Wednesday, August 19, 2009

CABLED

So I am about to have a pretty big milestone in my life. Are you ready for this? For the first time ever, I am renewing a lease. Like clockwork, I have moved in and out of dorms, apartments, condos, etc. this time of year. And boy, does it sucks. Read about (some of it) here here or here. I hate moving. But recently, I told my landlord that I was looking forward to another year in my apartment, and I felt so free. I get to stay! I don't have to move! This is HUGE!

So since I have been there a whole year, and plan to be for at least another year, I am considering that it is time to get myself some cable. I waited to make this decision last year, since I wasn't sure if the computer would get fixed and therefore didn't know if I would need just cable, or cable and internet. Then I decided all of it was too expensive for one girl and I would just do without anything but the basic channels. And now, a year has come and gone. I've got Monica and she's all the internet I need. But that still doesn't solve the cable question.

Feeling the heat of the recession or the hatred of many customers, Complicatedcast* has a deal going - $30 a month for a full year contract. And since I am renewing my lease, that math works for me! Of course set up and taxes and fees are not included. But I think I could live with that. Now my big dilemma is over the DVR. Since my work hours are so unpredictible, I really NEED a DVR, don't I? It's "only" another $16 a month. C has one that he lets me hijack from time to time and even though he records some of the same shows I watch (NBC comedies + SNL), there was a real threat that he would delete an episode of the Bachelorette that I had asked him to record and that's just not a risk I want to take. Plus, now we have Glee and Cougartown and a fall series of So You Think You Can Dance and with my wanting to train for another half-marathon (true story) I will need something to record these shows on so running won't take a backseat to TV watching!

So what do you think? Am I being ridiculous? If you lived by yourself, wouldn't you finally crack and get some cable after a year? I mean, at least I'm not having to pay for moving trucks again.

*Be-lieeeeve me I have checked and they are the only ones that service my neighborhood. Oh how I would prefer not to deal with them.

12 comments:

  1. I'm torn on this one.

    Cable is expensive for one person. Most of the shows are available online now: network and cable. I give that a year or so before we have to pay for that too.

    I'm leaning towards skipping the cable.

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  2. But you forgot I don't have internet at my house either. And if I get caught watching TV shows at work, I won't have cable, internet OR a job!

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  3. I might be addicted, but I can't live without cable. Maybe I could live, but I would not be fun to be around. Also, tack on the DVR. It is so freeing - take this from an addict. You actually might watch LESS t.v., because you can watch it whenever. And skip commercials, as you know. Seriously - go for it. And don't worry - Charter is not a peach to deal with either!!

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  4. I don't know how you have gone this long without it. If it is only $30 a month, why not? Just skip going out to dinner a time or two! I could probably live without DVR but I wouldn't want to. Ok, so you may have to skip one more dinner out to tack on the DVR... worth it!

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  5. We LOVE our DVR....especially since Will came along! We never watch tv until like 9pm if that....usually all our tv watching is confined to the weekends and we catch up on everything we love. If you are super busy, and it sounds like you are, I would definitely go the DVR route if you go the cable route!!

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  6. hi lindsay. i don't know you personally (found you through a friend's blog-don't remember who- but i love reading!!) but i thought i'd throw in my $.02. all that to say, i'm a single girl living in a house by myself and i not only have cable, but i also have TiVo AND DVR!!! can't live without it! i say do it. i promise, it's a.maze.ing. :)

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  7. Lindsay, this is a really tough dilemma. In my opinion, Comcast should have to pay YOU $30 per month to use their product and deal with their ineptness (ineptitude?). As your friend, I'm not sure I can condone you signing up for their services. Buuuut, with all that said, I say go for it!! DVR and all! What half marathon are you training for?

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  8. nope nope. skip it. i have had cable for a whopping 4 years of my life (total) -1 in the dorms in college and 2 living with roommates in college. CT3 and I had it for the first 9 months of being married and then decided to save our mula and nix it. we work out more, read more, sleep more, etc.

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  9. I don't know if I should chime in because I so biased, but I'll write anyway. I consider cable a basic necessity along the lines of food, clothing, shelter, kidney medicine, and electricity. Sorry, that's just how I feel.

    You like tv. You enjoy a good series, reality or scripted. And guess what? You work hard (very hard most times) so why not spend $46 a month on something you know deep down you'll enjoy. Remember you debated about Monica, and look how much she's brought to your life! And what about Netflix? Aren't you glad you went ahead and joined?

    In summary, get the cable, the DVR, and any other technology you want. You're young, single, and I need you to recap So You Think You Can Dance this fall.

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  10. To me, cable is essential. I wouldn't even think about not having it, whether I lived by myself or not. I am impressed you've gone this long without it! And I have Tivo and LOVE it. It's only $12.95/month! Totally worth it to me. I NEVER watch anything live, and it really does save many hours of your life to not watch commercials.

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  11. I wanted to get a Tivo, too. You at least get to keep the box. But you also have to have internet or a land line phone and I don't want to have to pay for either of those.!

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  12. definitely yes to the DVR. it will change your life and actually half the time you spend watching TV because you can skip all the commercials!

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