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Sick Of Costly Cable? You Have Options

Good Nesting
3 min read

If you’re tired of paying too much for cable, here are some options that can help you finally cut the cord.

When it comes to monthly bills that give you a ton of bang for your buck, cable isn’t one of them. Why? Because your cable bill can easily surpass $100 per month, while you probably watch a small fraction of your available channels.

With so many people cutting the cord to live life cable-free, you may be wondering how to get in on the action. If so, keep reading, as here are some tips for cutting the cord while remaining entertained.

Cable Alternatives

Buy a digital antenna

One reason why many people keep their cable is that they fear losing local channels that offer news, occasional sports, and network TV shows. The good news is that you can still enjoy those local channels without having a cable subscription, as a digital antenna should pick up their signal.

A digital antenna can cost around $15 while lasting for years. Best of all, it should pick up major networks like CBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX in HD quality. Depending on your location, your antenna could receive in the neighborhood of 40 channels at no monthly cost.

Buy a streaming device

Besides a digital antenna, here’s one way that many cord-cutters get free entertainment: By buying a streaming device such as an Amazon Fire Stick, Roku, Chromecast, or Apple TV.

Each of those devices can transform a regular TV into a “Smart TV” so you can stream both free and paid services. On the free end of the spectrum are options like Pluto TV, Tubi, Crackle, and Vudu. On the paid end of the spectrum are services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video.

Use TV network websites

Some major TV networks offer streaming episodes or even live TV through their websites. Your mileage may vary when trying this option, but it’s a great way to get free content without having to pay a cable bill every month.

Use the local library

Libraries used to be places where you could simply check out books. Now, you can use them to check out free DVDs to enjoy the latest movies and TV shows.

While at the library, ask one of the workers if they offer any streaming services. Many libraries now have free streaming similar to Netflix, where you can watch movies and TV shows at no cost.

Sign up for a paid service

The following options will cost you. They should cost a lot less than your cable bill, however, and you can switch them each month, so you only get charged for one service at a time.

Some of the most popular paid streaming services include:

  • Netflix and Amazon Prime Video – Ideal for streaming popular movies, TV shows, plus original content.
  • Hulu – Like the two above, Hulu has movies, TV shows, and original content. But it also has live TV for $39.99 that can replace your cable lineup.
  • Sling TV – This cable replacement can cost anywhere from $35 to $50 per month.

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