Cancel Cable and Internet???

[bjl584]

So, I'm seriously thinking about canceling my cable and internet. I'm not a big fan of Comcast. I don't like their customer service, and they keep raising my rates everytime they take away channels. Essentially, I keep paying more for less. There are no other cable providers in my area, so the only other option is satellite, which isn't much cheaper. Also, I don't have a land line phone, so I have to have my internet through my cable. i could get a land line just for internet and get satellite tv, but I wouldn't be saving any money if I went that route. I am just tired of paying $100 a month for what I view as subpar service. I'm not a huge tv watcher, but I do enjoy relaxing on the couch now and then, especially since football season is starting up. I go on the internet on ocassion, but just as I am doing right now, I have internet access at work. I'm thinking that I may get a lot more done around the house if I didn't have the tv or the internet to waster my time. But, on the other hand, I might go crazy especially in the wintertime when there isn't much to do around the house. Does anyone out there live without tv and/or internet? How do you manage? Does it take some getting used to? Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

[disneysteve]

I would keep cable but stop paying $100/month. Call and ask for "antenna service". We pay, with tax, $11.31/month for our Comcast cable. I'm not sure how much their internet service is (we have Verizon DSL), but I'm guessing it is somewhere around $30 or $40, so that would cut your total bill in half or less.

No way would I go back to dial-up internet.

[feh]

We moved in April and did not order cable or satellite at the new house, so we only have over-the-air local tv. First time in 17 years we didn't have either cable or satellite tv.

I don't regret it at all. I miss a couple channels (Discovery, Science), but in general I'll gladly keep that extra $50 in my pocket each month. Most tv does nothing but rot brain cells anyway.

Read, start a new hobby, volunteer, etc. if you have time on your hands.

It would be tough not having internet access, however. We subscribed to Verizon DSL, and we use Vonage on top of that for our phone (no land line).

[Broken Arrow]

I don't have cable anymore, and I am constantly on the look out for affordable broadband internet.

Currently, my (cable) internet is $30 a month.

[kzac68]

I've found that the local library has a great selection of books on CD that I can listen to while I do housecleaning, driving, or whatever. This gives me my entertainment fix and I'm still getting stuff done at the same time! Plus, its free!

[skydivingchic]

I haven't had cable in about 12 years now. Once in a while I wish I could watch things like figure skating or the Olympics, but overall I say "good riddance" to the cable companies. Everytime I'm around someone's house who has cable, I amazed at the amount of pure crap that is on TV. We do however have a Netflix subscription and I probably average 1-2 DVDs per week.

We have cable internet access and I would have a really hard time giving that up.

[Hot dog]

I moved bout 2 1/2 yrs ago and haven't had cable since. We just have bunny ears and get plenty of channels. It took some adjusting but no one in the family really wants it now. We have internet and phone that costs about as much as my phone alone used to cost through the cable company actually

[momof1in150]

Originally Posted by Hot dog

I moved bout 2 1/2 yrs ago and haven't had cable since. We just have bunny ears and get plenty of channels. It took some adjusting but no one in the family really wants it now. We have internet and phone that costs about as much as my phone alone used to cost through the cable company actually

You do know that Rabbit Ears will not work after Feb. 17, 2009?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

You do know that Rabbit Ears will not work after Feb. 17, 2009?

They will work, but will require a converter box.

Another option, OP, is to cancel cable TV but keep the high speed internet. Then watch TV shows online at the network sites and sites like fancast.com or hulu.com.

[gekkoplus]

Who doesn't hate comcast?

We have a basic cable $13/month and internet $19/month from comcast. We are not huge TV watchers either - I watch morning news before leaving to work and a half hour sitcom after work. Our monthly bill comes around $35 including taxes.

Can you check with Comcast whether they can get you this same package?

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by gekkoplus

Who doesn't hate comcast?

We have a basic cable $13/month and internet $19/month from comcast. We are not huge TV watchers either - I watch morning news before leaving to work and a half hour sitcom after work. Our monthly bill comes around $35 including taxes.

Can you check with Comcast whether they can get you this same package?

that's cheap? Is that a promotional rate? Internet is 40 per month and basic extended cable is 55 per month where I live. Where do you live at?

[kork13]

Originally Posted by bjl584

that's cheap? Is that a promotional rate? Internet is 40 per month and basic extended cable is 55 per month where I live. Where do you live at?

seriously!!! $35 for cable AND internet?!? shoot, my roommates and I pay $90 for the same. Where are you?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by gekkoplus

We have a basic cable $13/month

Originally Posted by bjl584

that's cheap? basic extended cable is 55 per month

We have Comcast in NJ. We have their bottom cable package. With taxes and fees, our bill is $11.31/month. They do not advertise that package. It isn't listed on their website as an option. You have to call and request it. I learned about it from a patient who worked for Comcast. Until then, we just had a roof antenna because I refused to spend $30 or $40 or more per month to watch TV, but I was willing to spend $10.

[bjl584]

I live in the northern panhandle of West Virginia just west of Pittsburgh PA. I too have extended basic cable and high speed internet service.

Steve- you said that you have some special package that isn't advertised to the public? When I call Comcast, what do I ask for? I hope that they offer something like that where I live.

-Brian

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by bjl584

Steve- you said that you have some special package that isn't advertised to the public? When I call Comcast, what do I ask for? I hope that they offer something like that where I live.

Ask for their antenna service. It may include just your local channels and not a whole lot else, but you'll get good reception and a minimal bill.

[bjl584]

Ok, I will try that. Thanks!

[Aleta]

We received our 2 $40. coupons for the DTV converter and bought the boxes online throught Circuit city for $21. after the coupon. They try to sell you the extended service but I don't see getting it.

Anyway, we have satellite and it's great having TV's in the house that just get regular channels. In one room, we hooked up the converter box and a rabbit ears and receive an incredible picture. We even have extra channels mostly are alongside of regular channels that are just for weather. We really like this.

[fruitbowlk]

I don't have cable. and I just turned off my landline and replace aol dial up with broadband. Clearwire.

[PrincessPerky]

I have never had cable TV in adult life (moved out at 17).

But I go crazy without internet (done it before)

I do have an easy source of movies and even TV, my BIL has TONS. so once a month we borrow two or three.

If I drove I could manage with library internet I think, I only need it for a couple hours most days.

[murphyc]

Not for years and don't miss it. I do work from home as a medical transcriber for a national company and need my internet connection and pay $45 a month for it at Time Warner. Wish I could get a better deal, even though technically I could probably write at least a portion of this off. Not interested in the package deal with phone/cable/internet, either. I keep a cheap Tracfone for emergencies and keep a cheap land line. Afraid to mess with my work internet connection because it didn't work out when I tried once before. I get a lot from the net entertainment wise and wouldn't cut it off, anyway, even if I didn't work from home. I love the free bootleg movies on line and don't even bother with the library anymore plus no newpaper or magazine subscriptions. It's all on the net if you know how to work it, ha-ha.