Cutting the Cord

I'm always looking for ways to save a buck (or preferably two). I shop at thrift stores and dollar stores, use coupons, borrow (instead of buying) books, CDs, and DVDs from the library, scour sales and clearance racks, buy only in-season produce or frozen fruit and vegetables, and regularly adjust my cellphone plan to reflect current usage. 

I'm known for my frugality. My phone is over three years old, my car is ten years old (and paid for), and my TVs are even older (no flat screens for me). I use and wear things until they break or fall apart, sometimes both. 

Why? you ask. I do all of this not by necessity but by choice. My theory is that if I live below my means, saving more than I spend, I'll always have more than I need. (And in this crazy, unpredictable world, I never know when I'll need that extra cash.) It's the best way I know to prevent credit-card debt, which I experienced as a struggling, underemployed college student (and have no interest in ever re-experiencing). 

One monthly expense that I've never tinkered with during the past six years - until now - is my DISH Network service. Despite my thrifty nature, I've always accepted that increasingly-costly bill as a necessary expense, like electricity, heat, and rent. After all, I don't frequent movie theaters often (I think I saw one new film - Maleficent with my nephew - last year), I live in small-town western New York (which means that I'm often literally snowed in for days at a time every winter), and I don't have home Internet (except on my ancient smartphone), so Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video are off limits, and a nearly $100 monthly TV bill seemed justified. 

 

I started reconsidering, however, after the start of this new year, a typical time of reevaluation, especially when I noticed that my bill had increased by five dollars per month. That was the impetus I needed to realize that I really don't need 200 channels when I mainly watch less than a dozen. So after considering a switch for several weeks, using my free customer-appreciation pay-per-view certificate (Boyhood, which I absolutely loved), waiting for a few shows to end, and stockpiling films, I bid adieu to TCM (they don't make movies like they used to) and many other old favorites, and trimmed my programming package down to 55 channels at the end of last week, saving myself $40 per month (extra travel funds!).

So far, the expected withdrawals symptoms haven't hit, due to my careful planning. My guess is they probably won't be nearly as severe as I'd feared. In fact, now I'm wondering why I waited so long to start (figuratively) cutting the cord. For one thing, I have enough programs (currently 50) on my DVR to keep me entertained for some time. For another, I'm resourceful. I'll watch what I have, and I'll frequent my local library when I run out of recorded films. And I steadfastly believe that I won't need 55-200 TV channels when this dreadful winter finally ends, because I'll be able to actually leave my apartment.

 

This might be just a baby step in the process of fully breaking up with satellite TV. I'm researching home antennas, DVR options (I go to bed at 9 pm, so I'm fully dependent on my current one), and Internet plans, and  I've concluded, based on that data, that I'll have to spend money on something, whether on cable, satellite, or Internet, either in one-time or monthly fees, if I want more than five TV channels. 

Maybe I should quit TV altogether and live like a pioneer woman (though I'd like to keep my electricity and modern appliances, please and thank you). Hmm...sounds like a great idea for a new blog! Stay tuned.