Have you ever wondered how to get rid of Cable but still be able to watch your favorite television shows? We’re all searching for ideas to save a little bit of money, and one great way to do that is to get rid of cable television. But, how do you do this when you’re so used to watching TV? How can you get rid of cable without feeling like you’re missing out?
Honestly, it’s really not as hard as you think. My husband, John, and I got rid of our cable about 5 years ago now, and we have never once regretted it. We have saved so much money, and we are still able to watch all of the television shows we love!
The first month will probably cost about as much as your cable bill. After that, though? You’re going to be able to cut your costs, and hopefully stash away some of that extra cash!
Here are the things you’ll need to get rid of cable:
Digital Antenna – Gone are the days of rabbit ears, wire coat hangers, and some aluminum foil. Since 2009, TV stations have been required to have a digital signal, and you’ll need a digital Antenna to get them. Some TVs have this built in, but not all of them do. Check your TV first.
Outside antenna – You may or may not need an outside antenna. This will really depend on where you live, the terrain, where the TV stations towers are, and the strength of the signal.
A streaming device – If you have a smart TV, this will be built in. If you don’t have a smart TV, there are lots of choices out there for Streaming devices. The Roku is a great option, but I am partial to Chromecast, as that is what I have used for a few years now. Amazon Fire TV Stick and Kodi devices also have rave reviews.
Roku and Kodi both have extra channels and networks you can add to their players. This gives you access to bonus shows and networks.
Now is when we get to the meat and potatoes of cutting the Cable Cord. The shows we can watch!
Netflix – We’re all familiar with Netflix, right? There’s tons of movies, TV shows, and even really great Original Programming. The selection is ever changing, and for less than $12 a month, that’s a huge savings over cable.
Hulu – Much like Netflix, Hulu has a ton of movies, episodic TV shows, and original programming. Unlike Netflix, though, Hulu also offers current season TV shows. Did you miss an episode of Empire? You can go to Hulu and watch it! It normally takes about 24 hours before the episodes are on Hulu, so you’ll want to avoid spoilers. Hulu starts at $8/mo.
Amazon Prime – Do you have Amazon Prime for their awesome free two-day shipping? Did you know they have a ton of movies and TV shows that you can watch as part of the package? You can also choose slower shipping for credits to buy episodes that you just have to have.
Apple TV – Again, you’ll need to buy either a season pass or pay per episode. But, Apple TV is a good way to see those can’t miss episodes of your favorite shows.
If you’re a sports fan, there are options for you, too. Most major leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) have a subscription based plan for streaming. These generally allow you to catch some games, highlights, and sometimes the discussion panel shows. You can even subscribe to HBO Now and Showtime through some streaming services.
Cutting the cable cord doesn’t have to be painful. It just takes a little bit of research and navigation to get the hang of it.
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