Vent: Everyone says to cut cable TV but I actually saved money keeping mine

I kept seeing all these posts about how ditching cable is the best way to save money each month. So about six months ago here in Des Moines, I dropped my basic cable package and switched to three streaming services instead. Figured I'd save at least $50 a month right off the bat. But what I found was that the internet-only plan from my provider cost way more than the bundle I had before. Plus I kept adding subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ to watch shows I actually liked. By month two my total entertainment bill was $78, which was $12 more than my old cable package that gave me local channels and sports. I learned that for my household, the bundle deal actually worked better because internet prices here are high on their own. Has anyone else run into this where the popular advice backfired for their specific situation?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_riley15d agoProlific Poster

Actually gotta push back a little on the math here. You said the internet only plan cost way more than the bundle, but most ISDs jack up the bundle price by adding fees for cable boxes, broadcast TV surcharges, and local sports fees that don't show up in the advertised rate. Those hidden fees alone can add $20-$30 on top of the bundle price each month. Your old cable package probably had those fees baked in already, so you didn't notice them before. Meanwhile streaming services don't have those extra charges, just the flat monthly rate. Might be worth checking your old bill line by line to see what you were actually paying vs the advertised bundle price. Your local provider in Des Moines might be different, but most people I know who do this find the hidden fees are the real killer.

emma76815d ago

Respectfully, @the_riley, I think you just volunteered to go line by line through OP's old cable bill for them. But your point about hidden fees is solid - those sneaky charges are like the extra fees on a concert ticket you already thought was too expensive. In my experience, the "cut the cord" advice works great until your internet provider decides to play hardball with your wallet.