How To Cut The Cable Cord And Save Money

Are you ready to cut the cord? We all know that cable television bills are getting outrageously expensive! It can be hard for people to afford cable television with prices getting higher by the month and an average cost of over $100 each month. If you know you can get the same quality entertainment for free or at a fraction of this cost, then why wouldn’t you want to save money? That’s why the cutting the cord phenomenon is becoming increasingly more popular.

Gone are the days when cable TV was the only source of entertaining shows. Back in the day  there wasn’t any choice but to pay the cable companies whatever they demanded. But things have changed and today the same entertainment can be enjoyed via streaming TV channels at a far cheaper cost. So it is high time to ditch the cable TV.

For some people it may seem tough to move from cable TV to internet streaming because change is never easy. There is a comfort in sticking to old things that have become part of your routine life for a long period of time. But if you look at the cost comparison between cable and streaming, then it makes financial sense to cut the cord. For those who aren’t very tech savvy, the growing list of streaming services and varying choices may get overwhelming. So, you should have a thorough understanding of what you’re opting for before you say goodbye to cable.

Here are a few basics to make things easier for you.

Good Internet Connection

Since you are switching to internet-delivered TV, it makes sense to have a solid broadband connection, especially for families who are streaming more movies at the same time. Get a good internet connection and a Wi-Fi router to enable streaming from wherever you may be in the house. 

An HD Antenna

Buy an HD antenna to watch your favorite shows live in high definition. This simple solution will work for those who want to enjoy live TV, local broadcast stations, news and sports. An HD antenna will not cost much (probably less than $40) but the result will be worth the price. There is no subscription fee. Your channel selection depends on the area you live in. Those who live in urban areas can get to watch all four main networks namely Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC if they get a good HD antenna. To check that you have a clear reception, you can buy one and try it out before canceling your subscription.

Streaming Devices

Look for the best streaming device. The choice of the device will depend on your needs whether you want a 4k resolution or want to play games. There are all kinds of streaming devices available to fit any budget or streaming preference. The most commonly used ones are devices offered by Google, Roku, Apple, and Amazon. 

Here are options for streaming devices:

• Roku Streaming Stick+

• Apple TV 4K

• Chromecast Ultra

Streaming Services

You can enjoy all or most channels as before with live TV streaming services such as AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV,  Hulu + Live TV and more. This is the most comprehensive solution to getting all the channels. It works like cable with the only difference being that they come live via the internet instead of an analog wire. However, it is not very helpful for saving up. These streaming services are offered the same way as cable bundles with different features etc. The cost of these can be as high as $50 to $60 per month. The positive part is that you will not have to sacrifice anything that you previously watched on cable. 

The other alternative is to get streaming subscriptions. It is more budget friendly and allows you to make your own TV plan with services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. If you want more options, you can get an antenna as well. Through this plan you will have to sacrifice traditional cable channels though. These services can cost from around $6 to $16 per month. The cost depends on the options you are selecting, but it will be far less than cable TV. 

Smart TV Streaming Capabilities

If you have a Smart TV, check it out because these high-end TVs come with smart capabilities and offer several streaming services. Usually these TVs have built in apps such as Netflix and YouTube. If these serve your satisfaction, you may not need any hardware at all.

Keeping in view the above mentioned choices and features, you can make a smart decision according to your preferences. For smart cord cutting, you must be to able to strike the right balance between cost and variety.