Why It's Time To Cut The Cable Cord

Unless you’ve been hibernating at monastery in the mountains you’ve probably noticed that the way we watch television is changing every second. From Netflix to Hulu to Apple TV, we’re deep in the midst is a massive shift of how, where, and when we consume media and tv. Change is good, but it can be hard, especially when it’s steeped in tradition, but the shift in television programming is like all things today, a confluence of digital-centric people looking for a better, cheaper way of doing things, in fact, the millennial demographic (18-34) makes up 50 percent of households without cable or satellite. While there’s still no complete solution yet, we’re on the road to making the cable world a better experience. If you’re cutting the cord yourself or still wondering if you can make it happen, don’t sweat it, we’re going to show you how and why now’s the time to make the move.

We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Bundles
Whether tech-head or average joe, digital natives like us prefer things to be simple, easy and efficient. Most cable companies offer phone, Wi-Fi and cable into bundled price. That sounds like a smart, convent deal, as you we all have phones and enjoy watching cable, but the only people who use phone lines nowadays is your Nana, who only calls you to try to convince you to vote for Donald Trump. Buying a bundle is like living alone and shopping at Costco. Sure, you like ketchup, but you don’t need two giant vats of it that will last you until 2027.

Commitment Phobes
With so many tech-based solutions and entertainment options, paying the price for cable with its draconian plans and prison term-like contracts is as antiquated as love at first sight. We live in a swipe left Tinder world, where we can stick and move (literally), seeing what we like and don’t like (many times over) before making big decisions, while STILL keeping our options open. Sure, you might not be able to live with HBO now, but what happens when they’ve killed everyone on Game of Thrones? Documentaries and Melissa McCarthy comedies just aren’t worth the price tag.

On-Demand, On-Demand
Whether we’re waiting for a ride to the bar or a food delivery from Postmates, we are The On-Demand Generation. This freedom and ease has translated to our entertainment options as well. Watching “live tv” is something your parents probably do and outside of Sunday NFL or NBA playoffs, cord-cutting embraces the idea that you can be in-control of not only what you watch, but where and when you watch it. Why wait to watch new episodes of Netflix’s Daredevil at home when you can view it on your iPad, while you’re on the stair climber at the gym or catching up on the plane home from a business trip.

How To Cut Ties The Right Way
So, now that you’re here, let’s cut that cord. First off, ignore cable subscription services sliding into your inbox or mailbox with that endless junk mail about how they’ve changed with lowered rates and special deals. All that is just a thirsty attempt to bring you back into the fold, crazy ex-girlfriend style. Once you sign up, it might be good for a while (free HBO and Showtime), but then all those harsh reminders of why you broke up with them will creep back up ($100 + cable bill after the introductory offer expired). Do the math. Time Warner Cable might seem like a good, cheap thrill at $29.99 a month, but after the premium channel deals expire you’re basically left with ESPN and the Housewives of wherever, whenever on Bravo. Compare that to a video-on-demand, subscription-based service like Netflix and Hulu Plus, which both cost only $7.99 a month. An Amazon Prime membership is $99 per year (about $8.25 per month), but you also get unlimited, free-two day shipping and a host of other benefits. Trust us, it’s science.

Get Equipped
Whatever your budget, there’s a bunch of options to make your streaming life a bit easier. We've discussed the best streaming gear before and they’ve all got great features and few cons. So whether you’re in the Apple ecosystem or want options from Roku or Amazon, these easy-to-use devices will put hours of entertainment at your fingertips. From there, you also might consider hooking up your laptop (or buying a cheap, web-enabled netbook) to your flatscreen. With this hookup you can access web-based sports programming like ESPN and others. All it takes is a cheap HDMI cable and a basic adapter and you’ll tv-enabled like a boss in no time.

How to Break-Up with your Cable Company
Cable companies can sense the end is near, so they make it almost impossible to break-up with them. They’ll avoid having that “it’s over” talk with you by making it nearly impossible to get a hold of them. So, you try their service number on their website where you will be put on hold forever or transferred back and forth. All they’re doing is buying time, hoping you will hang up and deal with it. This is where you’ve got to stay strong and resist the booty calls. There is an easier way though, Google a direct service line with something like “how to cancel my cable.” Simple enough, but extremely effective. Once you get someone on the line, tell them you’re looking to “downgrade” your service plan or if you’ve really got balls “upgrade” it. Now, that you’ve got them listening, you tell them that you’ve had some time to think it over (when you were on hold) and your relationship is no longer working out. There’s just too many other on-demand options out there. They will throw those desperate, yet appealing offers at you so be strong and let them down easily with the classic “it’s not you, it’s me” line. Click. Welcome to the cable-free single life, it’s pretty awesome.