Thinking About Cutting the Cable
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121582)
Gainesville, Florida
June 14, 2016 8:16am CST
I subscribe to cable, and I also have my internet connection through my cable company. But, other than watching some sports and The Walking Dead, I never watch tv. So, I've decided that I am wasting my money paying a cable bill for a service I use maybe 1% of the time. So I'm going to finally cut the cable.
My only issue is internet. I do a lot of work from home on my laptop, and I actively engage on social media a lot on my cell phone. So, I want to find a way to keep internet in my home. I already know what it's going to cost to keep internet from my cable company, but today I'm going to visit the Verizon store and see if there is some type of unlimited data plan or internet plan that I can get through them that is cheaper than internet through the cable company. My smartphone can serve as a wi-fi hotspot, so I want to see what it's going to cost me if I connect my laptop through the hotspot. Or maybe a my-fi from Verizon would be cost effective.
Any thoughts on the cheapest way to get a good internet service in your home? Between my kids and I, we can have as many as five devices connected to the internet at any given time. I need to make sure I have an internet service that can handle that kind of load.
15 people like this
15 responses
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun 16
I'm sure some of the gurus here will be able to help. Our son in Ireland got rid of his TV and so don't have to pay the licence. They can watch whatever they like on a largish computer screen. I know that's no help to you but just sayin'.... 
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
I am definitely getting rid of the cable tv. I can stream anything I want on the computer. What I'm trying to find is a better deal on internet service. So far, everyone I've talked to says I have a really sweet deal already and that I shouldn't get rid of it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
@JudyEv Well, it didn't hurt to search around and see if there were better deals. It turns out that for internet, I already had a pretty good deal, so I'm going to leave well enough alone there. But for cable, it's time to say goodbye! I can always view tv shows or movies through Netflix or Amazon Prime or Hulu. So many cheaper options out there!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Jun 16
@moffittjc Just be careful what you wish for I guess.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
The cable company can supply just internet, but I wanted to search around and see if anyone could provide it cheaper. It turns out that no one can even come close to the low price I'm paying for my current internet service. Plus, I have unlimited bandwidth, which no one else can match.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
15 Jun 16
@moffittjc That makes the choice an easy one.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jun 16
@Asylum I wish all my choices in life were this easy! And, I wish I had better memory...I had completely forgotten that my friend hooked me up with a sweet deal!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
14 Jun 16
As rural as we are, cable is the best bet for our internet, plus hubby insists we need a land line.I am locked in for two years and then we will see if there is another provider that steps up.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
Verizon told me I have an incredible deal on my internet through the cable company, so they told me not to even bother switching to anyone else. I currently have unlimited bandwidth (courtesy of a friend who used to work at the cable company) at below-market rates (again...thanks to my friend). I think I will be cutting the cable tv and just keeping the internet!
@Juliaacv (51193)
• Canada
14 Jun 16
I would suggest researching a small but reputable internet company that can offer good service at a great price. Then if you get a high speed with an unlimited bandwidth you will be able to stream all of your programs that you watch. Do you have a smart tv or are you looking into getting an android box for streaming?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
I have a smart tv. I also have unlimited bandwidth on my current internet service. I forgot that a couple of years ago a buddy of mine that worked at the cable company pulled some strings to get me their best service at the cheapest price! After talking with Verizon today, they said they couldn't even come close to matching the price I'm already paying for unlimited bandwidth!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471506)
• Switzerland
15 Jun 16
@moffittjc We also gave up the cable, it is no more necessary in our days.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
@LadyDuck I agree that cable is totally unnecessary these days. Either tv is not worth watching at all, or if one insists on watching, there are so many options for receiving shows or movies through the internet.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
I'm going to get rid of the cable tv and just keep the internet service. I can watch just about any tv show I want through the internet. Plus, I have a smart tv, so any show or movie that I stream on my computer I can watch on the tv!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
I think as long as you have internet access, cable is not a necessity. Most tv shows and movies you can access these days via the internet. Some you may not be able to watch live, but they're usually available within 24 hours of the time they first air on tv.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
@just4him As busy as I am with my work and personal life, I would have no problem waiting a week to see an episode of a show! In the grand scheme of things, that is not too long of a wait to watch a show! The hardest part would be avoiding spoilers during that week! lol
1 person likes this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jun 16
@moffittjc Or at least a week later.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
15 Jun 16
@moffittjc
That sounds like a first for Verizon or they are better where you live.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jun 16
@Marcyaz For the most part, I've had nothing but great service (both signal service and customer service) from Verizon. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for AT&T.
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
Verizon was honest with me in telling me they couldn't come close to what I am currently paying through the cable company. At least they didn't try to swindle me!
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
I don't think there is a cheap way. We gave up on cable because it was not always up and moving. We changed to Satellite and we like it but its not cheap. That hot spot interested me, while traveling with my son he used his smartphone to bring wifi into the truck so i could use my iPad on line. I'm wondering if that is what you are talking about...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jun 16
Yes, that is the wi-fi hotspot. It's good in a pinch--such as what you described above in the truck--but it's not good to use as your go-to internet connection. For one, you can't make or receive phone calls on your phone while it is serving as a hotspot. Two, it uses up a lot of cellular data, and three, it drains your phone battery quickly. But in a pinch, you can't beat a wi-fi hotspot!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
I'm only going to lower my costs by getting rid of cable. It turns out I have unlimited bandwidth on my internet service at a below-market rate, courtesy of a friend of mine who used to work at the cable company. So, I will keep the internet service and just get rid of the cable tv.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
15 Jun 16
@KristenH I had completely forgotten my friend had done all that for me a couple of years ago. He was just about to leave the company and move to another city, and I was having some cable issues at the time. He came over to fix my cable and ended up setting me up with a sweet internet deal. Sometimes it's nice to have connections! lol
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19949)
• United States
15 Jun 16
I have internet through my phone service. I do have satellite tv, but I don't much of it. But it's nice to have when my mother visits.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
I use my phone every now and then as a wi-fi hotspot, which is good in a pinch, but I don't like using it all the time for three reasons: 1) it uses my data up; 2) it drains my phone battery quickly; and 3) I can't send or receive calls while the hotspot is active. Although...I hate talking on the phone anyway, so #3 might actually be a blessing more than a curse! lol
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 16
After I visited Verizon and we worked through various scenarios, they admitted that they couldn't give me a data/internet plan that was as cheap as I was getting through my cable company. But then afterwards I remembered that a few years ago a buddy of mine who worked at the cable company engineered a special deal for me where I got their fastest, bestest internet plan at a ridiculously cheap price through his connections. Verizon said they couldn't come close to matching that cost. Sounds like I will cut the cable, and keep the internet! (unless I lose that sweet discount...)
1 person likes this
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
20 Jun 16
To get rid of satellite TV we would have to get a much more expensive internet plan. We went over our band width when we streamed 4 movies in one month. So for now we have the cheapest internet package ($50 per month) and a very expensive TV package. But that would require my husband's agreement to change the TV package.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Jun 16
I cut my cable out over 2 years ago and I have to say I don't miss it a bit. I have At & T uverse for 57 a month, It works just fine.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 16
Well Good Morning! Except that it is night time right now when I'm responding! lol
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
14 Jun 16
exercise is not about fast, its about how you accomplished your time for good physical acitivty.
