’t even know about. I got that just to have the baseball package. But, there is so much crap on cable that it isn’t worth my time or money. I’m reminded of that anytime I stay in a hotel and am constantly flicking the remote from one channel to another. The cost savings is enormous, also. Let’s say you only pay $50/mo, which is fairly standard. That’s $600/year and we’re talking close to $2K over the last three years! Pretty ridiculous, if you ask me.
I cut the cord a few weeks ago. After researching online for over a year I finally cut the cord. I also cut my landline and use majic jack plus for only 30.00 per year for unlimited calls in USA and Canada . I have two apple tv’s I bought on Ebay for only 80.00 each, and stream netflix and NhL Centre . I also get my local channels in crisp HD via an indoor antenna that cost ten bucks on Ebay. So why would I ever go back to cable and landline phone. I am saving between 1000.00-1250.00 per year now!!!