We survived a week without cable, so far! Would your family survive too?
The main reason for cancelling- cable costs recently doubled (while we were actually getting bored of TV anyways). I didn’t realize how little we intentionally watched it!
So I thought to share this with those of you attempting to live the frugal lifestyle. And show you how very possible it is to live without cable!
Here’s a reference to how much we actually watched TV before VS alternatives now. Hopefully this helps you decide if you want to make the switch also.
Before
- No TV before school
- News for me at 8-8:30
- 8:40-9:00 DVR of Bubble Guppies
- Forget the TV was still on
- 1/2 episode of kids cartoons before lunch
- No TV during quiet time/nap
- 3:00 (after school) oldest watches YouTube
- 4:00 Bubble Guppies
- 4:20 Dance party music
- 6:00 Turn movie on
- Over the weekend, DVR all possible movies we’d watch, and watch 1-2
- Wait till either The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones are playing
- If I turn TV on after kids’ bedtime, it’s noise while I read/type
After
- No TV before school
- 9:00 Bubble Guppies or Thomas the Train on Amazon Prime
- 9:30 Dance party music
- 11:00 Dino Dan on Amazon Prime
- 3:00 (after school) oldest watches YouTube
- 4:00 Dance party music
- 6:00 Turn movie on
The main difference is that we are intentional about what we watch. It’s not just background noise for us any more. We always love to have dance party music on anyways, so that’s a fun way for us to get off the couch and interact with each other. Some fun music is good for everyone’s mood too.
Shortly, it’ll be warming up outside, and by then our family will be outside 90% of the day. By then, we may only resort to rainy days spent watching movies (that we forgot we own) and discovering other cable alternatives.
It’s not to say that we won’t ever go back to cable. My husband wants access to football games and I already miss watching the news. But in my mind, we can always sign back up whenever we’re ready again.
I figure, this is how I grew up- watching very little TV. Now, our time can be more intentional and with each other. And not to mention Chip & Joanna Gaines don’t even have a TV in their house, according to Country Living! If they can do it, so can we!
For now, the choice was easy-
$94/month for background noise, or,
$99/year of Amazon Prime
Is cutting the cable a change you need to make?
Would your family survive?
*Momma Bird Blog is not affiliated with Amazon Prime. Just happy customers here!
