Just saved $450 by buying cable

[frugalkristen]

So I have cable and internet bundled (Verizon Fios).  I pay $69.30 a month.  I don't get lots of channels but that's ok with me - I don't watch much tv.  It's nice to watch Food Network or HGTV sometimes.  My rate was about to go up $20 next month so I decided to call and cancel cable.  I need internet ( and make money doing online earning site like Swagbucks, etc).  Because there was no bundle, my price only dropped to $63.49.  Not much savings.  Then I asked the rep if there was any way to save more and keep internet.  He found a new bundle that would be $50.58 per month - with local cable channels.  Yes - $13 less than having internet alone!  Crazy!  I don't get HGTV or Food Network but I don't care that much.  I am saving $449.28 over the 2yr locked in rate.  Woohoo!  Always ask!!

[TheAnonOne]

So I have cable and internet bundled (Verizon Fios).  I pay $69.30 a month.  I don't get lots of channels but that's ok with me - I don't watch much tv.  It's nice to watch Food Network or HGTV sometimes.  My rate was about to go up $20 next month so I decided to call and cancel cable.  I need internet ( and make money doing online earning site like Swagbucks, etc).  Because there was no bundle, my price only dropped to $63.49.  Not much savings.  Then I asked the rep if there was any way to save more and keep internet.  He found a new bundle that would be $50.58 per month - with local cable channels.  Yes - $13 less than having internet alone!  Crazy!  I don't get HGTV or Food Network but I don't care that much.  I am saving $449.28 over the 2yr locked in rate.  Woohoo!  Always ask!!

Funny, I JUST called comcast today.

Without TV $90/Month
With TV $70/Month (150Mb/s)

[MsPeacock]

Beware the taxes and box rental fees on the bundles. Internet has no taxes, and if you own the modem (or are given it for free) no other costs. Adding TV might include a $10 a month box rental and $20-40 per month in taxes. My old $99 bundle from Verizon was $150 per month. Just check your bill when you get it to make sure you are saving what you expect.

[stdaniel]

Shop around for different Internet carriers.  Earthlink (which runs on Time Warner Cable lines) runs $40/month.  You might be able to save even more just by ditching TV all together and finding a dedicated ISP for your internet needs.

[DoubleNickels]

Or you can call and say you are leaving for a competitor....they may give you the cheaper internet without the taxes associated with cable.  That's what I did.

[geekette]

Shop around for different Internet carriers.  Earthlink (which runs on Time Warner Cable lines) runs $40/month.  You might be able to save even more just by ditching TV all together and finding a dedicated ISP for your internet needs.

Oddly, we've been able to get Earthlink (via TWC) for $35/month for the last few years, just by asking.  We do have our own modem, though.

[ketchup]

Beware the taxes and box rental fees on the bundles. Internet has no taxes, and if you own the modem (or are given it for free) no other costs. Adding TV might include a $10 a month box rental and $20-40 per month in taxes. My old $99 bundle from Verizon was $150 per month. Just check your bill when you get it to make sure you are saving what you expect.

Yup, be careful with this.  I went from exactly-$29.99 (internet-only) to "$39.99" (internet + basic-basic-cable + HBO) but it was actually $46.50ish with taxes/fees.  Still cheaper than the current promotional rate for internet-only ($49.99).  Luckily they didn't nail me for renting the cable box (that sits in a closet).  We do own our modem (bought ~1.5yrs ago for about $60).

[Slee_stack]

Cable vs no cable has often come out to a few dollars difference in the monthly in my experience.

The basic, basic cable ends up being a throw-in.  We don't watch it, and the savings is < $2/mo after all the BS fees.  Yippee yay. hummina hummina..


Google Fiber is almost ready to rip in our neighborhood.

I will soon be 'losing' that basic cable, increasing my internet speed by 20Mbps (don't need it, but OK), and paying $20 LESS per month in the near future.  Oh yeah, with no contract BS.

I'm so stoked to wave buh bye to Compost! 

[MsPeacock]

I so wish we had more than two providers to choose from. We have Verizon and Comcast and they are both horrible. Lack of competition doesn't create much incentive to provide competitive prices or decent customer service.