[Jaded]

I just can't afford it. It will take me months to pay them the $115 I owe them. I guess I'll be "t.v.-less" since we have no reception at all here without cable or satellite.

Plus, my other antenna that was on my house that I was growing a vine up to hide it...FELL DOWN! Well, really just bent in half, so now I have another something to pay to fix.

Then I get a late payment notice from my car insurance company. If I pay them, my house payment willl be late, since I'm having to save $100 a paycheck toward the homeowner's insurance payment.

My mortgagor is trying to sell my mortgage, and her lawyer keeps calling me because I refuse to sign the stupid estoppel certificate (on the advice of my attorney).

Then I get a bill for $4.56 from my GYN, and this is AFTER the insurance paid her $238 and I paid her $40. I'm sorry, but she can kiss my ass! I think $278 is enough for a 30 minute office visit!

I think I'll just shoot myself and get it over with.

 

[frooz]

DH and I are in the same TV situation at the moment. We can't even get cable until WE PAY to fix the antenna on the house we just moved into, plus we can't even pick up free tv without it being really fuzzy and with the tv on full volume. We can't afford it at the moment because we're behind in our bills.
We went to the video store and hired a full season of Boston Legal which we both love so we watch that each night. Each weekend we're going to swap for a new series, it's a good way to catch up on series that we never had time to watch before.

 

[AheeK]

Argh about the GYN bill....who bills $4.56??? It's ridiculous. I'm sorry your TV is gone, but you'd be amazed at what you can find to do when you aren't parked in front of the tube. I was without TV of any kind for two years and I found the Internet is great for entertainment. I can wander around in Wikipedia or YouTube for hours. I also agree with frooz...renting series from a video store is a low-cost way to keep up with your favorite shows.

 

[Palooka]

*hugs*. I know how that feels. I am getting slammed with doctor bills myself. It's so hard to pay with insurance! We are always behind on something.

I think I would give up my cell before the tv. lol. We got behind one month on my dh's truck. Its like there is no catching up.

 

[Its_Donna]

Another resource is your library...check to see if your library has DVD's/VHS to check out....no cost. This is how I got into watching Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and 24.

 

[emily_hope]

Sorry you won't have TV to watch. I myself watch only about 2 or 3 hours a week, so it probably wouldn't bother me so much if I had to do without it. But, my internet is another story! Now there's an addiction. I also like to read. Hopefully you can find some interest that you can pass the time away with.

 

[DixieJ]

I could do without TV a lot easier than my internet. I've been going to the library as well and checking out movies and books.

Dixie Jean

 

[FrugalMomof3]

I agree, I can do without tv but I can't live without my internet... also, why is your homeowners so expensive $100 a month is $1200 a year, we pay 1/4 that, yikes

I say do what you can and see about trying to cut down on some other things like using candles at night instead of turning the lights on or anything that can help. Good luck and I know you can do it!

 

[Jaded]

DH and I are in the same TV situation at the moment. We can't even get cable until WE PAY to fix the antenna on the house we just moved into, plus we can't even pick up free tv without it being really fuzzy and with the tv on full volume. We can't afford it at the moment because we're behind in our bills.
We went to the video store and hired a full season of Boston Legal which we both love so we watch that each night. Each weekend we're going to swap for a new series, it's a good way to catch up on series that we never had time to watch before.

Yeah, I'm going to try to get Netflix...$15 a month and I can catch up on all the series I missed by working nights.

 

[Jaded]

Sorry you won't have TV to watch. I myself watch only about 2 or 3 hours a week, so it probably wouldn't bother me so much if I had to do without it. But, my internet is another story! Now there's an addiction. I also like to read. Hopefully you can find some interest that you can pass the time away with.

I have lots of interests that I've put aside, like my crafts, and I've discovered that more and more, I'm on the 'puter more than watching t.v. I will miss my HGTV shows, but then, I hardly ever get to watch them on the weekends, because I'm working.

I think I'll probably listen to more music, and work on my house and yard more, which will be a good thing.

 

[Jaded]

I agree, I can do without tv but I can't live without my internet... also, why is your homeowners so expensive $100 a month is $1200 a year, we pay 1/4 that, yikes

Florida has an insurance and tax crisis at present. After 2004, and all the hurricane losses that year, the insurance rates doubled or tripled. Mine went from $600 to $1800. I managed to get into the state run insurance program for $1400, but you can only do two payments, two months apart. So I had to pay $700 up front, and now I'm having to save $100 a week to pay the other in two months. I'm almost there, then I'll be able to spread the savings out over 10 months for the next one, but that's still $140 a month. Still, better than $100 a week!

I'm in the hole every month by about $50 now. That's why I cancelled the satellite, because that's how much it is. I'm being VERY frugal now, and liking myself better. I've started making my own lunches for work, and doing a lot of couponing. My frig is so empty! I can hardly believe I eat at all, as bare as it is! LOL But then, I always wasted food.

 

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Hey Jaded...so sorry you're having such a rough time of it... Sounds like you're doing a great job being frugal and saving for all the things you've got on the horizon... I'm impressed!

My Dh and I just LOVE the DVDs and videos at the library... I agree with the earlier poster who said to give it a go... Can't beat free!

 

[SandNOceanGirl]

So sorry to here about all the trouble you are having. I am in the same boat as you. Always behind on at least one bill and soon I will be giving up phone service and internet service (use the libraries for free) to help save. I haven't had cable in a year and we live in the country so we only get one channel. I rent alot of movies from the library and do alot of reading. I know things will get better and they will get better for you also. :hug2:

 

[jamie79]

You are doing a good job being frugal. Hang in there. It will get better

 

[claimsgirl66]

Chin up, but at least you have your priorities straight! Lots of good advice here. If you have a decent library near you, start using it. I recently cut back to a lesser cable package as it was just costing too much $$$, so always have a movie or 2 from our library to pop in when there is nothing on TV..which is often!

Can you get a $20 antenna from Radioshack etc...to use inside the house & get some better reception of the basic channels?

Just remember, it is not forever, 6 mos, a year....whatever, you can suck it up for the time being, just tell yourself that! However, you might be surprised that once you are financially able to afford cable/satellite, it may not be as big a deal. Good luck!!

 

[Siebrie]

I have been without a tv for over 4 years, and I love it.

It took me about two months to get used to it, because I had to actually think about what I was going to do other than fall down on the sofa. But then I started filling my time with things I always wanted to do, but never found the time for. Or with things I had always enjoyed doing, but never found the time for. Because of that silly time-stealing tv!

I have now got a vegetable patch, make my own birthday cards, visit a lot of friends/have them visit me, bake my own cakes, try out new recipes, read books, go to university for my MA, do voluntary work at church, etc. This is all so much more rewarding than just sitting in front of the telly, watching things you are not really interested in (like those everlasting commercials in the middle of a movie).

 

[miss_thrifty]

I went through that years ago when the kids were really small more then once. Hubby was never great in paying bills on time . ughhhhhhh But he never did without his cigarettes either. Wont even touch that one lol anyways
I know how u feel, it isnt easy and it takes awhile to get caught up. But then the stress will be gone and youll feel at ease again . promise.