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Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell service Ge... - 11/14/2010 7:30:46 AM

pahunkboy

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Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell service Generic brands, brown-bag lunches, and fewer trips to the beauty salon are three of the top ways U.S. consumers are looking to save money, according to a recent survey. Look a little further down the list, though, and you'll find that more and more Americans are also cutting back on their cable TV and cell phone service.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 8:02:49 AM

MasterG2kTR

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Given the current state of the economy, this is no surprise. Unemployment is the highest it's been in nearly 30 years. Many of the unemployed have exhausted all or most of their benefits, finding themselves with few choices. Many others currently find themselves under employed and among the working poor. It should be no surprise that many are slashing their budgets. Phone a cable services are an obvious choice as many people have excessively bloated expensive packages. Eating out less is a no-brainer. Fewer day trips and vacations is another 'duhhh' moment. Most of all Pa, you of all people, should find no surprise in this, as many of your posts relate to cost cutting measures.

(in reply to pahunkboy)

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 8:20:58 AM

pahunkboy

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I cut back some time ago.

There has been ramped up chatter in the silver boards. As you may know commodities took a 10% dive on Friday.

I still will splurge on me- for instance my heat is on full speed now. But then I am worth it. ;-)

(in reply to MasterG2kTR)

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 8:49:52 AM

DarkSteven

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The pay TV industry has been sailing through the recession without any major cutbacks previously. (I work in the industry.) But the cord cutting options (over the air programming and Internet shows) are just too attractive. It has always amazed me that people are willing to pay over $100 a month to watch TV - you need to watch a LOT to justify that kind of money, and I've never known anyone who watched that much.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 9:08:33 AM

pahunkboy

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$100 is alot of money.

I never understood that either. Here tho- cable is like $73 now. It creeps up. It goes to show tho how little buying power the $ has.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 9:16:41 AM

DarkSteven

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Cable usually creeps up 3%-4% per year. Sat providers have multiple packages, some as low as $20/month and some over $100.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 9:18:15 AM

DreadedDominance

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I don't think it has to do with the buying power of the dollar. I think it is more to do with the way of thinking of consumers we can't live without TV but we go without more needed things all the time. People complain about the high cost of medical care or prescription medicine but they don't mind paying 100 dollars or more for cable its not the dollar that is screwed up its our priorities.

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 7

RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 10:07:56 AM

myotherself

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Here in the UK I have cable TV bundled with landline and internet access. I have the middle package, and all in all I spend about £35 a month (around $50). I 'downsized' my package last year when I found my payrise was going to be ridiculously low, and to be honest I don't miss the tv programmes I can't access any more.

I've switched to a pay as you go cellphone service, and cut my bill in half. Again, I don't notice the difference.

But unlike Hunky, I keep the heating on a lower setting and I have invested in a pair of fluffy slippers to keep my tootsies warm

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 10:41:23 AM

soul2share

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Even before I became one of those unemployed, I have been cutting my budget. Pay cuts at my last job in AZ started my pinching habits, and I've not gotten rid of them. I don't remember the last time that I ate at a sit down restaurant, at least over a year ago. A treat for me right now is McDonald's. I've always had a pay as you go cell phone, I found a better one than the first one I got, I don't even use it very much. I make meals and freeze them, or make huge pots of soup and live off them for a week.

If you look in my cupboards, all you'll see is generic brands....if it's a label, it was on sale. Personally, I do alot of shopping at the Dollar Tree.....they have chicken and beef broth in the cardboard containers for a buck....they sell for $1.98 at WM, and up to $3 in the grocery stores. Just check the expiration dates, I've never had anything bad come from the store there.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 10:59:39 AM

AlwaysLisa

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I love the Dollar Tree!   I don't buy meat or dairy from them, but you can't go wrong with canned goods. Usually it's 2 cans for a dollar, depending on the item that is half the price of chain stores, even Walmart.

Another way we cut costs, is to buy fruit from local growers and do the canning myself. For example, a box of apples, (roughly 60 lbs), for 12.00.   Grocery stores charge well over 1.00 a lb., depending on variety.   I also found web sites where I can buy bulk items and have them shipped...we don't have a Co-op anywhere close, or I would head there.   Coffee, flour, sugar, dry cereal, you can usually buy it for well under half of what the stores charge.   For a treat, we order pistachio nuts, roasted and salted for 5.00 a lb., online...the stores are well above 7, sometimes 8.00 per lb.

I didn't write this to share my grocery list, only that there are ways to save, using the internet.

As for cable, internet and phone, I would like to know how people are cancelling, since these often are tied up in contracts.   Our DSL cable and phone are a package through Frontier, a two year contract...if you cancel, there is a large penalty (last I checked it was over 400.00).   Adding that amount to debt owed, how is this helping?

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 11:06:51 AM

Termyn8or

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FR

It's amazing how long it took. Now we can see technology go backwards in a way. No, they are not going to forget how to build all these modern conveniences, it's just that nobody will be able to afford them. Expect the entertainment industry take a nosedive, I haven't checked on their financial status but they are either taking a crunch or about due. In this context I guess that would include pro sports as well. It's ridiculous what it costs to go to those events.

Priorities are screwed up for some, I agree. I remember hearing from a contractor about someone who had cable but not house insurance. Poor people were homeless, but as long as they got HBO eh ? But I disagree with one thing sorta, we should all complain about high healthcare costs (at least in the US) because we are getting gouged to the max.

The fact is the whole system is top heavy, and this is the teetering before the fall. Believe me it is going to get alot worse before it gets better. It already is for some, with stories of old folks eating cat food and such. Thing is, the people at the bottom of the ladder are used to it and know how to survive, while the more comfortable class is going to find the readjustment difficult. This is simply part and parcel of destroying the middle class. It is inherent in the system, not some secret conspiracy. No, it's right there in plain view of everyone.

The system will correct itself, and as I have said before the thing the "leaders" do only forestall this inevitable "correction". You may call it the shit hitting the fan or whatever you like, but it is just part of how the whole thing works.

On the other hand if you look at the big picture, we here in the US have been spoiled in a way. Back when people paid cash for the most part, it was also true back then. Your average Joe had a car that could pass anything but a gas station, a palatial house by world standards, and luxuries abound. We like that lifestyle, admit it, I do. The problem is we cannot sustain it. Too many are hung up on this luxury.

A bit less in the past would've left more for now and later. We all burned it up, rich and poor alike.

T

(in reply to DreadedDominance)

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 11:30:22 AM

littlewonder

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I've cut back on things like shopping, buying more expensive foods, eating out but my cell phone is my only phone line so there's no way I could cut that and my cable tv is tied into my internet and there's no way I could cut that since the internet is how I pay my bills, keep in contact with family and friends, work, etc..basically without it I'd be screwed in taking care of my daily life.

Thankfully I live a pretty simplified life and so there's not really much more I could possibly cut back on.

(in reply to Termyn8or)

Post #: 12

RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 11:54:30 AM

pahunkboy

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I blow an extra $10 a month on cell phone. This in case I break down. Health issues make it very hard for me to deal with temp extremes right now.

(in reply to Termyn8or)

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 11:58:50 AM

angelikaJ

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For people who receive some form of public assistance: food stamps, medicaid, fuel assistance, it is worth checking into seeing if the safe link wireless phone is available in your state.

edit: add link

< Message edited by angelikaJ -- 11/14/2010 12:00:57 PM >

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 12:46:47 PM

KatyLied

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There are also other ways for consumers to deal with cutting costs. I have a part-time job, so I rarely feel as though I am doing without necessities. I recently shopped around my home/car insurance and will be saving $500/year on it after switching. Think outside of the box, there are ways to save, such as bartering skills/knowledge.

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 12:48:26 PM

pahunkboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: angelikaJ

For people who receive some form of public assistance: food stamps, medicaid, fuel assistance, it is worth checking into seeing if the safe link wireless phone is available in your state.

edit: add link

On this note- pay attention to the gas and light bill- the income guidelines are relaxed now for weatherization. If you did not qualify in the past- your might now.

(in reply to angelikaJ)

Post #: 16

RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 12:57:24 PM

popeye1250

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell service Generic brands, brown-bag lunches, and fewer trips to the beauty salon are three of the top ways U.S. consumers are looking to save money, according to a recent survey. Look a little further down the list, though, and you'll find that more and more Americans are also cutting back on their cable TV and cell phone service.

quote:

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Another place where people are cutting back I just found out this past friday when I went to the Tobbacco store are lottery tickets.
The Russian couple who own the store along with their son told me that scratch tickets sales are way down and that the lottery is going to close all but their claims office in Columbia! So now when I hit for more than $600 I'll either have to drive up to Columbia to collect my winnings, a 3-4 hour drive instead of to Mount Pleasant which is about 1 hour 45 minutes. I'll check to see if I can mail them.
Stephen, does Colorado have a state lottery?

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 12:59:26 PM

DarkSteven

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quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Stephen, does Colorado have a state lottery?

Yes, it does. But I've heard it called "a tax on the mathematically illiterate". I believe that it returns in winnings 50% of what it takes in.

_____________________________

"You women....

The small-breasted ones want larger breasts. The large-breasted ones want smaller ones. The straight-haired ones curl their hair, and the curly-haired ones straighten theirs...

Quit fretting. We men love you."

(in reply to popeye1250)

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RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 1:03:32 PM

KatyLied

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Seriously, buying lottery tickets is NOT a way to save money. LOL DarkSteven is correct

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Post #: 19

RE: Penny-pinching consumers cutting cable, cell servic... - 11/14/2010 1:15:43 PM

popeye1250

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From: New Hampshire
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quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

Seriously, buying lottery tickets is NOT a way to save money. LOL DarkSteven is correct

Oh I'm well aware of the math!
I play only a few of the powerball and Mega Millions but we have a "Cash 5" drawing here where you pick 5 numbers out of 38 and there is a multiplier ball from 2 to 5.
I've hit that for four numbers out of five 6 times in the last year alone, recently for $1,200 and about 3 months ago for $2,700 (three tickets)
for $1,500, $1,200, $1,200 and $600.
People say I'm "lucky" but I tell them no, "I'll be "lucky" when I hit it for all five numbers."

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"But Your Honor, this is not a Jury of my Peers, these people are all decent, honest, law-abiding citizens!"

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Post #: 20

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