(LS) — When I moved in with my fiancée, she asked me if I had any preference when it came to what cable, dish, or Internet provider I wanted. I told her that I didn’t care, so long as we could get ESPN up and running before the weekend. I thought that one-liner was hysterical… until I got the first bill. For wireless Internet, cable television with the HBO package, and a useless landline, we were paying over $170 a month! I put a stop to that immediately, realizing that in this day and age, consumers have the opportunity to save much more on their entertainment packages. Here’s how:
Dump the Landline!
This is 2011, and the time has come to get rid of your old-fashioned landline. What, do you still have a rotary phone and dial-up Internet service, as well? The only reason to have a landline anymore is if you have small children, and you want the phone in place for emergencies. However, an extra cell phone can serve the same purpose. If you still have your fax machine plugged into a phone line, unplug it and get a fax service over the Internet.
Don’t let the Cable Companies and Dish Services Play You For a Sucker
Don’t get suckered in by cable and dish network advertisements on television. The cable companies try to sell you on a bundle package that costs around $100 for cable, internet and phone. However, that package deal includes only the basics. If you want wireless Internet, then the price goes up $20, and then add another $20-30 if you want a premium movie channel. Add in some taxes, and before you know it, your cable bill has soared over $150 per month. The dish services are no different. Dish Network and Direct TV offer initial packages to new customers for around $29.99 depending on the market. However, there is some serious fine print there. That deal is often only good for the first six months, and customers are obligated to sign up for at least a year and sometimes two, at a much higher rate depending on the market. Not to mention, those deals are only for the basics, no movie channels other than special deals for a limited time and certainly no premium sports packages like Direct TV’s beloved Sunday Ticket for NFL fans. Not to mention, after the cable expense, you’re still looking at having to pay for an Internet hook-up.
Try Combining Internet with NetFlix
Americans are turning away from cable and dish television services in droves. Nowadays, most network television shows are available for viewing over the Internet on either the network’s website or via a third party site like Hulu.com, and most sports programs can be found streaming live over the Internet, too. As a result, many people are realizing they no longer have to be a slave to cable and dish services. Instead of shelling out $150-200 per month for cable and wireless from a single company, I’ve made the switch to an independent wireless provider, and I’m paying $19.95 per month for three computers. Such cheap and reliable service is available in most metropolitan areas of most states. Granted, I am an entertainment junkie, so I’ve also joined NetFlix, and for $7.99 a month, I get all of the movies and television shows that I want streamed over the Internet. For two dollars more per month, I can also get access to Netflix’s extended library of DVDs. Thus, for around $30 per month, I can have all of the Internet and movies I want. Through my former cable service provider, HBO costs almost that much. For only $40 more, I can buy an analog television box that can enable me to at least watch local stations without ever paying a cent more.
Mix it Up
Of course, some people just need to wake up to SportsCenter every morning. Clicking on video stories online just doesn’t cut it. However, you gotta have high speed wireless Internet, as well. If that’s the case, then still avoid the cable combo package. Purchase basic cable or the introductory offer from a dish service and then couple that with wireless from an independent provider and Netflix. You’ll be getting all your entertainment needs for roughly half the price you were when you started.
Granted, I know that there are just some people who can’t wait until the DVD is released next year to find out what happens to Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood. In that case, you’ll just have to pay the real cable bloodsuckers to watch your fiction bloodsuckers on cable.
Dump the Landline!
This is 2011, and the time has come to get rid of your old-fashioned landline. What, do you still have a rotary phone and dial-up Internet service, as well? The only reason to have a landline anymore is if you have small children, and you want the phone in place for emergencies. However, an extra cell phone can serve the same purpose. If you still have your fax machine plugged into a phone line, unplug it and get a fax service over the Internet.
Don’t let the Cable Companies and Dish Services Play You For a Sucker
Don’t get suckered in by cable and dish network advertisements on television. The cable companies try to sell you on a bundle package that costs around $100 for cable, internet and phone. However, that package deal includes only the basics. If you want wireless Internet, then the price goes up $20, and then add another $20-30 if you want a premium movie channel. Add in some taxes, and before you know it, your cable bill has soared over $150 per month. The dish services are no different. Dish Network and Direct TV offer initial packages to new customers for around $29.99 depending on the market. However, there is some serious fine print there. That deal is often only good for the first six months, and customers are obligated to sign up for at least a year and sometimes two, at a much higher rate depending on the market. Not to mention, those deals are only for the basics, no movie channels other than special deals for a limited time and certainly no premium sports packages like Direct TV’s beloved Sunday Ticket for NFL fans. Not to mention, after the cable expense, you’re still looking at having to pay for an Internet hook-up.
Try Combining Internet with NetFlix
Americans are turning away from cable and dish television services in droves. Nowadays, most network television shows are available for viewing over the Internet on either the network’s website or via a third party site like Hulu.com, and most sports programs can be found streaming live over the Internet, too. As a result, many people are realizing they no longer have to be a slave to cable and dish services. Instead of shelling out $150-200 per month for cable and wireless from a single company, I’ve made the switch to an independent wireless provider, and I’m paying $19.95 per month for three computers. Such cheap and reliable service is available in most metropolitan areas of most states. Granted, I am an entertainment junkie, so I’ve also joined NetFlix, and for $7.99 a month, I get all of the movies and television shows that I want streamed over the Internet. For two dollars more per month, I can also get access to Netflix’s extended library of DVDs. Thus, for around $30 per month, I can have all of the Internet and movies I want. Through my former cable service provider, HBO costs almost that much. For only $40 more, I can buy an analog television box that can enable me to at least watch local stations without ever paying a cent more.
Mix it Up
Of course, some people just need to wake up to SportsCenter every morning. Clicking on video stories online just doesn’t cut it. However, you gotta have high speed wireless Internet, as well. If that’s the case, then still avoid the cable combo package. Purchase basic cable or the introductory offer from a dish service and then couple that with wireless from an independent provider and Netflix. You’ll be getting all your entertainment needs for roughly half the price you were when you started.
Granted, I know that there are just some people who can’t wait until the DVD is released next year to find out what happens to Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood. In that case, you’ll just have to pay the real cable bloodsuckers to watch your fiction bloodsuckers on cable.
