Cable free (old, money)

[tarajane2013]

I want so much to go cable free but our only entertainment is TV Discovery, Natgeo, History, a few more. All that other stuff just really bugs me having to pay for. My husband has Dementia and he likes watching TV but he also likes a few channels. Is there ANY way we can get these channels without all that other garbage. We are on a fixed income and trying to be frugal but when it comes to this I don't know how to beat it. Thanks

[flyonpa]

Yes,...

There are about a dozen Thread about Cutting the Cord, Getting rid of cable tv in the frugal-living forum already Read thru some of them.

[brava4]

I cut cable and now have an antenna. Channels are limited but I don't need much. I guess it depends on what channels you feel you can do without.

[katie45]

Originally Posted by brava4

I cut cable and now have an antenna. Channels are limited but I don't need much. I guess it depends on what channels you feel you can do without.

Agreed! I also use an indoor OTA antenna and satisfied with the channels I receive and the clarity. Most importantly: No more cable bills!

Here is a web site that will tell how many, and which channels a person could receive (based on zip code):

AntennaWeb - Address

[Geneyus]

I think most of the channels you mentioned can be viewed through SlingTV ($20/month). If you want to cut out cable, buy a Roku 3 or other streaming device and add Hulu, SlingTV, Crackle, and some other channels. There are a ton of free channels out there that will give you movies and older episodes of TV shows to watch for free. We cut out cable about 2 months ago, and the hardest part has been finding something to watch. There's a ton of shows and movies at our fingerprints, we just haven't learned how to navigate all of the options yet.
Oh, and buy a $30 antenna on Amazon.com and plug it into the coax plug on the back of your TV. If you live in a large city, you'll get a dozen channels (the local ones) right there.

[reed067]

I would like to see cable companies offer something like a bundle of channels that you would watch instead of 100 plus channels of things you have no interest in. Guess there is no money in it for them but the public would jump all over it. They do it for those who love sports, so why not the rest of us?

[bUU]

Originally Posted by flyonpa

Yes,... There are about a dozen Thread about Cutting the Cord, Getting rid of cable tv in the frugal-living forum already Read thru some of them.

For example:

Cutting the cable and un-cutting

Originally Posted by reed067

I would like to see cable companies offer something like a bundle of channels that you would watch instead of 100 plus channels of things you have no interest in. Guess there is no money in it for them but the public would jump all over it.

The cable companies have nothing to do with it. Verizon FiOS has been offering "skinny bundles" akin to what you indicate you want, and now apparently the legal threats against the violation of carriage agreements inherent in giving you what you want has come to a head, and they will be adding ESPN back to the basic tier over the next year. The networks themselves place the requirements on the cable companies that represent the greatest portion of the extra cost associated with extra channels.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by tarajane2013

I want so much to go cable free but our only entertainment is TV Discovery, Natgeo, History, a few more. All that other stuff just really bugs me having to pay for. My husband has Dementia and he likes watching TV but he also likes a few channels. Is there ANY way we can get these channels without all that other garbage. We are on a fixed income and trying to be frugal but when it comes to this I don't know how to beat it. Thanks

I think that this is one of the few times I would recommend NOT cutting cable. I base this on three main factors.

1. Changing technologies can be difficult even for people with full faculties. For someone with dementia, it would be a steep hill to climb, and one where he would always be slipping back and frustrated.
2. The savings over the relatively short span where most dementia victims actively enjoy specific programming is not major.
3. Quality of life is important not only to the person with dementia, but for the caregiver's impression of that quality of life. If you cut cable and the alternatives didn't work out or were less than adequate, after your husband dies there will be some self-recrimination.

There will probably come a time when what is on the tv simply doesn't matter to him, but even then the reassurance of remembering how to use it may be important.

Does the cost of cable suck? Yes. Is it a drain on limited resources? Yes. Is the business model punitive and customer unfriendly? Yes. In this case, those don't add up to cutting off a link to a somewhat comfortable pastime for someone with little else.

[tarajane2013]

Thank you, I needed that.....I want to provide everything that will make him comfortable. I would hate to know what goes on in his mind sometimes so when I can divert to something enjoyable I will do it. Thank you again

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I think that this is one of the few times I would recommend NOT cutting cable. I base this on three main factors.

1. Changing technologies can be difficult even for people with full faculties. For someone with dementia, it would be a steep hill to climb, and one where he would always be slipping back and frustrated.
2. The savings over the relatively short span where most dementia victims actively enjoy specific programming is not major.
3. Quality of life is important not only to the person with dementia, but for the caregiver's impression of that quality of life. If you cut cable and the alternatives didn't work out or were less than adequate, after your husband dies there will be some self-recrimination.

There will probably come a time when what is on the tv simply doesn't matter to him, but even then the reassurance of remembering how to use it may be important.

Does the cost of cable suck? Yes. Is it a drain on limited resources? Yes. Is the business model punitive and customer unfriendly? Yes. In this case, those don't add up to cutting off a link to a somewhat comfortable pastime for someone with little else.

[Gabbythecat]

Couldn't you get a Roku and then choose which channels you want to pay for? Your dh might need help choosing the channels - Roku does involve an extra step in turning to the correct channel...