Save on Cable TV: You Don't Need to Eliminate It, Just Cut Back to Save a Ton

Here's an interesting take on the whole "save money by cutting out cable TV" conversation. It comes from Money Central as part of an article on 10 easy ways to save $500 or more. They say you don't have to cut out cable totally to save a bundle -- just cut back. Their thoughts:

The average monthly cable bill, excluding Internet access and other extras, now runs about $52, according to Kagan Research, which monitors the broadcasting industry. The average satellite bill is $59.

The easiest way to cut costs: Just take a deep breath and cancel everything but the basic plan. Most cable companies have a very limited plan for $10 or $15 per month that offers local channels and a few other networks. If you have satellite, the basic plan, including local channels, will cost you about $25. If you want to watch a movie or an HBO series now and then, rent it -- you'll still come out way ahead.

Not a bad idea. If you can save $25 a month, that's $300 a year!

If you want to save the whole enchilada every month, they have an idea for you as well:

If you have greater-than-average do-it-yourself skills, consider installing an antenna and capturing high-definition television signals over the air.

We simply use one of those cheap plug-into-your-TV antennas you get at Wal-mart and do just fine. We get the four networks, PBS, the WB, and a few miscellaneous stations. It serves our purposes -- except when there's a really great game on ESPN. Then I just have to suck it up and "watch" via the web. It kills me during college football bowl season, but it's not worth the cost (or time I'd spend watching it).

Comments

[rgrg]

the benefits of cutting TV have severly dropped with the advent of bundling

[Blaine Moore (Run to Win)]

We pay the $13 during football season for basic cable. I get it installed at the end of August or beginning of September, and then cancel it at the beginning of February.

[buhler]

We are with you and use the regular broadcast antenna. I get funny looks when I tell people that we do not have dish or cable at home. But we try to do things as a family and stay plenty busy without needing to watch TV.

[SkyeBlue]

We used to have a package with Dish satellite that was running us about $53.00 a month. But about 2 months ago we switched from that one to DishFamily. It is running us, with local channels about $24.99 plus tax. Without the local channels it is $19.99 a month. I didn't want the barebones package but I did want one with a lot of children's and educational programming but I didn't want to have to put up with MTV, Spike etc. since I have small children.

[Monica]

I have DISH Network as well. It fits my budget perfectly. Cutting out TV completely to save money definitely isn't necessary. I work for DISH and they have a variety of packages to fit different tastes and budgets. I have a few friends who've saved by switching.