Can't afford rent-pays $110 for cable

**shoiji** · 11-10-2009, 11:02 AM

Well, I was listening to the news last night. They had a segment with a woman talking about how she was having difficulty with the bills. She pays $110 for cable. Her reasoning was that it was her only form of entertainment. And she does have internet. However she is unable to pay her rent.

So as I listened to this I became more outraged. And thought well she obviously has not been on Frugal Village. I could not understand how someone would pay $110 for cable while she also had internet access when she could not pay rent.

I am trying to think of reasons to have a $110 cable bill. Are there locations where that is the cheapest rate? Is it me or shouldn't she have lower bills, maybe no cable. I guess if it is a package plan and you need the services for work it is reasoned why you need it, other than that to me she needs to re-evalute what is a necessity.

What does everyone else think?

**Kitten20** · 11-10-2009, 11:06 AM

Is it possible that her cable/internet bill are combined (if she has cable internet)? Personally, I don't have cable TV, so I can't really comment on the $ amount. I can afford cable TV *or* internet, and I choose the internet. I haven't missed cable TV yet! I do find it a bit silly that she is complaining about not being able to pay her rent with a bill like that. I think it's just a classic case of her confusing a WANT with a NEED.

**ladykemma2** · 11-10-2009, 11:11 AM

yeah, i won't deal with people on here who can't feed their kids but won't stop smoking or cut the cable...

and i get frustrated with the tv version of dave ramsey show watchers who are in dire straights and obviously still have cable.

**NikoSan999** · 11-10-2009, 11:17 AM

She can watch TV on the internet so it is NOT her only form of entertainment. We haven't had TV since last Dec and use the computer for DVD's from library, friends, radio from computer, news and HULU and others for TV. On that aspect I have no sympathy for her.

Did she work and still struggling? DID she have a job and lose it? Or was she bucking for more assistance?

**nodmicks** · 11-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Our phone/ internet and satellite are a bundle for just about that price.

If we were having a rough time I would cancel them. Even with the penalty for breaking the contract it would be less than $110.

Having said that though I'm going to assume I need a phone because if I'm having a bad time I'm going job hunting!. Before we had satellite and internet on our bill our basic bill with the only extra being voice mail at $5 a month was $55.04 after taxes. No long distance ETC. We only have 1 choice of phone company here. We can only get dial up or dsl internet

Now thinking about that and the prepayment penalty for cancelling the satellite contract I would still come out saving a bit.

**nodmicks** · 11-10-2009, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

yeah, i won't deal with people on here who can't feed their kids but won't stop smoking or cut the cable...

and i get frustrated with the tv version of dave ramsey show watchers who are in dire straights and obviously still have cable.

this frustrates me also.

**nuisance26** · 11-10-2009, 11:22 AM

~I've been at FV for over 3 years now and I've seen that same expression used here 100X. "It's our only form of entertainment!"
It takes some people years to really learn how to prioritize their spending and until they do they'll use a flimsy excuse to justify their wants.
Hopefully she'll come around before she gets kicked out.~

**nodmicks** · 11-10-2009, 11:24 AM

We need food, we need shelter, heat, water, clothing, transportation to get work or these items. If I wasn't 30 miles from "town" we would definitely only own 1 car.

We don't need many other things that are considered necessary today. We plain old want them.

**Russ** · 11-10-2009, 11:27 AM

Probably has the attitude of I "deserve" to have some entertainment.

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-10-2009, 11:31 AM

Our cable bill is $200 a month, but our bills are paid and our children are fed. If they weren't, our cable bill would be $0 a month.

**shoiji** · 11-10-2009, 11:50 AM

Yup, I remember when things were really tight, cable was considered a luxury even at $16 for basic. So I didn't have it. Had the lowest phone bill about $15.

Good to know I am not alone in thinking something is not right.

**Nishu** · 11-10-2009, 12:03 PM

What's really sad is that people just wouldn't know what to do with themselves if it weren't for TV. I know I'm one to talk because i spend way too much time on the internet though...

**nodmicks** · 11-10-2009, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

What's really sad is that people just wouldn't know what to do with themselves if it weren't for TV. I know I'm one to talk because i spend way too much time on the internet though...

Me too but I do learn a lot.

**LeeCee** · 11-10-2009, 12:24 PM

I agree with all of you. I think it's terrible what people think of as necessities today. it comes down to that sense of entitlement again.

**NcsstyBrdsIngnty** · 11-10-2009, 12:25 PM

This isn't surprising to me - you can put your cable bill on your credit card and just claim bankruptcy - rent is usually required in the form of a check or money order, at least where I have lived.