Do you want to cut the cord? Are you wondering if it’s worth it? Here’s a practical guide to ditching cable TV and keeping entertainment without the high cost.
A few years ago we canceled our cable subscription, and we haven’t missed it at all.
We don’t currently subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or other paid streaming services. In fact, we barely turn on the TV anymore.
Out of all the ways to watch TV and movies, cable is usually the most expensive. In 2017, the average monthly cable bill was about $101, and that number has continued to rise. If you have a cable plan today, you may be spending roughly $1,200 a year—or a lot more. Some people I know pay well over $300 per month.
By learning how to cut the cord, you can save thousands of dollars over your lifetime. That money can be redirected toward retirement, travel, family, or other priorities.
Even though ditching cable is an obvious money-saver, it can feel daunting. Below are realistic, no-nonsense strategies to help you cut the cord and keep the viewing options you want.
Use a digital antenna for free local channels
When you picture antennas, you might imagine bulky rabbit ears and poor reception. Modern antennas are digital, compact, and provide clear reception for local channels. That means no monthly fee—just a one-time purchase.
Before we started traveling full-time, we bought an indoor digital antenna for around $20. It sat discreetly behind our TV and delivered excellent picture quality. We saved hundreds of dollars just by switching to an antenna.
These days many smart TVs have built-in tuners that find local channels automatically, giving you free, high-quality access to local news, sports, and network programming.
Replace cable with streaming services selectively
We used to pay only for Netflix after cutting cable, although we canceled it later because we were watching too much TV. Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video offer convenient on-demand shows and movies, often without commercials, but subscribing to several at once can add up.
There are many alternatives to traditional cable: subscription services, purchasing individual episodes or seasons, or temporary subscriptions for specific shows or events. The flexibility to join and cancel without long-term contracts is a major advantage.
Trim streaming subscriptions you don’t use
Streaming services are attractive because their monthly fees are lower than traditional cable. But subscribing to multiple services can quickly bring your monthly costs back toward what you paid for cable.
Common prices (varies by plan and region):
- Netflix – $7.99 to $13.99
- Hulu – $7.99 to $39.99
- Sling TV – $20 to $40
- Amazon Prime Video – $8.99 (Prime membership billed annually)
- HBO Now – $14.99
- YouTube TV – $40+
To really save money, evaluate which services you actually use. Cancel services that duplicate content or only serve short-term interests. Many services let you pause or cancel at any time with no penalty, so subscribe only when you need them.
Sports fans: consider your options
For people who don’t follow sports, cutting cable is straightforward. If you’re a sports fan, cutting the cord will require more planning. Think about how much watching live games is worth to you versus the monthly savings. Options include subscribing only during the season, using a friend’s cable for big games, or choosing a streaming service that carries the sports channels you care about.
Reclaim time by watching less TV
Watching too much television wastes a lot of time. The average American used to spend around 35 hours per week watching TV; cutting the cord can free up hours for hobbies, side hustles, family time, exercise, or travel. Since we stopped relying on cable, we spend more time exploring while traveling and I’ve been able to focus on work without TV distractions.
How much did we save?
We rarely used cable enough to justify the cost. In addition, our provider frequently raised rates, and we were constantly renegotiating to keep the bill down. After canceling cable and dropping streaming services we weren’t using, we saved roughly $1,300 per year.
If you’re thinking about cutting the cord, consider what you pay now, what you actually watch, and how much time you’d rather spend doing other things. Could you live without cable and save that money instead?
Are you thinking about canceling cable? Do you think you could cut the cord? How much is your monthly cable bill?