Is Cable TV that serious to you?
By jswindell10
@jswindell10 (417)
United States
February 4, 2012 8:44pm CST
For the past year, I have had to go full time with my business. This means taking on work I don't want to and dodging bad situations before I really lose money.
Anyway, around this time I told my roommate that we were going to have to cut back on cable or get rid of it altogether. He said just pay the bill on time and it will be okay.
Then there would be an argument where he would just dismiss me and walk away when I began to pull out a paper bill.
Yeah, and we are separating.
The past couple of months have been especially rough as one long-time client stiffed me on a big job. Another has been late w/payments and a couple really weren't worth the time (not enough money). So I got a disconnect. notice and went to pay but they were closed on a day when they were open.
The next time was a partial but they shut off the DVR. The DVR is where the roommate sleeps and exists. In my room is basic cable, which is still on.
Because it's in my name, I plan to pay it off and get an antenna device that will pick up channels.
Though it would be more trouble to get him to put it in his name, we won't be leaving our current residence for a few months.
Anyway, he's going around angry because he pays less than half but wears out the equipment and complains about it.
Anybody been in a similar situation?
2 people like this
3 responses
@phyrre (2317)
• United States
5 Feb 12
I am very thankful to say I have never been in this situation and I am much too blunt and straightforward to have let it continue!
To be honest, it sounds like your roommate needs to pull his weight. If you are having financial difficulties and don't need cable and it would be better off for you to eliminate it then that's your choice. Let him know that you're not against cable and if he feels the need he can either start paying a large portion and you'll pay X amount or it gets shut off because you don't need it and he's using it the most.
I'm very thankful that when we ran into a bit of tough times a couple years ago hubby and I decided to shut off our TV together to save that much money each month and it was a decision that we were both OK with and we've never gone back since. It's kind of nice having the extra time without feeling like we need the TV or we need to watch whatever or spending long hours in front of it. We usually have one movie night a week where we rent movies from Redbox and that's it, but the rest of the time is TV free and it gives us a lot more time to enjoy everything else because when we had cable we felt compelled to watch it more.
You might just find out that you like not having cable, too. 
But as for your roommate...well, if you're separating then really it's not your job to take care of him and he's a grown man who should be able to fend for himself if he really feels he needs cable or should at least understand your perspective and where you're coming from.
But as for your roommate...well, if you're separating then really it's not your job to take care of him and he's a grown man who should be able to fend for himself if he really feels he needs cable or should at least understand your perspective and where you're coming from.1 person likes this
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
5 Feb 12
I love Redbox.
Funny when the whole TV conversion thing started a few yrs. ago, people online said that the less you spent on an antenna, the better it worked.
I have one the costs $12 that takes a little time but it gets most network and a couple of cable stations. (The roommate attempted to rip me a new one when I suggested this as a replacement).
Then about a yr. ago, I got one from Target that costs a little more and I've tested in on the remaining tv's w/no success.
Though I would like to try some of the newer devices, I'm a little leery.
Oh yeah, blunt w/out screaming leads to no results as I suggested that he get it in his name a couple of yrs ago. That way he can replace remotes that seem to die after less than a year or get a new box because of an "upgrade" or "just because we have to". LOL because the joke's on him in the long run.
@Woody7189 (247)
• United States
5 Feb 12
That is certainly an unpleasant situation that you are in, but yes, I have been in a similar situation myself. I pay the rent, utilities and cable television all by myself because my roommate has not had a job in several years. Well, in order to cut back expenses, I dropped all the pay movie channels from the cable because I don't watch movies very often. Now my roommate is furious, saying that I am cheap and selfish and now they have no movies to watch while stuck at home all day. I suggested that they spend the afternoons looking for a job and now they say I am trying to control their lives. I know my roommate has no place to go and I am too nice to put them out on the streets, so I am stuck.
1 person likes this
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
5 Feb 12
Hey Woody,
The roomie works but barely.
They left their last real job because they basically fell in with the wrong crowd (drinking, making defamatory statements against other co-workers). Thing is the "wrong crowd" have degrees and connections. His next job (w/no benefits) would let him go during the holidays with no notice. So now he's playing catch-up like me.
A few yrs. ago, I was in a similar situation as you where I'd left my job but had the opportunity to pretty much continue as normal in another state w/family. One issue was that they do not honor common law situations as they are normally very generous. So when I told him that he was not part of relocation plans, his response (after leaving above job) was that he would be have to sleep in his car - which was later repo'd BTW.
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
6 Feb 12
i would love to have a television in my room with cable connection but the thing is i have roommates. Somehow watching tv can drowse me to sleep. But i dont think my roomies will go for one. So i stick with my laptop instead. I only download movies and series.. Good thing our landlord has free wifi connection in the house. Besides they have a huge tv in the living room, i can watch there if i want to..
