Life Without Cable TV

Life Without Cable TV

Something occurred to me during my monthly flight from San Francisco to Baltimore this past August. I was coming back to my seat from the back of the pane. As I walked down the aisle, I noticed that about 75% of passengers had a tablet or computer on and were watching something. Not reading, mind you, but watching. This observation really gave me a pause and got me thinking about the fact that I haven’t watched any movies in quite some time. And then another thought came. When was the last time I sat down to watch TV? I couldn’t remember!

What also occurred to me is that it’s been over 6 years since I stopped subscribing to cable TV. I still have a flat screen TV set that just sits in my living room serving no real purpose. Once in a while, my husband and I will watch a movie on Netflix.

As I sat down in my seat and continued thinking about what I just observed, I realized that I haven’t actually been missing it that much. The only aspect of not having cable I missed was watching morning news while getting ready for work. I used to love watching “Good Morning America.” When I moved to the West Coast, the time difference completely distanced me from this habit.

Now here’s the question. Have I been missing anything during the past 6 years? Fill me in, because I would love to catch up. I stay current with the news by reading my Twitter feeds daily and by reading magazines on the plane. Once in a while, I’ll watch a movie that is actually worth spending time watching.

The decision not to have a cable TV subscription came about because I was studying for CFP® certification and my husband was working on his CPA license and we wanted to eliminate any distractions. What has evolved out of this is I started reading more! Thus, a new habit was born:)

I remember while growing up, my mom had to force me to sit down and read for 30 minutes per day and I hated it!

As I continued sitting on the plane and writing this blog post, I wondered how much money did we save by not having a cable subscription? Or should I say “didn’t spend?”

I remember Jim mentioning to me that he pays about $60/month. So then my calculation is: $60 x 12 months x 6 years = $4,320 of money we didn’t spend.

The decision to not have a cable subscription was a conscious decision to eliminate distractions, but it also not only allowed me to develop a new habit of reading more, but also revealed a savings opportunity we weren’t aware of.

What decisions have you made in your life consciously or unconsciously that brought you to where you are today? And saved you money?

Anna Sergunina
Anna Sergunina
anna@mainstreetplanning.com

I'm Anna Sergunina, CFP®, President & CEO at MainStreet Financial Planning, Inc. My passion lies in serving others through financial planning, helping clients achieve their dreams like buying a home, saving for education, or retiring early. With over two decades in the industry and a CFP designation since 2009, I'm dedicated to excellence and continuous growth. Beyond work, I cherish moments with my son Liam, prioritize self-care, and engage in content creation for my Money Boss Parent Podcast and Money Library blog.

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