Savings, Cable TV, Cell Phones & Internet Attitudes

[flipstress]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marshac T-Mobile ToGo has a $100/1000 minute option whose minutes don't expire for 365 days. If you use very few minutes, it's an awesome deal. I average about 50 minutes per month.

Marshac, thanks for the info and link!* I hardly use my mobile phone.* I got it originally for text-messaging with my mom--can you believe an 82-year old woman who's into texting (well, she's in the Phils.)--but we haven't been texting for a while.* Also, T-Mobile raised their unit price for each text message, so I opt to call overseas and hear mom's voice.*

Regarding my answers to OP:
- I'm a saver now but wasn't always
- Never had cable or satellite (even when I loved MTV in the 80's)
- I have 1 cell phone that costs me about $25 per month
- I have high-speed DSL, around $30-35 per month

[maddythebeagle]

no cable/direct tv
no cell phone
computer and internet for 2 years and broadband for 6 months.

save over 40% of my gross pay.

[just_hatched]

I have a cell phone through work and my wife pays $47/month for t-mobile.

We have 3Mbps DSL for $30/month.

Got rid of cable TV ($50/month for 60 channels) a year ago.
The idea was to go to the gym ($90/month) instead, but let's just say
that we've been getting better "value" from the DSL...

We save around 50% of our gross which includes retirements, investments, etc. as
well as paying extra on the mortgage, but does not include charitable donations.
I figure that paying extra on the mortgage is simply another savings choice other
than putting it in the bank.
Yet I don't count my regular mortgage amount, it's an "expense".
So I'm not sure where to put debt repayment between "savings" and "expense".
Paying the interest doesn't grow my net worth, but paying on the principal does.

[sgeeeee]

Someone should turn this into a poll. Too much information. :

[mb]

Quote:

Someone should turn this into a poll.* Too much information.

I could turn it into a poll if that is the consensus?

MB

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I think a poll is agreeable.

[SteveR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by () I think a poll is agreeable.

So now all we need is a committee to determine the rules for the pole and another committee to construct the pole followed by a vote by 2/3 of the members here to approved the poll followed by a general vote on who should construct the pole which will then require a vote to accept this selection where upon the poll can finally be constructed and completed by the membership.* :

How about somebody just do one!*

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I remember someone saying about 25-30 years ago that if computers ever became intelligent and tried to take over the world, all we'd have to do is maneuver them into forming a committee and that'd pretty much finish them off.

[maddythebeagle]

Quote:

How about somebody just do one! *

I think we had one recently on how much people saved and then a few folks always have to argue what should be included like mortgage pre-payment. He who makes the poll, shall set the rules.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveR So now all we need is a committee to determine the rules for the pole and another committee to construct the pole followed by a vote by 2/3 of the members here to approved the poll followed by a general vote on who should construct the pole which will then require a vote to accept this selection where upon the poll can finally be constructed and completed by the membership.* :

I think we need a poll on poles... 8)

[SteveR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo! I think we need a poll on poles... 8)

[justin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo! I think we need a poll on poles... 8)

I'd like to see a poll on whether we need a poll on poles. My gut reaction is that a poll not raised up on poles will do just fine, but I'd like to get some input from other members (Poles included).

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I agree with Justin.

We should find someone Polish to put a little polish on the idea and put together a poll about poles that will give us the proper input to the pole comittee.

If it is agreeable, I will head up the pole comittee.

[SteveR]

My poll on polls was mistaken for a pole on Poles. *I never intended the poll to be who would poll the Pole. *So I guess I am poised on a pole to please the people who picked my Pole to put on a pole. *This poll was not intended to be impolite to any Pole who might poll our poll. *

Please forgive my lack of being politically correct. *

[nuisance]

I'm disciplined enough (meaning I cheat sometimes).
Between DW and I our savings rate is probably right around 20-25%.
I could do without cable, but DW really likes it. (I watch it too, because we have it.)
Don't have cell phones because they're too expensive.
High speed internet is probably my top priority after food, shelter, clothing, vehicle (bicycle is acceptable vehicle).

Tim

[Jay_Gatsby]

I don't have cable TV, but due to an ever-growing desire for a decent picture (after having used an antenna for well over 10 years), I'm strongly tempted to buy "antenna service" from the cable company for $14/month. Crystal clear picture on every channel (roughly 25 local channels, e.g., 4-5 different PBS stations, etc...) without the need for an antenna.

[justin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay_Gatsby I don't have cable TV, but due to an ever-growing desire for a decent picture (after having used an antenna for well over 10 years), I'm strongly tempted to buy "antenna service" from the cable company for $14/month. Crystal clear picture on every channel (roughly 25 local channels, e.g., 4-5 different PBS stations, etc...) without the need for an antenna.

That is exactly what I have. Decided it wasn't worth installing and maintaining a rooftop antenna, having a fuzzy signal, etc. I get a lot of the sports games on network tv (no espn or fox sports ). 24 hour local news channel plus all the major broadcast networks, couple of spanish channels, PBS.

[MJ]

Same here for $16 including tax. I returned the cable box as I didn't need it.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Well its sort of 'crystal clear'...I put in a large SUV sized antenna in the gully in my old HOA controlled home where it wasnt visible and compared it to the cable signal for the same channels. No contest.

[yelnad]

We're savers, but not as much as we would like

We have DirecTV with HBO and HDTV packages. We also pay a fee for each TiVo receiver. About $90/month.

We have 2 cell phones at $90/month plus taxes. My husband's is a business expense.

We have the highest speed DSL & a land line at about $90/month (partial business expense).

We also have a vonage line for our fax (business expense) at about $25/month.

Personally, I could do without the HBO, HDTV, 2 of the TiVos, a lower cell plan, the lowest DSL, and the vonage line. DH wants them all, and he (or his business) pays for them all, so I don't complain too much.

We used to have DirectWay for internet, but it was terrible when it rained, snowed, or was cloudy. We live way out in the sticks.