How to save money by getting rid of the television
If you are like most North American, getting rid of the television may sound like a ridiculous proposal. In fact, the idea that you can save money by getting rid of the television may even sound preposterous. First of all, doesn't everyone need to have a television? And secondly, how on earth can it help you save money. Isn't it a cheap form of entertainment?
Unfortunately, this has been the wisdom of the masses ever since television became the popular. Most families in North America have at least one television set, and many have two or more. What most families believe to be a cheap form of entertainment in fact has many cost associated with it. If you were to eliminate television from your life, you would reap savings in a number of areas.
No Television Commercials
The number one way that television is costing you money is through the impact of advertisements. If you had the typical upbringing, by the time you graduated from high school you would have seen 350,000 commercials. Though you may never have stood up after a commercial and announced that you had to have "such-and-such" an item, chances are that your lifestyle has been subtlety influenced by what you have seen on television. From the clothes that you wear, the beverages that you drink, and the car that you drive, all of these may have been somehow first introduced to you through television, either in a commercial, or by a character in a show.
No Monthly Television Costs
Although television can arguably be a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment if you stick to the basic cable or satellite package, there are few among us who have the willpower to do so. Before you know it, you are spending close to or more than $100 per month for lots of extra channels that you rarely watch. Then there are the one-time sporting events that cost extra. If you start to add up the monthly costs of television you will realize that by cutting TV out of your life there will be instant savings.
No Television Repair or Replacement Costs
Unless you regularly replace your television, chances are good that at some point it will start to malfunction. You might notice a green haze, a stubborn power button, or one day it might just die. Regardless of the specific demise of your television, you will of course decide to repair or replace it. These days, since technology moves at the speed of light, you will convince yourself that buying the biggest and best television on the market is simply a smart move. After all, who can argue with getting the most television for your money?
Now, imagine that you didn't own a television in the first place. There would never be the maintenance or replacement costs. That extra $1500 burning a hole in your pocket could be used to pay off debt or put into savings.
No Television Accessories
If you have ever been to one of the big box stores that sell media equipment, you know that televisions aren't sold without a host of expensive accessories. If you own a television, chances are that you also own at the very least a DVD player (or two), speakers (or perhaps surround sound), and an entertainment unit. Again, each of these items will eventually have to be repaired or replaced, once again costing you money.
No Impulse Purchases
Have you ever seen something on the home shopping network that you just had to have? Ever watched an infomercial about a product that you don't know how you've been living without? Chances are that you have been brainwashed by the celebrity promoting the product. You really didn't need these things until you saw them on television. If you didn't own a television in the first place, you wouldn't spend money on things you end up never using such as the stair-stepper-turned-clothes-hanger.
More Time to Do Things Yourself
It's a novel concept really, doing things yourself. If you weren't sitting in front of television for hours at a time you could be doing things to save yourself money, such as mowing the lawn, washing the car, cleaning the house, cooking from scratch, and making Halloween costumes for the kids. In addition to saving money by doing things yourself, you may even have time to pick up a money-making hobby or start a home-based business on the side.
Better Health
If you aren't sitting in front of the television for hours at a time, you are probably going to be in better health. You will spend more time outdoors, more time getting exercise, and won't be snacking so much. In addition to the savings on snack food, you won't be spending as much on doctor's visits and medications.
If you still aren't convinced that turning in the television is the way to go, listen to this startling fact. The average high school graduate will have spent 15,000 hours glued to the television. That is 4000 more hours than that student will have spent in school. Just imagine how much more productive you could be with your time, and in turn save money. Why not give it a try for one month and see if your budget isn't spared at least a little.