Thursday, December 18, 2008

Frugal Talk In The Lunchroom

The conversation in the lunchroom today moved from movies to DVDs to what kind of TV package we had. One lady had expanded cable with internet for $70 and another fellow had satellite with internet for $110. He told her she should get his TV package because he got a lot more channels and it was ONLY $40 more a month. She didn't think that was worth it. Then he turned to me and said, what do you have? Satellite? Um, no, I said. I'm one of those people with an old rabbit ear antenna who had to buy a digital TV converter so I can keep watching my 6 free channels. He was incredulous. He wanted to know what I did all weekend without all those TV channels to watch. And I don't even subscribe to Netflicks!

Then he mentioned that he saw the Today Show this morning and this family: America's Cheapest Family was on the show. I had heard of them before but I didn't realize they were from Arizona. My coworker wanted to know if I subscribed to their newsletter. No, I said, it probably costs money (it does, $1 a month) plus I already do lots of frugal things and their tips focus on raising a family, something I am not doing at the moment.

Anyway, my coworker is interested in saving money but also wants to have fun now which is understandable. He makes more money than I do and has more discretionary income to play with. I think having fun now is important too. We just have different ideas of what 'fun' is. Fun to him is having 8 football games on one giant screen. Fun to me is paying off my mortgage as fast as I can. I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

8 comments:

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

Someone asked me what I had for TV today. When I said antenna, they wanted to know what I was going to do in February when that 'went away'. Sigh...

Also, I agree, paying off the mortgage is big time fun. And, the satisfaction from it lasts for a long, long time. It is still there in fact. For comparison, the last thing I watched on TV doesn't even register in my memory.

Daizy said...

You will stare at the blank screen :) Did you ever buy that booster antenna? My digital TV is still driving me nuts. I could watch The Office after waving the box around to find the right position but the Grey's Anatomy channel disappeared. Argh. Oh well, I could watch that on the computer if I really wanted to.

I totally agree. TV is a mindless distraction. Paying off the mortgage opens endless possiblities for fun. Who needs TV?

Over the Cubicle Wall said...

I bought the new antenna. It is flying saucer shaped and is omnidirectional, so it doesn't matter much which direction the signals are coming from, therefore you don't have to aim it, and it will picks up broadcasts from all directions. It works ok, but not perfect. One of the most distant stations comes and goes.

I read a tip online that if you turn it on its side, it acts like a really strong directional antenna, but will only pick up reception in a band of about 50 to 60 degrees. Luckilly, all the stations I can pick up are between 258 and 313 degrees from true north, so the best compromise position for it is 286 degrees, and all of them should be within the limits of the band (antennaweb is you friend).

I have been meaning to go up in the attic to turn it on its side and aim it, but TV is not really a priority right now. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

My reception with the digital converter box isn't very good either. A lot of the time I just give up and watch TV on my old TV that doesn't have the converter. I guess I'll just be watching less TV in February.

Daizy said...

Tight Fisted Miser, I totally agree. I keep hoping the reception improves but I don't think TV stations realy care about us free people. Maybe I'll try a new antenna if it doesn't cost too much.

moocifer said...

Ha! You wrote "Netflicks!"

I love it.

Anonymous said...

I used to walk past car dealerships and noted: "I could buy that car in cash". Later it was "I could buy those two cars in cash". Somewhat later, I was walking past Wells Fargo noting that "I own 0.0000000 ... 1% of that. Or a UPS truck would pass me: "Let's just say I own that truck as my fraction of the company". More fun than watching a big screen TV? Well ...

Daizy said...

bugbear, you are funny :)

Early Retirement Extreme, that does sound like fun. Where would you put a big screen anyway? Maybe if you hooked it to the outside of your RV you could have outdoor movies for your neighbors.