Comments on: Ten Financial Reasons To Turn Off Your Television – And Ten Things To Replace It With http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:47:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dawn http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-933428 Dawn Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:59:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-933428 My brother dropped my TV while helping us move last year. My boyfriend and I debated for a while whether or not to replace it, and we decided to wait 3 months. Well, its already been way more than 3 months and we don't miss it at all! If there's something that we just *have* to see, we watch it online (hulu). We have so much more time and we've been cooking together every day! Byebye TV! My brother dropped my TV while helping us move last year. My boyfriend and I debated for a while whether or not to replace it, and we decided to wait 3 months. Well, its already been way more than 3 months and we don’t miss it at all! If there’s something that we just *have* to see, we watch it online (hulu). We have so much more time and we’ve been cooking together every day! Byebye TV!

]]> By: barbara http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-927592 barbara Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:29:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-927592 We have two choices for cable tv, comcast or verizon and both are obscenely overpriced for the content they offer. How about cart blanche? there is no consumer protection and you can thank the bloated corrupted FFC for that. THE PIGS! We have two choices for cable tv, comcast or verizon and both are obscenely overpriced for the content they offer. How about cart blanche? there is no consumer protection and you can thank the bloated corrupted FFC for that. THE PIGS!

]]> By: Joseph S http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-925919 Joseph S Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:46:36 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-925919 I agree with you both Linda and Mary. After the death of my sister, whose bipolar became WORSE of TV, I quit my FIOS TV and took up tennis again. I watched my sister decay because she just led a vicious cycle of watching TV, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. When she exercised she barely needed any medication. I am SO SICK of what corporate America has done to our airwaves both radio and TV. They are charging us for OUR airwaves. Cable was designed for people in the mountains too far from the broadcast towers, not to charge money to watch commercials and pitiful broadcasting. AND if I hear another Comcast vs. Verizon FIOS advertisement, it won't be too long!! It's like choosing between two bowls of dog excrement! They both are horrible! Verizon ALWAYS gets your bill wrong and overcharges you. Hey, wait, Comcast has no service either. Why aren't the CEOs of these companies in jail??? I agree with you both Linda and Mary. After the death of my sister, whose bipolar became WORSE of TV, I quit my FIOS TV and took up tennis again. I watched my sister decay because she just led a vicious cycle of watching TV, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. When she exercised she barely needed any medication.
I am SO SICK of what corporate America has done to our airwaves both radio and TV. They are charging us for OUR airwaves. Cable was designed for people in the mountains too far from the broadcast towers, not to charge money to watch commercials and pitiful broadcasting.
AND if I hear another Comcast vs. Verizon FIOS advertisement, it won’t be too long!! It’s like choosing between two bowls of dog excrement! They both are horrible! Verizon ALWAYS gets your bill wrong and overcharges you. Hey, wait, Comcast has no service either. Why aren’t the CEOs of these companies in jail???

]]> By: Mary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-925270 Mary Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:49:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-925270 Couldn't agree with you more. I'm not much of a TV user, except for a few shows which I can catch on Hulu, Netflix or our made-at-home TV antenna. I'm also an NFL watcher, but catching our local games and the highlights to other games is good enough for me. Being a Steelers fan in Wisconsin, the only time I get to see their games is on Sunday night or whenever they play anyone in the NFC North. No big deal though. You have so much time to do whatever when you don't revolve your life around TV. Chores get done, I take my dog for walks and get him exercised, I get homework done for my college courses...feel so much more accomplished. Couldn’t agree with you more. I’m not much of a TV user, except for a few shows which I can catch on Hulu, Netflix or our made-at-home TV antenna. I’m also an NFL watcher, but catching our local games and the highlights to other games is good enough for me. Being a Steelers fan in Wisconsin, the only time I get to see their games is on Sunday night or whenever they play anyone in the NFC North. No big deal though.

You have so much time to do whatever when you don’t revolve your life around TV. Chores get done, I take my dog for walks and get him exercised, I get homework done for my college courses…feel so much more accomplished.

]]> By: Linda http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-916223 Linda Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:21:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-916223 I gave up watching TV about 8 years ago and never missed it. Then I brought it out of the cupboard where it was stored and put it in the living room because I needed to watch numerous DVDs for a University course. Then after the course I started watching again. Within weeks I was back up to watching 2-3 hours a day. What an appalling waste of time the thing is! I got nothing done, read nothing, played no piano, didn't make the phone calls I needed to make or anything else I was supposed to do. The damn thing is back in the cupboard, and that's where it will stay. Life is too short to waste sitting like a zombie watching pointless garbage that passes for entertainment these days. And why would we need to be entertained all the time anyway? Only babies need to be entertained all the time. I gave up watching TV about 8 years ago and never missed it. Then I brought it out of the cupboard where it was stored and put it in the living room because I needed to watch numerous DVDs for a University course. Then after the course I started watching again. Within weeks I was back up to watching 2-3 hours a day.

What an appalling waste of time the thing is! I got nothing done, read nothing, played no piano, didn’t make the phone calls I needed to make or anything else I was supposed to do.

The damn thing is back in the cupboard, and that’s where it will stay. Life is too short to waste sitting like a zombie watching pointless garbage that passes for entertainment these days.

And why would we need to be entertained all the time anyway? Only babies need to be entertained all the time.

]]> By: Hot Girls Doing It http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-914541 Hot Girls Doing It Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:44:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-914541 I read a great book in college by an ad man from a few decades ago called Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. Really, really, good book. Check it out. I read a great book in college by an ad man from a few decades ago called Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television. Really, really, good book. Check it out.

]]> By: Nick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-910025 Nick Wed, 05 May 2010 14:42:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-910025 Ha! How many hours did I spend reading about how to not spend all your waking hours watching TV? I think I should stop watching TV because the whole time I am watching I am thinking that I can be learning something useful. I don't see how people become experts on topics just by watching a few shows. We are just being spoon-fed small bits of random information at a time, and you can't really use that information in the real world because it is all jumbled up in your head. Learning something means actually going out and doing it. It is the only way. The only way you can ever know about geology for example is to actually see and feel different parts of the earth, to be a geologist for example. So what I did was that I found used previous edition college textbooks online for about $10 (yes!) and I am finding that I am thinking about the subject of the earth more than by just watching "How the Earth Was Made". That is just entertainment, where you don't really retain the information because they are trying to feed you a whole bunch in one hour sitting. Ha! How many hours did I spend reading about how to not spend all your waking hours watching TV?

I think I should stop watching TV because the whole time I am watching I am thinking that I can be learning something useful. I don’t see how people become experts on topics just by watching a few shows. We are just being spoon-fed small bits of random information at a time, and you can’t really use that information in the real world because it is all jumbled up in your head.

Learning something means actually going out and doing it. It is the only way. The only way you can ever know about geology for example is to actually see and feel different parts of the earth, to be a geologist for example. So what I did was that I found used previous edition college textbooks online for about $10 (yes!) and I am finding that I am thinking about the subject of the earth more than by just watching “How the Earth Was Made”. That is just entertainment, where you don’t really retain the information because they are trying to feed you a whole bunch in one hour sitting.

]]> By: Caroline http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-900389 Caroline Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:18:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-900389 Compelling reasons. Good article! Compelling reasons. Good article!

]]> By: Diane http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-879861 Diane Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:15:02 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-879861 I'm not against TV, but I hate cable. I gave it up a year ago and except for Top Chef, have not missed it. I use hulu, netflix, and an OTA antenna. And I'm saving over $700/year. I’m not against TV, but I hate cable. I gave it up a year ago and except for Top Chef, have not missed it. I use hulu, netflix, and an OTA antenna. And I’m saving over $700/year.

]]> By: Lanita http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-759127 Lanita Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:39:48 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-759127 For some of those who are looking to cut their cable bill and save some money but don't want to miss out on the shows and movies they like to watch, check at your Public Library. Some libraries offer media you can check out. Instead of spending all that money on a monthly cable bill to get 200 channels you don't even watch, you can check out a season at a time for free!! :) Just a helpful suggestion. For some of those who are looking to cut their cable bill and save some money but don’t want to miss out on the shows and movies they like to watch, check at your Public Library. Some libraries offer media you can check out. Instead of spending all that money on a monthly cable bill to get 200 channels you don’t even watch, you can check out a season at a time for free!! :) Just a helpful suggestion.

]]> By: Jo http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-754502 Jo Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:51:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-754502 I need to step in here to counter-point why watching the telly is not necessarily a bad thing. My SO and I do have the nicer channels such as: Discovery, the Science Channel, the History Channel, Animal Planet, NatGeo, and TLC. Those are our absolutely favorite ones, and yes, you do have to pay a good bit for it. But I have to say that educationally, along the way I have learned a lot about many different things. Science, the arts, the oceans, space, how things are made, et. al. And as a result, I am able to pass this knowledge on to others, especially children. We don't watch those silly sitcoms, which are, indeed, worthless IMO. So are the ridiculous commercials. Those go on mute while I attend to a quick chore or grab a snack. Yes, I know....my bad about the snack. Love those Bing cherries BTW, which are currently in season. But I digress.... My SO and I are not party-goers; nor do we go out much out of choice; this includes eating out. So, this said, we keep the telly "premium" channels and avoid other costly expenses. I need to step in here to counter-point why watching the telly is not necessarily a bad thing.

My SO and I do have the nicer channels such as: Discovery, the Science Channel, the History Channel, Animal Planet, NatGeo, and TLC. Those are our absolutely favorite ones, and yes, you do have to pay a good bit for it. But I have to say that educationally, along the way I have learned a lot about many different things. Science, the arts, the oceans, space, how things are made, et. al. And as a result, I am able to pass this knowledge on to others, especially children.

We don’t watch those silly sitcoms, which are, indeed, worthless IMO. So are the ridiculous commercials. Those go on mute while I attend to a quick chore or grab a snack. Yes, I know….my bad about the snack. Love those Bing cherries BTW, which are currently in season. But I digress….

My SO and I are not party-goers; nor do we go out much out of choice; this includes eating out. So, this said, we keep the telly “premium” channels and avoid other costly expenses.

]]> By: TV Les http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-745230 TV Les Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:13:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-745230 I just stopped my Sat TV service. I also quit smoking about 8 months ago. TV is just another bad habit that has to go. Some posters have talked about self control. In truth, we all have different levels of self control. Temptation is a real thing and should never be taken lightly. Those that can easily walk away from temptation need to understand that we are not all the same and weakness does not gain strength through ridicule. It gains strength through accomplishment. I have been weak but now find new strength. I just stopped my Sat TV service. I also quit smoking about 8 months ago. TV is just another bad habit that has to go. Some posters have talked about self control. In truth, we all have different levels of self control. Temptation is a real thing and should never be taken lightly. Those that can easily walk away from temptation need to understand that we are not all the same and weakness does not gain strength through ridicule. It gains strength through accomplishment. I have been weak but now find new strength.

]]> By: Karen A. http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-717350 Karen A. Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:21:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-717350 I am struggling with giving up my satellite programming. However, it will save me almost $80 a month. Due to this recession, and being retired, I need to start working part time. But I can work less days and hours by giving up my satellite/cable tv. First I'm going to downgrade to a lesser package, and then cancel altogether. Paying for 150 channels and only watching MSNBC, CNN, Home and Garden, Hallmark are just about all I really watch. Most of it is commercials anyhow. So, it really doesn't make sense to keep it. I am working on it -- and I SHALL SUCCEED! Thanks for all the great comments/thoughts. You've all been a great inspiration for me. I loveD this website. I am struggling with giving up my satellite programming. However, it will save me almost $80 a month. Due to this recession, and being retired, I need to start working part time. But I can work less days and hours by giving up my satellite/cable tv. First I’m going to downgrade to a lesser package, and then cancel altogether. Paying for 150 channels and only watching MSNBC, CNN, Home and Garden, Hallmark are just about all I really watch. Most of it is commercials anyhow. So, it really doesn’t make sense to keep it. I am working on it — and I SHALL SUCCEED! Thanks for all the great comments/thoughts. You’ve all been a great inspiration for me. I loveD this website.

]]> By: No_TV_for_2_years http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-698452 No_TV_for_2_years Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:06:19 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-698452 and oh by the way I am without TV for the past two years. Before that I was addicted to NFL. I completely stopped watching it. Its not worth it. and oh by the way I am without TV for the past two years. Before that I was addicted to NFL. I completely stopped watching it.

Its not worth it.

]]> By: No_TV_for_2_years http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-698233 No_TV_for_2_years Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:11:05 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-698233 awesome. TV is a big propaganda by the companies to make us buy their stuff (99% of it unnecessaty stuff), a big propaganda to keep us dumb and get dumber by the day, and a big propaganda to keep us where we are and not progress in life. Don't fall for it. awesome.

TV is a big propaganda by the companies to make us buy their stuff (99% of it unnecessaty stuff), a big propaganda to keep us dumb and get dumber by the day, and a big propaganda to keep us where we are and not progress in life.

Don’t fall for it.

]]> By: Paul http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-662926 Paul Fri, 15 May 2009 02:54:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-662926 You could say the same for the computer and/or car. How many zombies are glued to their computer screens all day/night long? It's all about self-discipline. It's not the TV that makes things bad, it's people's lack of common sense. You could say the same for the computer and/or car. How many zombies are glued to their computer screens all day/night long? It’s all about self-discipline. It’s not the TV that makes things bad, it’s people’s lack of common sense.

]]> By: Mirvana http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-644380 Mirvana Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:21:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-644380 What if you are too tired to do anything but watch tv? What if you do other productive activities while watching tv, like knitting? I don't watch that much tv, but for me, tv is how I relax at the end of the day and unwind so that I can fall asleep, esp. if my eyes are too tired to read. What if you are too tired to do anything but watch tv? What if you do other productive activities while watching tv, like knitting?

I don’t watch that much tv, but for me, tv is how I relax at the end of the day and unwind so that I can fall asleep, esp. if my eyes are too tired to read.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-607530 Sarah Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:48:16 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-607530 I have to agree about the television of today's society. As I am getting ready to move out on my own in a few months for the first time, I thought why not try and teach oneself to cut back on the television addiction? Well needless to say, 2 months later I haven't regretted giving up all the 100+ channels and have spent more time researching the Net for topics of Interest to me, which 9 times out of 10 usually lead to a book marathon, which not only expands one's mind but when around others, there is no mindless, but simply intelligent conversation. I have to agree about the television of today’s society. As I am getting ready to move out on my own in a few months for the first time, I thought why not try and teach oneself to cut back on the television addiction? Well needless to say, 2 months later I haven’t regretted giving up all the 100+ channels and have spent more time researching the Net for topics of Interest to me, which 9 times out of 10 usually lead to a book marathon, which not only expands one’s mind but when around others, there is no mindless, but simply intelligent conversation.

]]> By: AJ http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-591083 AJ Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:09:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-591083 Did anyone happen to notice the rather ironic ad at the bottom of the blog? - TIME WARNER CABLE!! Did anyone happen to notice the rather ironic ad at the bottom of the blog? – TIME WARNER CABLE!!

]]> By: Dan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/comment-page-4/#comment-585100 Dan Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:08:18 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/04/09/ten-financial-reasons-to-turn-off-your-television-and-ten-things-to-replace-it-with/#comment-585100 I had a friend who called me up one day and was ecstatic about dropping his cable bill. I asked him, "Why are you excited about dropping your cable bill?" He said, "It's simple, bro. First, the internet has made it very easy to watch shows on demand. All I do is sign into Hulu.com and I have any show when I want it! I hooked up my laptop to my TV, and BINGO, free cable! Besides, the Ravens always play on regular stations, and most Orioles games are covered. Thanks to the new digital converter boxes, I can get the network stations (ABC, NBC, CBS) in full HD! Not only that, but I use Netflix at $9.95 per month and now I can stream movies and watch them on my TV. I can watch blu-ray movies if I want that cinematic experience as well. With Hulu, Netflix, and the new converter boxes, there really is no more any need for cable!" I had a friend who called me up one day and was ecstatic about dropping his cable bill. I asked him, “Why are you excited about dropping your cable bill?” He said, “It’s simple, bro. First, the internet has made it very easy to watch shows on demand. All I do is sign into Hulu.com and I have any show when I want it! I hooked up my laptop to my TV, and BINGO, free cable! Besides, the Ravens always play on regular stations, and most Orioles games are covered. Thanks to the new digital converter boxes, I can get the network stations (ABC, NBC, CBS) in full HD! Not only that, but I use Netflix at $9.95 per month and now I can stream movies and watch them on my TV. I can watch blu-ray movies if I want that cinematic experience as well. With Hulu, Netflix, and the new converter boxes, there really is no more any need for cable!”

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