5 Hidden Costs of Cutting the Cord!

[@girliedog]

Your channel is great, I just cut the cord, I was so out of touch with current technology you videos really helped me get up to speed. Finally all done and am so happy, as I will be saving $191. per month off of my old Comcast bill which had crept up toe $402 per month.

[@spackar2720]

I was in the same situation. My barber introduced me to Amazon fire tv. I cancelled my cable tv service and I now have an Amazon Fire Cube. I cut down on the number of apps/channels that I subscribe to. I am now saving approximately$100.00 per month vs what I was paying for cable tv.

[@MSDOGS1976]

Wow $404. Did that include phone or something else? I don't see how internet and cable could get that high.

[@JerryColtellaro]

I live in southern NJ and get Fios 300+ up and download speed for 39.00 per month, not aware of any data caps, I too have many choices for internet, but so far this is the best.

[@devaallen0]

Optimum just increased my internet from $104 to $107. There are other options, but I need broadband for work and streaming. We have two Apple devices and two Fire Cubes. Love your videos. Thank you for the information. ❤❤❤❤

[@edschulhof6303]

I had Spectrum TV for years. I stream it with a Roku device. It cost the same or less than most streaming services and provided all local sports teams. Then they put in a $21 a month "local access charge" They would not negotiate it, so now I'm on Internet only.

[@louisd95714]

One benefit with living in Florida, there are no state taxes. So in my opinion it makes up for the high cost of TV taxes. On another note, I discovered my indoor TV antenna picks up over 60 free OTA channels, including all local broadcast channels. Most of them come in clear and steady. But I might be having a roof antenna installed. If so, it will be bye-bye YTTV, and hello Sling TV full time.

[@jimmywalters3071]

do you mean no sales taxes on cable or streaming bills ?

[@louisd95714]

@@jimmywalters3071 I was referring to earned wages. I am thinking it kind of makes up for the heavy taxes imposed by the streaming companies.

[@cb3981]

@@jimmywalters3071no income taxes.

[@Ms.Debbie4958]

We have T-Mobile Internet and can't wait ti get the fiber installed. We are close to an airport, and if too many people are flying, the tower is overwhelmed, causing our home tower to restart!

[@MichaelSaves]

This makes sense. The place were I most often run into slow speeds with Visible (deprioritized data) is when I'm at the airport.

[@Ms.Debbie4958]

@MichaelSaves I am hoping that 30 up / down will be enough for the 2 of us to stream and do Zoom calls! If not, they have 200 up / down for $20 more per month!

[@patrickd9576]

One other potential hidden cost: Switching from cable TV to a live streaming service will increase your monthly internet data usage. For some (not most) people, this can push you over your ISPs monthly data cap. This would create monthly overage charges or incent you to buy a more expensive no-cap plan. Nothing to worry about if your ISP has no data cap. Even with a monthly cap, your household would probably need to watch a lot of TV with multiple streams going at once. And probably have other significant data use such as multiple security cameras.

[@brendagrothier967]

If you play video games it can really eat up data.....so we updated to unlimited data for our internet so yes it costs more. After that we kept costs down by only subscribing to just a few streaming services because there is a lot of free ones like Pluto, Tubi etc.

[@christinemurphy7683]

Xfinity has a 1.2 TB data cap, but they do not enforce it in the northeastern U.S. I have Xfinity and live in NH, but have never tested this out, because I never get close to using 1.2 TB. On average I use about 400-500 GB/month, I live alone but stream a lot.

[@SusanGeleng-s7t]

Thank You Michael❤

[@eltigre5469]

I was lucky enough to be able to drop both Comcast and xfinity in the same year due to different residences. Saved $50/month switching to a faster T-Mobile 5G and $7/month switching to a much faster fiber company. Net savings $684/yr and both are locked for life prices. Competition is a great thing and customers win.

[@GaryLive-f1d]

Thank you for informative video

[@stevena2230]

I got rid of Comcast TV and Internet at the start of 2023 and went with Verizon 5G Home Internet for $50 per month. It worked well. However, Comcast just had a deal for 200MB Internet for $30 per month for two years. It is usually $25 if you pay with your bank account, but I didn't want to do that, instead opting to pay with my credit card, which they charge $5 more per month. I am saving $20 per month over Verizon for the next two years. After that when the Comcast price goes up, I will switch back to Verizon 5G home Internet. I live in NJ and Comcast is not charging me any taxes for internet only, which surprised me. They were charging taxes when I had TV and internet. I also have KZbin TV and there are no taxes on that either.

[@Undecided0]

I'm surprised Fios isn't available in your part of NJ. I'm in NYC. I have Fios Internet. There's a $2.50 tax & that's it.

[@stevena2230]

@@Undecided0 Comcast has been our only cable and internet option for years until Verizon 5G Home Internet became available.

[@boatsie]

…what about installation, equipment rental fees to start up comcast??

[@stevena2230]

@@boatsie I already had the wall jacks from when I had Comcast previously. There was no installation charge. I picked up the Wi-Fi Gateway at the Xfinity store and just plugged it in. There is no charge for it and it is wireless. My Roku device picks up the Wi-Fi signal from the Xfinity Gateway.

[@WaynoGur]

Verizon 5G internet just became available in my area. I had nothing but issues with Ma Bell (AT&T). They weren't able to number sync my watch 4 with my S21. I finally got fed up and went to Verizon. They were able to get number share working correctly. I am trying their home internet package now for 5 days. The service is rock solid, and I am in the process of bidding CommunistCast farewell. Finally there was a viable alternative to their monopoly.

[@TheGamerNerd025]

Awesome video Michael as always! I currently have Xfinity internet and have 1GB internet. I thought about switching to T-Mobile internet since I have it for my phone carrier but I don't think they have 1GB internet yet.

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

cable company does the same thing by not advertising the taxes, fcc cost, network cost and many other added on cost. cable company list the plan at a price, let's say: 89.99. but when you get the bill, it will be over 100.00 with all the added on taxes and other cost.

[@christinemurphy7683]

I live in NH and there is no state sales tax. I pay the advertrised amount for streaming services and nothing more.

[@jeffreystewart6571]

I purchased a Roku Ultra 2022 from Walmart and the device front light always goes out when the TV is turned off (Visio TV). I later purchased 2 Roku Ultra 2022 from Dell. On one the front light goes off for a few minutes then comes back on (Sony TV). On the other the light never goes off. All of these light on/off examples are with the Roku menu at the home screen (LG TV). Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@mehmd1913]

Your content is great. However, you did not mention the hidden cost of Regional Sports Networks. Only cable and Directv/Directv stream has this option (that includes Bally Sports). To have Regional Sports on its own you could be paying ~15-30/mnth. It is ~13/mnth with Directv...

[@MichaelSaves]

Good point!

[@cindydott452]

6Th hidden cost: Good wire cutters are expensive!

[@All.New.Maggie.Who.]

I recently cut the cord got an antenna then purchased a roku. So my question is do I need a roku subscription to stream from my computer or can I stream without a roku? Being older it took awhile to install and connect my roku so don't want to disconnect and try reconnected again if needed. Thanks!!

[@kellyehrhart4934]

No

[@5280streetdogs]

So I tuned into Direct Stream this morning and our Local Fox affiliate Chanel 31 in Denver has a page up blocking the Chanel saying their agreement has expired 7/3/23

[@stevehoward677]

Could you mention thoughts on Google fiber to AT&T fiber. Currently have AT&T fiber but we just got Google fiber available. Google a little cheaper. Also what is picture quality compared when you cut the cord from cable and go with streaming services.

[@MichaelSaves]

Google Fiber is excellent. Picture quality with streaming really depends on a few factors. With fiber internet, that shouldn't be one of them. I haven't noticed much of a difference in picture quality with streaming compared to cable. That said, some channels/services don't offer 4K content -- so 1080p is the best you may get.

[@debhufnagel5912]

You don't have to pay a rental fee for tv. Just pay for each device once. And you can easily switch TV's with each device.

[@debhufnagel5912]

In my state streaming services only charge sales tax, 6%.

[@onehitsword6800]

My personal experience is I never had to cut Cable. The new era of TV made me cut the cord because I wanted to squeeze in TV apps in my monthly TV budget

[@johnmendolia2912]

What streaming service has live tv like ABC NBC

[@ynot9964]

Everything keeps going up on streaming services, did you add that in

[@bobfredericks6545]

Our RCN high speed internet has increased to approx $170 per month with another increase coming. 5G internet is now an option in our area which we will try at $35 per month.

[@MSDOGS1976]

I don't know where the Xfinity internet cost comes from in your link but you can't come close to those prices where I live.

[@MichaelSaves]

Xfinity's offers are different by region. In more competitive markets, the offers tend to be better.

[@MSDOGS1976]

@@MichaelSaves They better get competitive here as they are losing customers big time. I changed to Fiber with my local power company. Everyone on my street has done the same. I know others are going to 5G.

[@saraibucciarelli1821]

I need good Internet since I WFH. Would love the 5G Internet if I could get it.

[@tf51d]

How does Biden's no hidden fees rules affect the Cable and streaming services? Wouldn't much of these fees now have to be disclosed up front now?

[@jtgamer-nintendo-xbox]

Our problem is we have the streaming and gaming and we live in the mountains of Kentucky

[@BillTxn]

In our market (San Antonio), while there is an app for PBS, there is a fee for most of its programming, so it is generally useless, even though it is a "free", taxpayer-supported agency. It's a rip-off just because we stream it and don't use a cable service to view it.

[@grayman5745]

Thanks for pointing out that basically you cant stream anything without internet ! And you do loose a bundle discount from the cable service unless you can 5G it . Impressive that someone can get cable bill over $400 a month. Maybe 1 gig , home phone all premium channels and like 6 cell phones ???

[@kellyehrhart4934]

You need internet to stream

[@jimroscovius]

You don't need to buy every streaming service out there. Plus, my cable bill showed all of the taxes.

[@jtgamer-nintendo-xbox]

We don’t stream video games what are problem for video games has the time it takes to download the actual game file

[@kclefthanded427]

Nothing you can do about power outages if surfing on the internet

[@jarredthomas8715]

I got Hulu live TV and I pay 69.99 and that's what they charge me with no taxes.

[@ddyeo503]

I cut the cord more than 10 years ago. No more $100.00 a month for 100's of TV channels. Put up a free TV antenna and then just get high speed service for $29.95 and watch the free KZbin videos. I don't miss those 100's of TV channels that I use to have at all. Plus I know nothing about streaming. Does it have something to do with fishing?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@clarencesmith6713]

This is misleading cable ad prices does not include taxes and a ton of other charges.

[@MichaelSaves]

I showed a cable TV bill that displays taxes and fees. If you are a current cable TV customer, your bill will show the taxes. I wasn't referring to potential customers. In that case, you are correct.

[@MakeitZUPER]

You can save money with a VPN. It's an additional subscription but if you choose India for the geo location and subscribe from there you will likely get a decent savings. obviously, you should use a currency converter, so you know what you're actually being charged but it's almost guaranteed to save you money on your subscriptions. For me, the streaming subscriptions are worth it when they offer 4K and no commercials. I hate the way the cable company boosts the commercial volume and don't miss them at all. There are plenty of free streaming services with ads but if you're tech savvy, you can use ad blockers to avoid them also. There are also streaming devices that you didn't mention that don't have and subscriptions. Making a list of what you watch and the networks is the only way to make an informed decision on which streaming services to choose. There are hundreds of options if you side load a streaming device. There are so many choices it can be overwhelming so I would definitely choose what you want for starters and add a couple of the free ones to try them out. Even many of the subscription services offer a free trial period. Just make sure you record how long you have to choose and cancel for each one. Lots of content is offered by many services but each one has it's own unique offerings as well. These services are always changing content too. You could spend years checking them all and find that the ones you tried in the beginning are completely different. Choosing one that is "Google approved" will keep you from getting involved with an illegitimate service. They will be the ones that offer you a whole lot for a small price so buyer beware there.