There really is nothing on TV tonight!
It has been over 3 months since we pulled the plug on cable. How are we doing?
First, a Recap
You may recall my first post about television being a problem for us when we implemented TV-free Tuesdays at our house. That worked well for a very short time, and then we began backtracking by switching the date around to coincide with nights we already had plans out of the house (how convenient!). Then we just started skipping it altogether. We were not getting anywhere closer to our goals of being more productive and intentional with the way we spent our time.
In a burst of self-control, we decided to break our addiction by getting rid of cable altogether, saving about $100 a month. Warren started learning Spanish, I was reading more books and cooking healthier meals for us, we exercised, and we began to socialize more. You can watch our video update from 6 weeks in here.
3 Months and Counting
Right now we are just over 3 months and we’ve noticed some things.
- We are still socializing more than we did before on weeknights and weekend days. A big plus!
- We’ve come to rely on Netflix far more than we did before, and if we were truly committed we would likely cancel our membership. But we’re not there yet (I mean, seriously, we just finished watching Dr. Who season 4 tonight, and we haven’t even made it through Arrested Development yet!)
- We spend more time online – both of us. Sometimes side by side.
- We do have more time for hobbies and outside interests. There is no way I could have completed the 3-Day Novel Contest over Labor Day weekend if we had cable. Besides his Spanish lessons, Warren has been able to take his photography up a notch and even start organizing them online.
- Now that football season has started, Warren watches the games and catches updates on his laptop. We also have friends who have invited him over to watch games, which he has done a couple of times.
- I’m becoming very fond of Hulu for watching television shows online. But one thing I have noticed is that the sitcoms do not translate well for me. I have given up watching those and instead catch dramas like House during my lunch break.
- When the Ken Burns documentary about the National Parks came out I was sad to not have cable to watch it, though I can’t think of any other television program that has made me feel the same way. And of course I can watch that on DVD when it comes out.
- I’m still a little worried about how this will affect my pop culture IQ, but I don’t really know how my life will be diminished by not knowing who the next American Idol favorite will be or how those crafty CSI folks always get the bad guys.
What’s Next?
Our goal in giving up cable was to have more time for the things we wanted to do and save more money for the Big Trip ($300 so far). Even though we have filled some of the cable gap with online and Netflix options we are still making progress on our goals. We plan to put the house on the market in the spring, and we will likely give up television completely when we move out and into our temporary housing. That will be the final break, and I think by then we’ll be ready for it.
I’m really amazed at how easy it has been in most ways to give up cable but how hard it is to give up watching television altogether. To my friends who have been TV-less for years, I salute you. To those who watch too much and want to cut back, know that it can be done but it will be tough. Like going on a diet, almost. You know eating healthy is good for you, but sometimes you just really want a bag of fries. Sometimes I just really want to watch Dr. Who.
Have you ever tried to stop watching television or give up another daily habit? What helped you change your ways?
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Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of the life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready for a year of travel with her husband Warren.
About Betsy
I never thought I would be able to say that I really do not miss cable. This has been a wonderful opportunity to break from my typical routine, explore new experiences, and spend more time with my wife. I am deep into Rosetta Stone’s TOTALe course and each day one step closer to my goal of speaking Spanish.
I am delighted that we chose to embrace a simpler life, and the extra $1,500 we will save will pay for 15 more days of our new life on the road. It is an easy decision looking back.
We gave up cable in 1995. Within a week our children were calmer and got along better. That was all we needed to convince us not to go back! In our spare time my husband got a second masters and I learned a lot of fun, but mostly useless skills (smocking, tatting, etc.).
I have missed PBS, A&E, and BBC, but I have learned to wait for things to come out on video. We joined Netflix about 6 months ago, but the great thing about DVD’s is you can choose when to watch a show. I tend to watch when I am doing mind numbing tasks like folding laundry or ironing.
Alea, I’ve just discovered a few PBS shows on http://www.hulu.com, so maybe you won’t have to wait to get your fix from video. And the Ken Burns series on the national parks actually plays the episodes for a week or two on the PBS website right after they air.
You are spot on when you talk about choosing to watch a show – it is a much more purposeful act than the previous surfing we did for HOURS at a time. I appreciate what I’m watching more now and don’t take my time for granted like I used to. Thank you for sharing your story – if you can do it for 14 years, I can certainly do it for another 11 months before we leave!
Love your site. Love the simplicity. Love the sentiments.
I think you’ll do okay without cable. I’ve never had it and don’t feel as if I’ve missed a thing.:-)