Life Without Cable
December 5th, 2009
This is truly just a tidbit. Just thought I’d let you all know that it is possible to survive and lead a normal lifestyle without cable TV (or satellite, or Direct TV, or 100+ channels). My family and I do, and we don’t really feel deprived.
Now, you might urge me to join the 21st Century. I appreciate that. And just so you know, I couldn’t live without a computer or a microwave. However, we haven’t found a compelling reason yet to increase our TV viewing choices or our monthly expenses. In fact, it amazes me that most people consider cable to be a basic utility (like water, gas, electric) and wouldn’t consider cancelling it even in times of financial struggle.
To all those who gasp when I tell them that I don’t know the show they are referring to because I don’t have cable TV, I assure you that I’m fine. I’m normal. My family is well-adjusted and not deprived in the least.
For the time-being, we just choose to skip all those reality shows (I still get to watch desperate housewives, just not real ones). We also watch sports and PBS regularly. I would have never discovered the life-changing teachings of Wayne Dyer if it were not for PBS. Oh yeah, and we have two bookshelves in the living room where the big screen TV would probably go if we had one (which we’d definitely have to purchase if we had cable).
Just thought I’d let you know that if you’re ever in the situation where you need to trim some fat off your monthly expenses, you can survive without cable TV. And I’ve got a lot of great books for you to read to fill the time if you think you’d get bored.
Life is good! Namaste. –Lori
HA! Fun post Lori… I actually survived a week without any TV last week. I was at my mom’s in Arizona. We were clearing out a lot of her things and packing them up. My brother had turned off her Cable months ago. At first it was strange especially not seeing the Thanksgiving Parade or the news but then it was really very refreshing. Reading and taking walks on the golf course was really great. take care
Lori, I fantasize about NOT having cable daily. It takes away from family bonding, fights productivity, exposes my kids to stuff they would NEVER know about (very little educational, more likely smut, sex, extreme behavior, etc.) The parental controls offered are a joke, my teens figured out how to get around them in about one day. I wonder how my life would be different if I didn’t have cable news to view on a daily basis and relied on other means to get my entertainment, such as reading books and magazines. About $80 a month for a package that includes HDTV and music we hardly ever use, but because we have a big screen plasma downstairs (which I would never have bought but inherited from my father), you MUST have HDTV lol.
I guess you could tell that this is a huge pet peeve with me!!
@ Lyra – I just might try turning off the TV for a week and then write about it. Sounds like fun (to a nerd like me).
@ Theresa – I hear you loud and clear. We were actually given a big flat screen TV for Christmas a few years ago and gave it back–partly because it was too extravagant of a gift for us to accept, and partly because we didn’t think our rabbit ears antena would look good on top of the flat screen 🙂
You are so right, now a days we consider cable to be a need when in actuality it is a want. Not only that, the cost of cable usually ends up being more than electricity!
Hola Lori!!
Me gusto el articulo que escribiste y voy a leer mas a menudo tu website.Saludame a los tuyos y muchas saludes de los mios para ti tambien.
Hola German, me encanta que te gusto el articulo.
Lori, This cracked me up. We actually DO have cable in CA, but basic only, and some people are actually aghast that we don’t have HBO or Showtime or movie channels and the like. It’s a gift to my husband so he can indulge in a little ESPN once in awhile, but we would not hesitate to cancel it if we needed to! And in Utah (long story, but we have a house we rent out there and also visit monthly) we do not have any TV. It is wonderful. Frankly, I wish we could cancel it altogether too. But marriage is a compromise, no?? 🙂
To tell you the truth, there isn’t much to learn on TV. I do have a cable TV but I only watch the news to keep me updated on the current events. After the news I go on to my reading habits. Books are much exciting and one will learn a lot from it. 🙂