can’t live without it?
This guy at my job asked me the other day how I can live without cable.
And the thing about it was, he was asking that question incredulously. As if I was the first person he’s ever met that doesn’t pay for cable. Wow. Perhaps I am. He was absolutely shocked that I never got into watching the So.pranos, and that our other co-worker doesn’t have the channel that created it. I could see if he were shocked that I said something like I never have dessert, or I don’t have running water in my house, but come on, it’s just cable.
You know how I live without cable? I watch whatever channels I can see on my television. I read blogs on the internet. I read the news, I check message boards. I spend quality time with my honey. I read books and magazine articles. I call my friends and family to talk. I visit people.
I think my life is actually pretty normal. I just happen to have an extra $100 in my pocket every month that my co-worker and many other cable subscribers don’t have.
I’m not anti-television or anti-cable, per se. I’m just pro-debt reduction and pro-savings. I can afford to pay for cable, if I want it. I just would rather do something more useful with my money, that’s all. Especially while I’m still in the battle against revolving debt, and dreaming about having my own home. I’m sure I’ll subscribe to some kind of cable service at some point - maybe one of those dishes, even. But I’ve got too much going on in my life to be worried about TV.
Where I lived in Oakland, I had to have cable to watch t.v. I only got basic cable. When I lived in L.A. on my own I didn’t have cable.
Now we have everything cable. When we got married I tried to cancel it or reduce the plan my husband had, but he refused. He let me cancel or change everything else about his spending, but he was firm on the cable. We actually watch the majority of the channels too. Its way more than $100.
When we moved, he wouldn’t move in until the cable was installed. I wasn’t content until we got wireless internet. I don’t need cable but I need internet.
Comment by c2a — January 23, 2008 @ 12:16 am
I have basic cable, but it is paid by my apt complex. Even at the age of 5, Tyler is amazed when we go to other’s houses and they have a lot more cartoon channels. He constantly ask me to call Time Warner and tell them that I want some other channels. Imagine that, at 5 he feels the pressure and thinks that we are SUPPOSED to have all these channels. Boy, he’s gonna get the shock of his life when we move to a home and may not have cable for a while.. I guess he’ll get real comfy wiht all those dvds he has.
Comment by S23 — January 23, 2008 @ 6:39 am
ditto what C2A said about internet. i have basic cable but i could certainly do without it. but i must say that if internet prices suddenly shot up to $100 across the board, i’d surely pay it!
Comment by K. — January 23, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Why, hello, The Internet! I hear it’s possible to watch streaming video and/or download new episodes of those hot television shows on you! Really? And it’s free, too? You don’t say! I wonder why some people look at me funny when I say I don’t have a TV. If only they knew about you, Internet.
Comment by English Major — January 23, 2008 @ 11:00 am
funny thing is after a couple of days we all can live without cable. Because we will become use of it.
Comment by moneymonk33 — January 23, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
I agree with moneymonk. after a couple of days you don’t even know it’s gone. that said, i do have cable and i watch it, but the main reason i have it is so H can watch international soccer games.
Comment by ms. m&p — January 23, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
For years, whenever I moved to a new apt, I would not move in until cable installation day. I never thought I could live without it, until…uh, I began to live without it. Now I don’t miss a thing. I rarely watch TV anyway, but the few shows I like can be seen on the innanets. I love me some innanet!
Comment by Single Ma — January 23, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
I haven’t had cable since I moved back to New England. My apartment in DC had cable (it was included in the rent) and I watched it only if I was slumming at home on a weekend. Basic cable is almost $60 a month here and I just can’t justify spending that much money each month. I pretty much only watch TV from late November until late March,otherwise I am out and about. If basic cable was less than $30, I’d consider it just for the picutre clarity, but it just is too expensive.
Comment by bouncing betty — January 29, 2008 @ 1:40 pm