From Cable to Netflix

Cable television. Most people have it, but do you really need it? I can remember a time when TV was the major form of entertainment in my life. This was before the invention of DVDs and back when you rented VHS tapes from your local Blockbuster! Before computers and the internet could provide you with an endless stream of entertainment. Before cell phones played video. Before cell phones could fit in your pocket! At that time, TV was everything and the shows on TV weren’t half bad either! But times have changed, TV programming is not what it used to be (ahem, reality shows!) and although DVDs remain popular for watching shows and movies, you don’t actually need a DVD to watch a movie these days!

Of course, I am talking about services like Netflix, Hulu and even iTunes and Amazon Prime! Nowadays, you don’t even need cable to watch TV, its kinda crazy and a bargain for those who choose to make the switch from cable to Netflix. Think about how much you actually use your TV and what you use your TV for? Are you watching DVDs that you own or rent? Are you watching shows via DVR or On Demand services instead of watching them live? Do you like to go back and watch previous seasons of your favorite shows? Do you get your news and weather information from the internet or an app? If any of these questions sound like you most of the time, you may not need cable TV.

Let me give you some more food for thought! The average “triple play” bundle from your cable provider costs $100 a month and gives you TV, Internet and Phone service. Most people don’t even have a home phone anymore because they use their cell phones! Internet alone costs about $40 from a standard cable provider. So, let’s say that by switching from cable to Netflix you will save at least $50 a month ($60 from canceling cable – $10 for Netflix per month) and that is at the very least! If you also subscribe to extended cable or premium channels, you could be saving even more! So, how would you like an extra $600 in your pocket a year? What could you be doing with that extra $50 a month?

But wait, you say you really can’t live without TV because you have a few shows you are addicted to and you don’t want to cancel your premium channels because you like to watch new releases? There are plenty of alternate places to find movies and current TV shows. Services like RedBox allow you to rent new releases for just about a $1 a day! You can even subscribe to seasons of your favorite TV shows from iTunes and have unlimited access to episodes after they air live! If you are really looking to save some cash, Hulu has plenty of free TV shows available after they air, and if you use an iOS or android device, most television networks have a dedicated app where you can watch episodes the day after they air as well! If all else fails, your local library is a great resource for borrowing dvd’s of movies and TV shows, although you may not be able to find the new releases, you can definitely find a good flick for a quiet evening at home!

Do you currently subscribe to cable? Do you also use a subscription service like Netflix or Hulu Plus? Do you think you could make the switch from cable to Netflix? Are you really getting your money’s worth out of your cable tv? Is the money saved enough of a motivator, or do you need more convincing?