Woman putting money in her wallet

How to Give Yourself a $2,000 Raise in a Hurry

If there’s one thing that I love about you, my loyal readers, it’s how responsive you are. Sometimes you like what you read, other times not so much. Now and then you simply need more information. But no matter what, I can always count on hearing from you. Which brings me to what I wrote on pulling the plug on subscription pay-TV. It brought a huge response.

A wooden cutting board, with Money

According to this 2012 article from NPD Group, the average pay-TV bill was predicted to hit $123 per month by 2015—more than $1,400 a year—and will hit $200 ($2,400 a year) in 2020. So far the predictions are right on the money.

For many, that’s money that could be better used to build an emergency fund or pay off debt. No wonder that column struck a chord with so many readers.

The most-asked question had to do with the need for an antenna to receive free, local HD broadcasting. Which kind? Which one works best?

As I was fielding your messages, my husband and I were in the process of relocating. In 2015, we moved from California to northern Colorado. What a change from big city life in Orange County to a little village boasting a population of just 18,000. And what a perfect opportunity to test antennas to find the best way to enjoy free TV and quality programming in our new location.

To say there are many choices when it comes to TV antennas, would be quite an understatement. But not to worry. I’ve done the testing so you won’t have to.

The antennas that worked for us in California couldn’t do the job in our new, more remote area. My proving ground was the basement of our new home, where my husband had set up his workout area. Could there be a more challenging place to get great TV reception than underground, against a concrete wall, out in the boonies?

I’m happy to report that I found an antenna that’s up to the job and boy is it amazing.

Everyday Cheapskate participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon affiliated sites.

FlatWave Amped Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna by Winegard gets my vote for the best option. If you’re ready to pull the plug, this is a one-time purchase that can go a long way to giving you the equivalent of a huge after-tax raise.

With this antenna, we can get every HD broadcast channel from the Denver area and even a few from Wyoming. The picture quality is fabulous with very few—if any—dropouts. And here’s the funny thing: the FlatWave antenna is jammed behind a water pipe, up against a subterranean concrete wall—nowhere close to a window. And it works like a champ!

TV

 

Is it time for you to pull the plug on your cable or satellite TV service? That’s a question only you can answer. If that’s just a bit too extreme for now, consider cutting back on your service by selecting a new plan. Find out if you can drop channels you never watch. Ask for a cheaper plan in exchange for not cancelling altogether. Do you research. Take a look at this excellent overview of options, especially if you are new to streaming.

I can tell you that with all of the local HD quality programming available to you for free, plus Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, plus a streaming box like the Roku, you’ll be set with more TV and movie entertainment than you have time to watch.

What’s more, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video aren’t your only options. A number of networks have standalone apps like the $15/month HBO NOW, which lets subscribers stream HBO without a cable TV package.

First published: 6-28-15; revised & updated with new information 9-16-19.


Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More from Everyday Cheapskate

garden seed starting table scape succulents tools gardener gardening hacks
Amazon Big Spring Sale Teaser with Question Marks
important documents every family should keep stack desk home office bright
DIY muffin liner homemade tulip baking lavender cutting board shadows
quick dinner recipe italian cheesy meatball bake casserole dish
chalkboard with hot deals march 2024 piece of chalk best deals
newspaper headline daily news man reading with coffee mug
Unrecognizable woman cleaning with vinegar


Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines



Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.

208 replies
« Older CommentsNewer Comments »
  1. Sharon Storey Alvarez says:

    Would love to have one of these to try but do you know of one with more than a 35 mile range? I’m 60 miles+ from a TV station…now that’s rural. :o)

    Reply
  2. Melissa says:

    We’ve got a wedding, braces and a knee surgery with physical therapy! An extra $100 per month would go a long way towards paying for these. Thanks!

    Reply
  3. Janet Watson says:

    We use Comcadt for our TV and Internet and the rates are constantly increasing. Having seen the photo of what TV reception looks like for you, I would be thrilled to own the same setup that you are using. I have my fingers crossed that we are the lucky winners and could then use our savings to help us get closer to retirement. Thank you!!!

    Reply
  4. Laura Magee says:

    I’ve been looking for a good-quality antenna. So many people have so many recommendations that it’s hard to know where to start. I’ll definitely be checking this one out.

    Reply
  5. Clint says:

    Not a cable tv subscriber. We use Netflix on DVDs since we also don’t have internet access at home (except on our smart phones).
    Would be interested to see how many free channels we can get.

    Reply
  6. Dana says:

    We live in a canyon- have a hill on the south side of our house. We have an external HD antannae and with it get one local channel and even it is glitchy. I’d be interested in trying this antannae instead.
    We’ve never paid for cable- just not worth it to us.

    Reply
« Older CommentsNewer Comments »

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *