How to cut off or reduce your cable bill without even missing it.

If you think living without cable is just not an option, think again. Learn how to reduce or eliminate your cable bill in a matter of minutes without even missing it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• a phone
• your existing cable bill
• a little bit of time

1. Look at your bill. Evaluate your existing cable bill. Some cable companies allow you to bundle services such as cable, phone, and internet, but be sure to get quotes for each service since a bundle deal might not necessarily be the best priced one. In our case, we had a bundle contract that was up for renewal so we decided to drop the cable altogether, and have a phone/internet bundle instead. This saves us $40/month, or $480/year!
2. Research alternatives. Look for alternatives. Keep track of which channels you actually watch for the next week. Many people find they only regularly watch about 4-5 different channels. With sites like Hulu.com which offer television shows and movies you can view on your computer for free, today's alternatives to cable are even easier. Your local library will have DVDs, or you might consider a Netflix subscription instead of paying for premium movie channels. A roof antennae might be a good option, depending on where you live and the strength of the signal. You can get HDTV signals over the air for free!
3. Call the cable company. Call the cable company. You may be able to request a promo offer to lower your existing bill and keep your services the same. Many cable companies are willing to do this, but the downside is it usually lengthens the time of your contract (i.e. $20 off per month for the next 12 months).
4. Do other things with your time. Find ways to spend quality time with your family instead of sitting around in front of the television. Spend more time outdoors. Take the kids to the park. Plan a family game night, or go enjoy a round of mini golf. The important thing is to find other more productive things to do with your time, and soon you'll realize the cable just wasn't very important.
5. The savings will add up! Enjoy your savings! Whether you choose to reduce your cable bill, or eliminate it altogether, the savings will start to add up. Why would you miss cable when you can spend your time and money on more important things?

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the savings at an hourly rate. One phone call to change a service agreement can save you $480 a year or more. It's like being paid $480 for an hour of time!
• Summer is the best time of year to cancel your cable -- the re-runs make it easy to keep the TV off.
• When making changes to your bill, make sure the next month's invoice is processed properly. Many times mistakes are made the first month.