Cable or Satellite

[Big Shot Rob]

I was wondering if anyone here can help me with a project that I have.

One of my resolutions is to cut down on expenses. I have a cable bill that is eating me alive and I was wondering if anyone here has any idea if it is cheaper to have satellite, Direct TV or Dish TV.

Also--is it cheaper to get DVR with the company that you get your cable or satellite, or to just buy a TIVO?

As you can probably tell--I am technically challenged.

[Mavdog]

I have directv. I had dish but they wouldn't give me a free dvr as I was an existing customer, so I switched to direct. direct gave me a dual tuner tivo for free w/a year contract.

if you are getting a dvr (one of the greatest inventions of our time imho) go for the dual tuner. that allows you to record a program while watching another. you can actually record 2 channels at one time while watching one you recorded previously.

that is of course if there are actually two programs on at the same time that merit recording, which in todays world of TV is difficult to find...

my monthly bill with direct was $5 less than dish, and got a few more channels as well.

[Windmill360]

Maybe the verizon Fios package? (phone/tv/internet) Don't know how much it will get to in the future though.

[mcsluggo]

I highly reccomend the rabit ears that we now use in our household. The price is right, at $0 / year, we have about 10 chanels, and basically my kids watch PBS-kids ( I occassionally download a Sopranos or something).

The only time I ever really miss cable/sat/dtv is the occasional sports program, but frankly I never get a chance to watch the ones on regular tv, so ... <shrugs>

I tell ya, though... the price is JUST RIGHT!

[Male30Dan]

Cable is the way to go for me, as I just like it better. I think all of the packages pretty much run together on price. What is $100 here is $97 there and $103 there, (yes, I have a lot of channels)! I have had DirecTV and several flavors of cable and that is my experience.

As far as just general cutting back goes, getting rid of home phones all together always helps. Cell packages are really reasonable and if you and your significant other are on the same plan you generally talk for free.

By the way, creating a budget really helped us. We put down all of our bills, (this includes any kiddo costs and things like food/gas), and income and figured out what should be left. It is astonishing how much less you have than you actually should have. If you then take the rest and force yourself to follow a budget related to meals out, fun, AND savings, you should do pretty well.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

I highly reccomend the rabit ears that we now use in our household. The price is right, at $0 / year, we have about 10 chanels, and basically my kids watch PBS-kids ( I occassionally download a Sopranos or something).

The only time I ever really miss cable/sat/dtv is the occasional sports program, but frankly I never get a chance to watch the ones on regular tv, so ... <shrugs>

I tell ya, though... the price is JUST RIGHT!

lol.. genius