Monthly service fees

Yes. In fact I have noticed this phenomenon. I complain about it quite regularly. I have always said I refuse to pay for TV. But with the introduction of digital TV, and having to go out and get a new one, I finally went against my personal phillosophy and hooked our family up with a subscription to AT&T's U-verse at a whopping 100+ per month. I try to make myself feel better by telling myself that I did it not for the 400 channels that never have anything on them that I want to see, or the really fancy on screen tv guide that it came with, not even the dvr. No, I didnt it for the really fast internet connection over fiber that that I got and that makes me feel better about some of the monthy fee. I wonder how much of my income goes out in monthly service fees? I can count $350 off the top of my head and all of that is some type of communications bill. Two cell phones, TV, and Internet. It certainly feels like a significant portion of my earnings. Interestingly enough, in the area of communications expense, there doesnt seem to be a whole lot of room to cut costs and virtually no option for outright upfront payment - unless you go with prepaid options. For a few months out of the last year I tried just going without the phones, that didn't work, and then prepaid cells, didn't like that either - it equated to more money for less service.

Hi, Teamrose! I resented having to buy converters for my TVs, and I only bought them for the ones I use most. The others are collecting dust until I finally give in. Cable and satellite services mean we have to spend a small fortune on what used to be a free service. For me, it's generally something that's there, but ignored. I often have the TV on, but I'm on the computer or reading or grading my students' papers, so I pay it no attention. I can't really remember the last time I actually watched anything but snippets of the news. Monthly fees are just too absurd for me...

I think all the things they have done with the television billing/the box/ the cable is all a bunch of crap!!!! I had cable and I couldn't pay for it anymore due to loss of a job. So they came and got their stupid remote and stupid box and I don't care, I only have one box that works on one television and it is hard to get any kind of channels! What the f--- Why can't we just plug our t.v. in and watch the d-- thing like we used to? I agree!! I am so done woth cable!!!!!!!!!!!!