Cord cutting has hit an interesting crossroads in the course of changing the future of how people watch TV.
A few years ago being a cord cutter meant that you would save $1,000 or more a year while at the same time how you watch TV would change. You may give up something or have to accept watching a show the next day or even later in exchange for a huge amount of savings.
However, there are other benefits to cord cutting: the ability to have more content at your fingertips than cable could ever get, no commercials, no contracts, and more control.
But now with the growing number of live TV streaming services a growing number of cord cutters are trying to have their cake and eat it too. Often it seems as though cord cutters are becoming more concerned with the number of channels you have vs getting the content you really want. Bringing us back to some of the same issues we had with cable TV, over paying for a ton of channels you do not watch.
So what can be done? Well this may be a great time for many cord cutters to reevaluate what you watch and when you watch it; otherwise, in your rush to get what you think you want you may be seriously overpaying.
Here are a few tips to help you save money:
#1 Regularly reevaluate what you are paying for.
Often our viewing habits change as do the services we subscribe to. Did you get Hulu in the past for access to shows on FOX and Spike but now you have DirecTV Now and a DVR for your anntena? It is possible you are double paying by having two options to watch the same show?
To save money review the shows you want and drop services that you no longer need. If you don’t watch Hulu as often as you did in the past maybe it is time to drop it in favor of Sling TV or DirecTV Now.
Also remember there are no contracts for these services. Really want to see “The Game of Thrones” as it airs live? No need to pay for HBO Now year-round. You could easily just subscribe to it during “The Game of Thrones” and drop it when the show ends.
#2 Don’t Upgrade Channel Packages Just to Watch One Show
Really want to watch a show on the Travel Channel? (If you are like me you love “Hotel Impossible.”) Avoid the temptation to jump up a package just to get one or two shows. The difference between the Live a Little and the Just Right package is $15 a month on DirecTV Now. That may seem small but over a year that will cost you $180 extra; however, season 7 of “Hotel Impossible” on Amazon Video is only $24.99.
You could buy seven different seasons of shows on Amazon and still save money vs upgrading to the next package on DirecTV Now. The best part about buying them is you can always re-watch them.
So don’t forget…
The most dangerous thing to happen to cord cutting in 2016 is the need for channels vs the need for the content you really want. Often cord cutters seem to be taking the easiest path even if that means paying extra for it. With just a tiny bit of research and work you can avoid the trap of oversubscribing to services or overpaying for a show.
Never before have cord cutters had so much control and access to shows and movies. Yet at the same time it is easier than ever to over pay for what you want.
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more news, tips, and reviews.
Need cord cutting tech support? Join our new Cord Cutting Tech Support Facebook Group for help.