Yeah, not really my idea of 'living' either, dlm. I can't imagine spending all those hundreds of dollars a month for all this stuff. I used to pay $155 for internet/VOIP/cable tv. I thought that was an outrageous amount to spend on these things! I also have a cell phone strictly for emergencies that costs $25/mo. I've since switched to a landline $17/mo (only $8 for the landline but another $8+ surcharges). I need this for security system/fire, incoming calls, and power outages. I use Google Voice (free) for all outbound calls (usually works just fine though certainly not as convenient as just picking up a handset). Switched from broadband to DSL which is half the cost at $30/mo. It usually seems to be faster! As for the tv, it's not something I really enjoy or want to spend my time on. I will use the DVD player when I want to spend my time watching something really good (once I get it set up). Or read, play music or even watch select shows that are available on the net. I am however paying $22/mo for the antenna service at this point (the digital box and indoor antennas I tried aren't working very well). I think I'll be getting a roof antenna installed to rid the monthly fee for that expensive service. I am also changing over to a $100/yr prepaid phone card for the emergency cell (has a $1 daily access fee when the phone is used). So, $8-$10/mo for that instead of $25, reduced by $200/yr. So, down from approximately $180/mo (ridiculous) to $78. Hopefully $56/mo in the near future when I've got an outdoor antenna installed. Boy that sounds good. More like the old days!

Do you use it frequently? We use ours daily. We wake up to the news and I come home for lunch M-F and tune into shows during that time. We also watch TV at night, especially before bed. Do you spend the big bucks on cable for the TV and not watch it very often? Yes, and I feel ripped off with Directv. Also do you fight over it with your SO? No. We have multiple TVs so if we disagree on a show then I just watch in a different room. Our house isn't that big and it's just me and the hubby. We have a 54" in our living room and I don't consider that very big anymore. When we replace it someday we'll go to 65-70". Our living room is open to the kitchen and I have to squint to see the guide on my 54" so bigger is needed lol. In our bedroom I think we have a 46" ?? It's not very far from our bed so it's plenty big. And in the basement we have around a 50" but we never go down there. Our TVs are older but get the job done. It's so hard for me to spend money on an item when I have something that already works. So I just wait until things break. I'm down to my last working HDMI port on the living room TV so once that one goes then I'll cheerfully buy a new 65-70"...

Last year the then-Oceanic/Time/Warner cable box could be controlled for volume by its remote. Before we arrived this month, new owner Spectrum (Charter) rewired with "digital" cable. They provided a new box and matching remote for the BR box, but left the old box and its remote in the LR. When we couldn't get that remote to control for volume, Spectrum provided a new remote, but not a new cable box. Nope. Still couldn't change volume. Today we will unhook the LR HD-DVR cable box and take it and the new-style remote into the Spectrum office. We are dropping the DVR service. We will get a non-DVR cable box -- and, I hope, a remote that will control volume. (Yeah, sure.) I foresee that we will have to re-do ALL of this if/when we replace the current TV. (sigh) artemis and Bob -- Most of our guests are like you. They are here to enjoy the island, not sit and watch "Days of Our Lives" (or whatever soaps exist today). We rent both via VRBO and an agency. (We can bump their bookings.) I see other people's ads that stress the GIANT TV setups; evidently a larger daily requirement than I'd have thought. You can see our condo and our competition -- 1BR 2Bath Ocean View at Maui Kamaole in South Kihei. I want to get the TV situation settled before calling a photographer for new photos of the condo. (We are the "Many Happy Returns" ad.) raee -- We are getting programming as part of the deal. At one time we had to pay extra for HD; not now. chloecat -- What is an Amazon Prime Box, please? I think we need cable just to get reception here; no OTA signal, and we are prohibited from installing a dish.

We have Comcast Xfinity as my DH loves tennis. We pay almost three hundred. We also have Apple tv, firestick, and many others. I never watch tv until 8 at night. Then I watch a good movie, usually foreign. Because I am deaf with an implant and two hearing aids, I can only use CC as I can't understand a word when the people talk over each other so that limits my t.v. time. I'm actually ok with that as I accomplish more by myself in my studio plus doing chores. My daughter just gave me a home pod and I love it. I can turn the music up to the max and hear it yet, even then, I limit myself. Oh, and with the home pod, my 3-year old great grand Dylan and I can dance all over the place lol. It's the best feeling. We have Spectrum in Maine but we can't go yet as they closed down to out of staters.