Floating Down The Stream To Savings

There are a lot of relationships that are difficult to break-up. For example, I remember when I moved and started using a hair salon that was closer to my new home. I had to tell my former stylist (and I use that word loosely) that I would no longer be using his services. "It’s not you, it’s me” I said, sounding like I was ending a high school romance. I truly felt bad. As Neil Sedaka once sang, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” And then there’s Cable-TV.

The whole reason that I started Lower Tech Bills is that after doing the research, I realized that I was way overpaying for my TV, Cell and Internet services. So, in 2022, I began a series of break-ups which allowed me to me save over $2,000, with much of those savings still ongoing. It also was the spark that led me to start a service designed to help people get similar savings. One of the ways that I save money every month is by changing TV providers. The rest of this post is going to concentrate on alternatives to cable and satellite TV, of which there are many.

The first thing to understand about streaming services is that in many cases, leaving cable will allow you to save hundreds of dollars every year. You’ve probably heard about or seen a commercial for DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV. You may have even heard about smaller services like Frndly, Philo and Vidgo. With all of these choices, it’s important to understand rule number one - What's right for me may not be right for you. That’s why one of the first things that I do at our no-charge meeting is to go through a Client Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ). Among other things, it asks about your "must-have” channels. Each streaming service is different and as they say, your mileage may vary when it comes to deciding on the right one. It’s all about your household’s interests and needs. You see, while many cable and satellite companies talk about offering as many as 300 channels, the fact is that the average person watches only 18 channels. All the rest are window dressing.

Once I understand your household’s channel needs, we can get down to how it uses its TVs. We discuss things such as how much DVR space you use, how many concurrent screens you need and any technical issues that you may have. These can be anything from needing a "talk into” remote control, comfort with streaming boxes such as a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick or whether you own so-called "smart" TV’s. Let me stress that before we finish, my service will make sure that you and those in your home understands and is comfortable with how it all works. It isn’t hard, but I also understand that many people have what I call "FOC” - Fear of Change. I wrote a recent post called "What The FOC" which explains that malady. Suffice it to say that once you see your savings each month, your FOC will disappear.

There are streaming services that start for as low as ten dollars a month and others that charge over one hundred dollars a month. Actually, these days, there are several free streaming services too. They are called "FAST" (Free Advertising Supported Television). They offer a different array of channels than pay services but depending on your needs, may be all you need. I've written a post called "What's FAST and Why Am I Furious" which explains FAST in more detail. If you want to know more about FAST or FOC, visit lowertechbills.com.com and check out my blog section.

It really all boils down to the channels you need and your household’s unique viewing habits. That’s where the "CAQ” plays an important role. After discussing your entertainment and technical needs, I will recommend a service that gives you the channels that you want in a technical ecosystem that makes sense for your home. In most cases when we come up with a plan that fits your needs, you will save money every single month. While Neil Sedaka said it well for love, in the case of Cable, once you breakup, it’s doubtful that there will be a makeup.

Since I retired from Radio, I’ve been able to save households from hundreds to even thousands of dollars a year with much of those savings ongoing. So, let’s meet at no-charge and go over your TV needs as well as your Cell and Internet bills. For a free "Tech Check”, email hmwellsradio@gmail.com or visit lowertechbills.com because you may not have the time to do the research to save money, but I do.