by Vinit Patel

Created on: July 10, 2009

It has been a little over a year and I have not paid a cent to my local cable company. My neighbors even ask how I am able to survive with no cable in my home. The truth is, cable television has high prices for their service and very little competition from other companies like satellite. It was no wonder that soon my monthly bills were reaching over $100. I had to begin to look for other cheaper, alternatives to catch my favorite shows and movies. While this might have not been possible a few years ago, today technology has made this is possible with much ease.

About a year ago, I spent a little over $50 and purchased a digital antenna, which picks up over-the-air local channels. Now I get all my local channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, and others) in crisp high-definition without spending a dime. I am still able to watch prime-time shows and catch the local news. I also get local sports in stunning HD and have become the host of Super Bowl Sunday.

In the old rabbit-ear days, the picture quality was poor and cable was the only alternative to get a clear picture. Now, digital antennas are able to catch a crystal clear signal with no interference and it is all free of charge. With cable I was essentially paying a lot more to get these channels in the same high-definition quality.

Many times I would DVR shows that I missed. But now, websites like Hulu.com, let me watch my favorite shows whenever I want. I simply log on, pick my show, sit back and watch. No more problems of the DVR not being programmed right. Moreover, I can now use services like Hulu to watch shows right on my laptop computer at home.

The main reason I kept my cable for so long was for the on-demand movies. What's more convenient then grabbing the remote, picking a movie, and having it start when I wanted it to? The answer for me is Netflix. Netflix began a service that lets customers watch certain movies instantly in the comfort of their home. Sure, you pay the rental fee, but there is no more hassle of having to subscribe to cable in order to get the on-demand experience. With Netflix, I just pay a subscription fee, and in turn I get to rent the allotted number of movies.

With all these services available, I have not looked back at cable ever since I left a year ago. With multiple options, I was not bound to my local cable company and was able to save money by making the switch. In the end, I am still able to watch my shows and save money in my wallet.

Learn more about this author, Vinit Patel.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.