I think the single most potent change to anyone’s finances would be to cut the cable.
I don’t just mean calling Dish Network and telling them to reduce the number of channels down to basic, I mean cutting the power cord to the television altogether!
We spend an inordinate amount of time with Idol competitions, weather forecasters trying to be the next dramatic soap opera, and Honey Boo Boo!
Remember Paris Hilton? How did she effect my life and how do I get my time back?
OK, so maybe cutting the power cord isn’t the right thing to do. Selling the television and using the proceeds to pay off debt would make more sense while being just as radical!
Spend time on finances instead
Jen McDonough, author of Living Beyond Rich, offers this bit of “Jenspriation”:
Using time more wisely can do wonders for your money. Turn off the TV to go work on your budget, spend time creating things to earn more money, or simply exercising more to help keep life’s health expenses down will do wonders for your finances over the short time we are here on this planet. That re-run of When Harry Met Sally can wait.
Cutting back – a lot!
Admittedly, it is difficult to shut down the world’s connection in our living rooms entirely. If you don’t have the power, either willpower or full agreement with your accountability partner, then try cutting back – a lot!
- Delete scheduled timers on your DVR
- Limit viewing to specific times of the day
- Unplug all TVs except one, preferably the Family Room or game room
I made the decision years ago to stop watching so much TV and start living my own life – not somebody else’s vicariously through the tube! I haven’t regretted that decision for a second and my financial health is better off because of it.
Reduce channels
Did you know you can get the major network channels for free? How about that for saving money?
The major networks began to broadcast their over-the-air signals in digital form in 2009. This caused a lot of people to have to buy digital converters for their old sets but the one-time purchase cost was much less than the average monthly cable bill.
You can purchase antennas today for less than $50, like this paper thin Leaf Indoor HDTV Antenna – and it’s made in the USA!
If you want to convert an old TV you might need a Digital to Analog TV Converter Box. We have one hooked up to an old Panasonic in our basement. It allows us to get the local channels when the weather is really bad or tornado sirens go off.
Use your cable bill to pay off debt
Taking the money you used to spend on inflated cable bills and applying it to your smallest debt should knock it out quick! Continue this process and you will be debt free fast!
How would it feel to be debt free, have kicked the habit of wasting precious time in front of a tube, and have money to go anywhere you want. Maybe you will get to see all the wonderful sights on the Travel Channel or sit in the audience of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Experiences beat debt expenses every time.
MrJoshuaBrown says
We eliminated cable as one of our methods to get out of debt and to get some of our time back. Now I just need to use that time more productively!
myparentsarehoarders says
we did this and it was completely worth it! The rabbit ears and DTV tuner we have ($80 total) let us cancel our cable. That saved us $50/month. And when I called comcast up to drop down, I also threatened to cancel everything including internet unless they dropped our rate even lower. It’s added up to half a mortgage payment each year for us. Great advice!