My Cable TV episode

So Andrew and I have been looking for video cameras for when baby arrives and we found ourselves out at Best Buy on memorial day. (side note - if anyone of you have opinions on which type of camera to get either pocket cam like a Flip or a full out video camera - let us know. We are so undecided!) Anyways, while at BB we had someone approach us and ask us if we wanted to do a trial on direct TV ( this was obviously them trying to sell us Direct TV). They asked us which cable company we were with and with my smug look I told them "We don't have cable." At first I think we caught him off guard - apparently people just don't go without cable or he has never come across that answer. Then I think he thought "oh the perfect target" and tried to give us a schpeel on all the savings he could get us. Andrew is much better at saying no (and saying it with some type of  remark on how we already save money without cable) and we left good ol' BB for the day with no purchases.


This little incident got me thinking about how much TV we watch and how this has changed since we cancelled our cable in February. I will have to say it is ironic that we did this since last June we bought a brand new HD TV with Andrew's "Good Job for becoming an Architect" gift card from his work. So at least we had a few months of HD cable channels.  But in February when it dawned on us that
1. We are going to have a baby and they are EXPENSIVE (yes this was a freak out moment for Andrew, our resident thrifty dutchman)
2. Our cable bill was super expensive. I had even called numerous times to get a "deal" but after a while they say you no longer qualify. But if you tell them you are cancelling your cable, they are quick to find you something you do qualify for!


We looked at the shows we love to watch and found about 75% of them were on non cable channels. And many of the others you could find online to watch (which we usually did anyways because we weren't home to watch them during the time they were on).  Plus the Samsung TV we got has apps such as Hulu Plus and Netflixs that allows us to watch a lot of programs just by purchasing a $9 membership fee (much cheaper than our $80+ for cable, HD, and lovely state of KS taxes that are ridiculous). So we did this as a trial and 5 months later we will not go back.


I think I am realizing what a change it has been since I am back to my trophy wife status (for the next 17 days or until baby decides to arrive!). Back in my previous trophy wife days, I usually would spend the day with the TV on in the background until I got sucked in by some lame movie or show that I had already probably seen 5+ times but just "loved the ending" or something lame I told myself. Now I only turn on the TV for the news or if I know there is a show I want to watch. By doing this I am just amazed at all the stuff I get done in one day! I know Andrew is going to just love this comment since he would tell me that all the time over my school breaks.
I never thought I would say this - but without ABC Family and Lifetime it has really let me do a lot more. Crazy! Apparently I really was a "couch potato"! :-)


Here are my top 5 Reasons to Cut Your Cable:
1. Saving Money - with our Hulu membership and if we decide to do Netflixs - we will save around $60 per month (that is $720 per year for all you math challenged such as myself)
2. More Family Time - Andrew and I really have spent more time together doing things we don't usually do. Such as just sitting around, listening to the radio (yes, we have used the radio more in 5 months than our entire time being married). Andrew isn't much of a reader so some nights I would read my baby books to him so he knows what to do once baby arrives. I know once baby arrives we need all the "extra" time we can get (yes I am aware there are only 24 hrs in a day - but you know what I mean!)
3. Less frustration - I can remember when the cable would be not working and I would yell "Ahh I hate _(fill in with cable company at the time)___" Then spend 40 min on hold trying to get it figured out.
4. Less time in front of the TV - When we stopped cable I thought I would watch the shows I liked online - but I have found that I don't even do that anymore. Apparently they were not all that special to me as I thought. I still watch the ones I like but have cut down on how many.
5. Less Stress - I now don't base my nightly activities (such as when to do the laundry, when to go to the store, etc) on which night my show is on. Yes - sad and pathetic but I did do this! I wouldn't want to go to the store on Monday when my ABC family show was on. This drove Andrew NUTS!


Just the other day I was joking around saying, "Man since we don't have cable we actually talk to each other more!" I never realized how much TV really did tie me down at nights. Now I usually go to bed thinking "wow, I was pretty productive today" - even if I am taking naps every afternoon. (I tell you - kids take everything from you, including your energy) I read more, do more crafts, and just feel a lot more relaxed as I am not hurrying to finish up something because "my show is on".


So that is our cable story. Can you live without cable - of course. Yes - there are days when I just wish I could watch that chick flick all afternoon. But those feelings do pass. From a recovering couch potato - I would give anyone advice that living without cable these past few months has been wonderful.


Oh and I better mention this too. Growing up I didn't have cable TV and always thought it was just crazy because we were the ONLY ones who didn't. So mom and dad - after all these years and me thinking were just too cheap to get cable - I now understand why we didn't have it! The things you come to realize once you become (or almost become) a parent. Thanks Mom and Dad!