Our DirecTV bill is around $70 each month ($840/yr). It is NOT a payment I enjoy making, but it is what it is. We cannot get cable where we live, so DISH is our only other traditional option. But lately, I’ve been trying to think outside the box a little and have been wondering if there’s another way. I don’t relish giving away money if I don’t actually have to, and I could certainly find other (more fun!) uses for that $840 each year, LOL!
I came across posts at Go Graham Go and Thrifty Mama recently where they made the switch from DirecTV/cable and ditched the high cost plans. This has certainly encouraged me! I am looking more into options and equipment – we have the Wii (videos & whatnot), a Blu-Ray (Netflix, Pandora), and can also use one of the laptops as needed.
My main concerns?
How clean and smooth will movies and shows play on TV via the Internet/laptop? Will it be the same experience as we have now with DirecTV?
I’m obsessed with my DVR and rarely watch live TV. Will shows on demand via the Internet replace my need for a DVR? I am certainly not loving the $300 pricetag for the Tivo box.
We watch A LOT of Disney Channel / Playhouse Disney shows in our house. Are they available outside of the traditional cable/satelite connections?
We also spend around $70 for landline phone + internet. We are now up to almost $150 each month when you add this to DirecTV (about $1680/year total!). We won’t be able to completely eliminate this payment because we obviously have to have internet, but even if we could cut it in half and find an alternative to the landline phone, that would be a major plus. We have cell phones, but because of poor service in our area we cannot rely solely on them. Also because of our area, our options with internet are limited.
I’ve heard a little bit about MagicJack… you buy the equipment and pay a cheap annual fee, hook it up to your computer and you are all set. Sounds great… but… It sounds almost too good, or too cheap, to be true. How much is the equipment? How good is the service and quality? I have Skype, but I always end up with computers that have no mic capabilities. I can only use Skype (voice to voice) on the Mylo, which I haven’t done in awhile.
This is a bit of a rambling post, putting my thoughts down… I’d absolutely LOVE input as I explore the options and work toward a decision. If you’ve made either move from traditional services, I’d love to hear about your experiences.
Thank you for visiting the original Shake The Salt!!
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