Ask people about one of the first monthly bills they’d like to cut and cable will most likely come up. With the average cable bill just under $125 per month, it’s no surprise that many of us would rather squash it.
The good news is that getting rid of that monthly expense is not only possible, but it’s relatively easy to do. The market is full of options to cut the cable cord and still get much of the content for a fraction of the cost. Recent studies reveal nearly 10 percent of TV subscribers cut the cord in 2014. If you want to remove the cable bill from your monthly budget, consider some of the below options to save significant money.
Digital Antenna
A digital antenna is key for many who cut the cord as it allows you to access local network channels. Some networks let you stream content online, though not all do. Plus, antennas don’t cost much.
According to Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of the website Making Sense of Cents, she recently cut her cable bill completely and replaced it with a $50 antenna. She explains that The Micron Antenna that she and her spouse purchased lets them watch local channels.
Schroeder-Gardner isn’t the only one. Ryan Guina of the website Cash Money Life made a similar transition in his family. “Overall, we probably save at least $75 a month by not having a cable or satellite TV package,” he says. Guina explains that he and his family bought an antenna for roughly $70, allowing them access to many local channels that they supplement with their Netflix and Amazon Prime memberships.
Netflix
Netflix is a popular option for many cord cutters, as well as those with a traditional cable package. A recent report shows that 40 percent of those with cable plans also have a service like Netflix. That only adds to the amount going out for television content each month.
In many instances, Netflix can be a great alternative to the stand-alone cable bill. According to Lidia Shong of the tech startup aboutLife, this approach worked for her. “I recently downgraded from Comcast’s Triple Play for $233.28 per month. Now, I only pay $39.99 per month for Comcast Internet and $15 for Netflix.” Shong’s story rings true with many who cut the cord. They see the amount spent each month and find Netflix a justifiable way to get the content they want.
Hulu Plus
Hulu Plus is another popular option for those looking to save on their cable bill. Plans are a flat $7.99 and they show ads to keep pricing down for customers.
Even with the ads, this price makes Hulu Plus a great value to consider. “Over the past few years, we’ve had Hulu Plus, which delivers much of the TV that we’d normally watch, with the exception of CBS. At $8, it’s probably the best value of anything in our budget every month,” says Mark Aselstine, owner of Uncorked Ventures. Aseltine explains watching local sports is somewhat of a challenge, though he can go with a monthly sports subscription available through his chosen sport for $15 per month. Even at that amount, it’s a considerable savings from a traditional cable bill.
Sling TV
Believe it or not, one of the fastest growing options to cut the cord comes from Dish TV. The no-contract option provides subscribers with a number of popular channels for a frugal $20 per month. According to Chris Branter, known as “Mr. Cable Cutter,” he can stream ESPN, ESPN 2, AMC, TNT and more for just $20 per month. What makes the Sling TV option attractive is the ability to add different tiers for an additional $5 per month. You can add anything from additional sports channels to kids networks to lifestyle channels for only $5 per month — on top of the initial $20.
Amazon Prime
Another popular cord cutting solution is an Amazon Prime subscription. The subscription service from Amazon costs $99 per year and offers perks like free two-day shipping and the ability to borrow numerous Kindle e-book titles for free.
Another key feature to the Amazon Prime service is the ability to stream content from older content from other networks, movies and Amazon-produced shows. Some of the former two options are available entirely for free though you may have to pay a small fee in some instances.
This list scratches the surface for those who want to save money on their cable bill. You might need to combine several services to still receive all the content you want, but in most instances you should be able to save $50 to $75 per month.
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5 Easy Ways to Kill Your Cable Bill originally appeared on usnews.com
