We DON'T subscribe to a television service. This amounts to a savings of $50 or $60 per month or more. The cheapest way to go that I know of is a family that 17 years ago, got a cable service plan that cost $13 per month and gave them stations up to channel 13. Over the years, they have managed to convince the local company to 'grandfather' them in and allow them to continue this plan. I don't know of anyone else who has a similar deal, and I'm certain you couldn't get anything that cheap today.
There are many options for television entertainment; cable service, satellite dishes, etc. and many companies offering these services. I've known of people who paid their rent late because they had to pay the cable bill or it would get shut off. I know of people who look at their monthly budget and can't make ends meet, but consider a television service of some sort to be part of their necessities.
I see necessities as food, shelter, clothing. EVERYTHING else is luxury!
I personally refuse to pay for a service that brings video entertainment into my home. I have relented at the begging of my husband and children in the past, however, when Don left his job, it was one of the first things to go. The service was cancelled, and all the equipment (tvs, vcrs, dvd players) were sold in our yard sale. The gaming toys (Sega, etc) were packed away in the basement, and saved for the possibility that the kids might have an opportunity to use them. (We've taken them to Grandmas as a special treat - she has a tv!)
This year for Christmas, my mother bought our daughters a small television and a DVD/VCR combination machine (she thinks taking away television is deprivation). We allowed them to keep them, but set them in a common area - we never allowed our children to have free reign of the television. It is a privilege; chores and schoolwork always come first. But, we live half a block from the library and there are a number of videos and DVD's that we are willing to let our children borrow.
As for appeasing my husbands need for television, we do maintain an internet presence and almost all news, and current events can be found online. Most newspapers and magazines can be read online as well.
We DO take advantage of the websites that provide free television streaming. If you are interested in CBS programs; visit their website and choose a program that you want to watch. It seems that most current shows are available on the site one day after they show on tv, so if you have a Thursday night favorite, you may have to wait until Friday to watch it.
Many stations have their own website, plus you can also use sites like HULU.com or Megavideo.com to watch a variety of programs and even movies. Most of these are free; megavideo allows you to watch 72 minutes at a time and locks you out for one hour unless you pay a fee. This is long enough to watch most programs, but not quite long enough for a movie.
If we really want to watch a movie that they are offering, but can't find it on another site; we do a two nighter. We make popcorn and watch about half way, and find a good stopping point, then return the next night to watch the second half. You do have control to fast forward, rewind, pause, and to start mid-program.
To some people, giving up television seems to be a great sacrifice. I don't see it that way. First, there is the cost (around us, the cheapest plans are $50 to $60 per month - I can do a lot with that amount). Then, there is the time; we only watch a program as a family one or two nights a week, and after the children go to bed, we watch an hour or two as a couple. To spend more time than that in front of an entertainment box, seems like a huge waste of time to me. I even feel guilty about the waste of time that it is already, so I multitask; I take something productive to bed; sale ads, grocery list, coupons to cut, etc., but I take something with me so that I am not completely wasting the time.
Admittedly, I love a good story, and there are several shows that I enjoy following, but when it comes to being together as a family; it is one of the easiest items to give up.
I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you will return for more, as we share how our family of 7 (almost 8) has managed to survive the past year with both adults unemployed.
Corinne Johnson is a Christian homeschooling mom, and the author of Vacation Education Books. For ideas on educational lesson plans to do with your family, please check out my Vacation Education blog and our website www.vacationeducationbooks.net
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