Common Cents: How to Cut Cable Costs

The credit crunch has left many, including myself, wondering about ways to cut monthly household costs.

With the fall season upon us, breaking out the old threads from last year can help shave hundreds off seasonal budgets, but we can’t exactly shuck away the heat bill. This leaves a third and less thrilling option of cost cutting, and that’s trimming the fat off a bloated cable package.

Like the Dow, the cable bill for my household fluctuates. But it is never below $165. This month's cable and Internet package reached $180, leaving us with an annual bill that exceeds $2,100. Split amongst three people we each have a $700 expense for hundreds of channels that we barely view. No surprise there. The average monthly cost of cable for customers is $60 and most people only tune in to about 15 channels, reports ABC News. Add Internet charges, and the costs is closer to $100 per month for many.

Online and Other Alternatives
However, the growing popularity of watching television on the Internet is creating a market that makes your shows, or channels, more accessible for less. Hulu offers numerous options for those looking for their favorite shows online, such as House. Cancelcable.com also provides a Showfinder that lists where you can find television programs online. For those not available for free, iTunes sells some shows for low prices, but you should also check out the network’s Web site for online viewing availability. With Internet caps in experimental stages across the U.S., I can’t imagine the way we receive and view programming online to continue to be free in the future. But for the most part, outside of advertisements that are frequently tacked on, the Internet does provide a free viewing experience.