Housing ReliefDo you cringe every time you look at your cable bill? You probably do, as those bills can easily top $100. Worst of all, the fact that you may not watch most of the channels in your lineup may lead you to feel like you’re getting ripped off.
That’s the bad news. Here’s the good: Cutting the cord isn’t as hard as you think. And thanks to all of the entertainment options out there, you can get rid of your cable bill while still having plenty of content at your fingertips.
Here are moves you can make right not to replace your overpriced cable service:
1. Put an antenna on your TV.
Out of all the moves you can make to cut the cord, this one may be the easiest and most effective. Believe it or not, a $15 HD antenna can pick up tons of free channels in high definition. Sure, you’ll have that initial cost of buying the antenna, but after that, you won’t have to pay a thing to enjoy local channels, news, and networks like PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX.
As for the installation, it’s as simple as screwing the antenna into the back of your TV and scanning for channels.
2. Try your luck with websites.
Every major network has its own website. And beyond advertising what they have to offer, those networks tend to offer entire episodes of their content that you can stream.
Will every network offer free streaming? No, but many do, so start visiting sites of your favorites to see if you have any luck.
3. Make your TV a smart one.
Many televisions on the market are Smart TVs that let you stream content. If you have an older TV, you can convert it into a “smarter” one by buying a device like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Chromecast. Also, if your kids have gaming consoles, you can use them to stream content.
As for which streaming services you can enjoy, the list is long. Here are the most popular free streaming services that are loaded with TV shows, news, and movies:
- Crackle
- Vudu
- Tubi
- Pluto TV
- The Roku Channel
Here are the paid services you can stream through your TV that will require some cash out of your pocket, but should still end up cheaper than your cable bill:
- Amazon Prime Video
- Hulu
- Netflix
4. Use your library as a free Blockbuster.
Do you remember Blockbuster Video? The chain allowed you to rent movies for a price. And while Blockbuster is gone, your local library can be used for the same purpose.
If you haven’t visited your nearest library in a while, do so, as you may be able to rent DVDs of popular movies and TV shows. Even better, many libraries now have free streaming services that you can use to enjoy movies and shows as well.
5. Pay for a cable replacement.
If you still want to enjoy some semblance of an actual cable lineup, try Hulu with Live TV or Sling TV. Both can give you full lineups for around $40 to $50 per month. Or, you can combine your HD antenna for free local networks with a paid service like Netflix, Prime Video, or Hulu, alternating them each month to keep your costs low.
