I bought my first house just over two years ago. I brought far too much furniture, clothes, and saucepans. I did not, however, bring my cable subscription.
Partially, it was because the cable was installed in an odd place in the living room. But that was just a tiny reason, the small excuse I needed. The amazing thing? For someone that enjoys television, I haven’t really missed cable at all.
I’ve missed it during the Oscars, the Super Bowl, and one time when my mom visited and she wasn’t able to watch the Cleveland Caveliers play.
What have I gained? Well, to start with, something in the range of $2500. Cable is amazingly expensive, even with a basic package, when you include the “necessary” add ons in this day and age, such as high definition and HD DVR boxes.
I’ve gained an amazing amount of free time, I’m sure. I still watch shows every other night or so, but there is no such thing as sitting down and zoning out in front of the television. I always have to sit down with a purpose.
My son is growing up without a television. The movie room is downstairs, which he doesn’t use (yet). He has an iPad, but only watches or plays with it for maybe 30 minutes each day.
This Wall Street Journal article sums up my thoughts nicely:
I mean, come on. How many shows about housewives are there? I like chefs, but I don’t need to see them on television 24/7. Ghost hunters? Dancing celebrities? Talent shows? “Shark Week”? Celebrity ghost-hunting talent shows during “Shark Week”? It’s too much of too little. You’re full of a lot of inescapable crap.
