There has been a lot of chatter among blog readers about the need to eliminate cable services in order to tighten their monthly budgets. It’s not an easy decision to make, considering my personal fondness for my digital cable box. This has led me to look into plausible alternatives to conventional cable packages, intending to project their potential benefit of saving a significant amount on monthly expenses. Given the unpredictable economic environment we live in, trimming back unnecessary costs becomes crucial and the extra cash could be a lifesaver in unforeseen circumstances.
HOW ATTRACTIVE IS BUNDLING?
If you’re a frequent cable user like myself, chances are you’ve come across an infomercial where a robotic-looking couple persistently urges new settlers to opt for bundle deals. This eerie two-line dialogue about ‘we all bundle’ still rings in my ears.
Bundling allows you to pay a single bill for a landline, digital cable and high-speed internet services. In this piece, let’s consider that whether or not you subscribe to a cable package, the mobile phone bill is inevitable because, well, it’s indispensable in the modern-day scenario.
Prices may swing dramatically based on the region, living expenses and the provider. But to put things into perspective, I’d take the example of Brighthouse Cable in Alabama, as that’s my locality. Their basic bundle package starts at $110, encompassing a digital cable box equipped with digital channels and complimentary HD. Upgrading to a DVR box would incur an extra expense. The basic package also comes with a landline which allows limitless nationwide calls and high-speed Internet. In summary, it’s about having a single bill with a consolidated monthly payment.
END OF BUNDLING? WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
It’s interesting to note that not many in my age group possess or make use of a landline. Mine is a bundled package of cable services which includes a phone number but no home phone. So, taking a step back from bundling wouldn’t be a huge miss, especially the landline.
While researching to write this article, the cost of stand-alone internet cable service was elusive, underscoring the providers’ penchant for pushing bundle packages. After some effort, I found it is priced at $51 monthly. Alternatively, you can explore other cable internet providers to save extra.
For those who aren’t ardent television viewers (or if you solely rely on children’s programming like me) Netflix or Amazon Prime Instant Video could be ideal. Priced at $9.99 monthly for Netflix and $79 annually for unlimited Amazon access, they present an offer worth pondering.
Wrapping up, depending on your requirements, you could potentially save a hefty amount each month and slash your cable costs by half with a few small adjustments. It turns out not everyone bundles after all.
