Broke. Need tips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There's plenty to do on the computer (games, Netflix, etc.) but finding a broadband provider that doesn't expect you to bundle may be challenging -- like $50 for internet, $70 for basic cable + internet. This varies by region/provider.

can you tell me how to find those deals?
I have Verizon triple play and the 2 year contract expired so they are charging me an additional $10 per month because the internet got upgraded. I am paying $210 per month

What are you getting for $210 a month? I'm guessing/hoping that is land line + internet + mid or high tier cable + cell phone.

Not the op, but I get landline + international calls, internet, cable + dvr.
The dvr I need because of our house layout.

Need DVR? Now that a new one. I guess you need cable too or you will die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Offering a contrarian opinion on the TV thing.

Over-the-air digital TV may not work w/o an antenna on the roof and that will cost $$$ for the antenna, the install, etc., unless you think OP needs to be tromping on the roof putting holes in it or ending up paying a couple hundred to do the setup (that may or may not work).

If it works with rabbit ears inside the house, then it's a real option to consider.

There's plenty to do on the computer (games, Netflix, etc.) but finding a broadband provider that doesn't expect you to bundle may be challenging -- like $50 for internet, $70 for basic cable + internet. This varies by region/provider.

I have a regular antenna plugged to the back of our TV's. It works fine. just make sure to scan for channels. Friends in parts of MD, VA and DC also have not had a prtoblems witht he regular $12 plug to the TV antenna.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for all the tips.
My daughter watches PBS exclusively. Can we get this with antennae only? I have internet. I also have amazon prime but don't know how to use it yet. Cell phone is AT&T pay each month plan for $50. No home phone but may need one to set up alarm. Bought house in 2006 but bought new (used) car last month because I was without one for two years but now need one. Its a 2008 with 92,000 miles on it. Owe about $11,000 on it. I live in silver spring. I thought about babysitting but wasn't sure how to find clients plus it would have to be in my house bc I have my own child. Pet sitting is a good idea bc my DC would love a pet but again, how to find clients?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for all the tips.
My daughter watches PBS exclusively. Can we get this with antennae only? I have internet. I also have amazon prime but don't know how to use it yet. Cell phone is AT&T pay each month plan for $50. No home phone but may need one to set up alarm. Bought house in 2006 but bought new (used) car last month because I was without one for two years but now need one. Its a 2008 with 92,000 miles on it. Owe about $11,000 on it. I live in silver spring. I thought about babysitting but wasn't sure how to find clients plus it would have to be in my house bc I have my own child. Pet sitting is a good idea bc my DC would love a pet but again, how to find clients?

Craigslist or care.com for babysitting. You may get some babysitting from this forum as well.

Craigslist for dogsitting. I'm the poster with the friend that just started doing this. She found all of her jobs on Craigslist. She placed an ad but most of her jobs come from answering ads. She checks the site several times a day and replies as soon as she sees something. She has 6 dogs this weekend and will make about $350. Not bad

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My daughter watches PBS exclusively. Can we get this with antennae only? I have internet. I also have amazon prime but don't know how to use it yet. Cell phone is AT&T pay each month plan for $50. No home phone but may need one to set up alarm.

You can get PBS with an antenna only. I got about 30 channels just with an antenna, including a channel that shows just old TV shows -- that's pleasant family fare.

If you have Amazon Prime but haven't used it yet, maybe it's worth canceling it -- put that $75 a year to something else. Also, do you *have* to have a house alarm? Don't those come with monthly or yearly monitoring fees? You might want to think twice about that.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

OP. I have used Amazion prime a lot for items but haven't figured out yet how to use it for watching videos. My TV is an old 13" tube TV. Hope an attenae will work with it but certainly worth a shot!!

I am getting a tenant for my basement which I hope will bring in an extra $800/ mo.

Care.com for sitting sounds great. I will look into that. I wonder if foster care respit pays?

[Anonymous]

Oh and btw I am a teacher

[Anonymous]

My TV is an old 13" tube TV. Hope an attenae will work with it but certainly worth a shot!!

Okay, with an old TV you'll need a converter box so that it can handle the over-the-air digital signals. You can get one at Radio Shack, Best Buy, or other stores like that.

http://disablemycable.com/tuner_boxes.html

Newer TVs don't need a converter box because that functionality is built in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Need DVR? Now that a new one. I guess you need cable too or you will die.

You are so right. But holding onto 1 or 2 small luxuries is what will save my sanity and help me get through all this.
I do believe that everybody needs some luxury.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Need DVR? Now that a new one. I guess you need cable too or you will die.

Cable TV's a pretty low-cost entertainment option all else considered.

If downgrading to basic is at all possible then do that. Aren't the HDTV stations on basic cable anyway?

DVR is more of a luxury but that's probably because it's newer. If recording stuff on your VCR is at all possible then drop the DVR.

9:43, if the basic rabbit ears thing works for you and your friends, great. It may not work for OP due to weirdness in her neighborhood's geography vis-a-vis the TV transmitters. If the basic rabbit ears do not work then you're talking an expense that wouldn't pay for itself until after a year or so (and as I said before, no guarantee that even a rooftop antenna would work.)

[Anonymous]

17:58 again but spending $15 on the basic rabbit ears is something OP should do, it's a no-brainer.

If the rabbit ears don't work, then OP will have to re-consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I have used Amazion prime a lot for items but haven't figured out yet how to use it for watching videos.

Amazon Prime Instant Video:
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=2676882011

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. I have used Amazion prime a lot for items but haven't figured out yet how to use it for watching videos.

Amazon Prime Instant Video:
http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=2676882011

Just noticed that PBS is indeed available via Amazon Prime:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_studio_0?rh=n%3A2858778011%2Cn%3A2864549011%2Cp_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_studio%3APBS&bbn=2864549011&sort=csrank&ie=UTF8&qid=1378246238&rnid=2692350011

[Anonymous]

How do you owe $11,000 on a car? I bought my 2008 car with less than 20,000 miles on it for $12,000. And that was in 2009.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. I have used Amazion prime a lot for items but haven't figured out yet how to use it for watching videos. My TV is an old 13" tube TV. Hope an attenae will work with it but certainly worth a shot!!

I am getting a tenant for my basement which I hope will bring in an extra $800/ mo.

Care.com for sitting sounds great. I will look into that. I wonder if foster care respit pays?

Amazon is a channel on the roku box. Buy an HD one its worth it. There's no monthly fee for the roku and there's other free movie channels