One of the things H used to criticize me on was my lack of "decision making skills" so he put it. I tend to overanalyze things while he just makes a decision and sticks with it (which is why we are in the situation we are in). I don't need to rush this decision.
I have a cell phone and internet through my cell so it seems silly to me to pay more money to have a land line. And $60 a month for TV seems ridiculous.
See, the company offers all three (internet, tv and phone) for about $90 a month for a STARTING RATE. You and I both know that amount doesn't include taxes and will go up little by little. I could see better uses for that money especially since I already pay good money for my cell and my internet on my phone. And I can't get my cell's company service at the new address so I can't bundle there either unless I get a tablet or phone for the kids through that company.
I don't know if the above price is a good deal, but I would rather pay for internet service and let them watch movies on their devices or via ROKU or bluray, but I have no idea what needs to happen to set it up. I can't contact the companies because they will take advantage of my ignorance. I don't know enough about this stuff to even make an educated guess. I feel like a rambling fool.
I love my phone and it's service so I am not dropping it. So any suggestions are welcome.
WH
AT BD: WH 41, J 43; Bomb 2/5/2012 Two kids, one dog D Final 6/18/14 J marries OW 1/24/15 "No matter where you go, there you are"
In a nutshell: Bluray = same as DVD only better resolution/sound etc. ROKU = buy the device, free service, rental services available Netflix streaming = about 10 a month and all the shows they have are available Amazon Prime = about 70.00 a year, free videos, tv shows, movies and rentals. Includes free shipping (brilliant idea; now I can spend more with them )
Antenna = by the device and watch over the air if available
With Netflix and amazon you don't need any additional devices if you have a smart tv (has wifi built in) or use something like a google chrome (35 dollars). You can get apps for your phone for Netflix, google, and amazon to watch right on that device. Same with computer or tablet.
Internet at the lowest possible price and highest bandwidth is the key.
I haven't had cable services in over 2 years now. Very happy about that and I spend less time with the boob tube. Downside is having to wait for latest shows if not over the air.
AJ
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" MLK Put the glass down... "Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."
No idea on the phone but we dropped satellite tv when H left. If you have internet you can stream movies via Roku or such, I use our XBox since H left it and he has left his XBox Live associated with it. I stream through Hulu Plus for free and Amazon Prime.
If you'd like to use Hulu Plus for free you can do it by using Bing Rewards and searching 30 sites a day. I think I have already 'paid' up through March.
Also I bought some $10 rabbit ear antenna and pick up 23 local channels and that's what I wanted the most was local news for weather and such.
Let me know if I can help you with any of this.
H-44 Me-43 D9 T-13 years M-12 years BD-8/21/13 Sep- 11/19/13 D in process
WH, please erase the paradigm that you have of yourself. You ARE a very capable adult. It sounds like after years of being with your h you started to believe that you needed him to make decisions. You don't. And while we are all here to make suggestions, you don't really need us either. You know what you want and what you can afford. I know you will make the very best decisions based on what you know right now. You may learn new information later and make a new decision. There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't mean that you made a poor decision in the beginning. WH, please show yourself that you are capable because you are.
No, GM, I don't need H. I didn't care anything about the TV service and I didn't really want to invest the time or energy to look anything up. So I left it to him because it was important to him. Not to me. The only reason I would have anything for TV is for the kids. I would like to be able to watch movies with them and watch Law and Order while I am by myself. LOL!
I think the home phone is a waste of money. The cell is more reliable. I don't watch much TV, but I think the internet is essential for the kids. So now the technology is out there, but I have no clue where to even begin.
Two of the TVS I have are older technology. Like from the 90s. The other one I believe is a smart TV.
Maybe I need to just hold off until I can make a decision. I don't even have a computer to utilize internet but if I can get a ROKU and purchase the service from them maybe that is my best bet?
WH
AT BD: WH 41, J 43; Bomb 2/5/2012 Two kids, one dog D Final 6/18/14 J marries OW 1/24/15 "No matter where you go, there you are"
The Roku is just a device to connect your TV to the internet via your wireless, so that you can stream Netflix of certain other content to your TV. It will work with an old tv so long as it has audio/visual input jacks (like where you used to plug a VCR in).
You still need to get internet from your provider - and a wireless router if you want things to be wireless (a basic cheap Linksys router will do).
I understand you have wireless on your phone, and may be able to use it as a hotspot for other devices, but how much data do you have? With my carrier (T mobile) even the unlimited data plan has a limit on the hotspot stuff. (P.S. If you got wireless internet at home, you might be able to downgrade your phone plan - I can use the wireless with my phone when I'm home, I believe it cuts down on data usage.)
Right now my contract is over with my phone provider. If I upgrade my phone then I will be required to sign a contract. When that happens the lowest data package I can get is 2G. Right now I have unlimited data, so I am not signing a new contract unless I absolutely have to. And when that time comes I might have to give up my iPhone due to price. But I am holding out as long as I can.
I pay $80 a month for my phone plan with unlimited data. The texting and minutes are not completely unlimited, but my minutes are unlimited on off-peak hours and on the weekends and I have mobile to mobile minutes free, which includes H's phone. Trust me. I don't plan on having many conversations with him. I hope.
So that is why I don't really want to pay for a land line. I don't think it is necessary. If I can get internet by using my phone as a hotspot, or by getting another device from my phone provider and bundling, I think that might be the way to go.
I have heard negative things about netflix in that there are not many shows or movies available and friends have told me about their disappointments in netflix.
The Amazon Prime thing intrigues me as well.
WH
AT BD: WH 41, J 43; Bomb 2/5/2012 Two kids, one dog D Final 6/18/14 J marries OW 1/24/15 "No matter where you go, there you are"
It's a rental unit, isn't it? What about neighbors? Do they have wifi/internet? You may ask them what they use and see if any of it fits. You may also be able to use their wifi
My favorite is Netflix. It's been awesome for me. Some may not like it. Amazon has been less impressive for my use. But like all things, your mileage may vary.
AJ
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" MLK Put the glass down... "Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."
)
Or just making a deal with them to pay half.