It's time to move beyond cable TV

Don’t be afraid of technology. Some tech, like “Internet of Things” (IoT), can have security issues and should be researched carefully before jumping on the wave. New technology is great because it can reduce cost, improve convenience, improve your lifestyle and improve security.

Let's look at a specific example.

Cable companies like Comcast's Xfinity have gotten a lot better. I loved my Xfinity because of the picture quality, DVR, On-Demand and high-speed internet. The thing I hated was frequent outages and very high fees. The add-on fees alone were $68 per month.

After my two-year contract was up, I decided to shop around. One of my unfulfilled requirements was to watch my favorite channels and saved shows when out of town with my RV. I could watch them on a tablet but not on my 50" Roku TV in the RV. I toyed with the idea of buying satellite TV, just for the RV but didn’t want more added cost.

“After much research, I was surprised to find great solutions for half the price”

Let me explain my favorite options

High-speed Internet

Verizon offers FIOS internet for their customers, which uses fiber optics to carry the signal. It is super-high quality and carries a lot of bandwidth. The price is $39.99 per month and is very reliable.

T-Mobile offers home high-speed internet using its cell phone network. It is always connected and works great. I have not had a single outage over the past 6 months. This service is still rolling out to the US and costs a flat $50 per month, with no additional fees.

“There are many great options for getting high speed internet service for around $50, so shop around based on your location.”

TV Programs

Cable TV companies include hundreds of shows, with thousands of options for "On-Demand" viewing. The average person only watches a few dozen shows, at most. So, you wind up paying for shows and programming options you never watch.

Sling TV is my favorite for $50 per month and no additional fees. Their "Blue" package is $30 for most desired channels but a few favorites might be missing. I started with the "Blue" package and added complete TV for an extra $20. That extra package gives you premium channels like ESPN, Science channel, etc. That means I get all of my favorites for a flat $50. I also get 200 hours of DVR. The best news is I can watch it in my RV on the 50" TV.

YouTube TV and Hulu TV are other great options for $65. These top 3 online TV services work the same way. Hulu also gives you a bundle package, which includes live TV, HULU, Disney+ and ESPN+ for $71.99.

“Internet-based services offer about 50 channels for around $50.”

In summary

My new internet and TV bundle

I was paying Comcast $199 per month for their combo package but didn't get the Science channel and others. This also didn't include premiums like HBO. We only watched around 20 channels, so this was a waste of money. I loved the Xfinity features, quality and DVR but hated the outages and high fees.

I switched to T-Mobile for high-speed internet for $50. I signed up for Sling TV for $50. I now pay $100 flat, get extra channels like the Science channel and can watch it in my RV using Roku. That's a savings of $99 every month with no outages. I could have saved $20 more if I didn’t add the Science channel, Comedy Central and a few other favorites in the total TV package.

This example simply shows that we should not be afraid of new technology. If you want to upgrade your home or life, and don’t know what products are good, check out these cool products at Great Products | Tips4Living.

If you need help with the research and a custom plan, then Tips4Living can help.

Learn more at www.tips4living.org.