If it weren't enough with rising prices...

Basic cable is included in my monthly condo fee but every time I see something I'd like to watch, it turns out to be on a premium channel option for additional cost. I wish we could drop the cable altogether, but it is a community of 8000+ seniors and I'm sure enough of them are happy with it.

I just bought last night Season 2 of Strange New Worlds. Amazon Prime had Season 1 for free in July and got me addicted. I hate that!
 
I haven't paid for TV for two decades. I don't truly understand why anyone would today with the internet.

But then, I'm technically able, so can easily get what I want, when I want it. I accept that my wife feels happy having Netflix, which she uses daily. I don't use it at all. I have Amazon Prime. That's it for me. Oh! The internet, of course. Ā£56 a month. This is higher than it needs to be, but I simply must have the best service they offer (1gb) just because.
 
Deb, everything is going up in price and itā€™s just going to get worse for a very long time. I have YouTube TV, which is now 82/per month. However, you can split it with someone so I split it with my friend and she pays for half of it. Each house can have two TVs on at once.

For the past two years, my Condo HOA dues have went up 12%. I donā€™t see that stopping anytime soon as all our vendors and costs are going up. Of course my house and car insurance also went up. They just raised my Internet to 80/month. I may have to start shopping around. Itā€™s just such a pain to start with someone new because I need someone like my son to come help me set it up.

Medicare is also going to be rising in 2026. Part B is taking a bigger increase than usual, for those on regular Medicare supplements are projected to go up 20/30% and according to the Medicare center part D is no longer getting federal money for a reduction up to 40% so part D premiums could go up as much as 50/per month for people. šŸ˜”
 
Teacher Terry said:
Medicare is also going to be rising in 2026. Part B is taking a bigger increase than usual, for those on regular Medicare supplements are projected to go up 20/30% and according to the Medicare center part D is no longer getting federal money for a reduction up to 40% so part D premiums could go up as much as 50/per month for people. šŸ˜”
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I dropped my supplement 2-3 years ago because the annual premium increases were unsustainable. So, I'm on an advantage plan. I've had no issues with it, but then I have good health. If my health was as bad as some seniors I know, this plan may not work well for me.

I hadn't heard the supplements are going up 20-30%, but I guess you've found out somehow, and I don't question it.

I suspect one contributor may be that a notable number of younger, healthier individuals are migrating from Medigap plans to Medicare Advantage, leaving a pool of older, less healthy individuals in Medigap, driving up costs for the remaining members.
 
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If you enjoy it and can afford it donā€™t worry about it.

Cable is just another choice that we all have to make.

Cable was one of the first things to go when I stopped working and I donā€™t miss it.

AirTV is enough for me.

I wonder how much Iā€™ve saved over the last 20 years and whose pocket all of that money ended up in, certainly not mine.šŸ˜‰šŸ¤­šŸ˜‚
 
I am so used to what I've had for so long, I am wary about changing. Now I know where everything is I want to watch on TV and the channels.

Four years ago, I was paying around $120 a month for cable service and got over 100 channels. Now it's almost $300 a month sand many channels have been dropped, or require an additional fee to subscribe.
 
debodun said:
I am so used to what I've had for so long, I am wary about changing. Now I know where everything is I want to watch on TV and the channels.

Four years ago, I was paying around $120 a month for cable service and got over 100 channels. Now it's almost $300 a month sand many channels have been dropped, or require an additional fee to subscribe.
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So YouTube TV is very similar to cable TV which is why I chose it. I think right now itā€™s 82/month. You could have someone install the app for you on your TV and set it up once you subscribe. My son did this for me. You get a menu just like you do for cable, which is one of the reasons I like it. Itā€™s very easy to use. It sounds like it would be cheaper than what you have now.
 
debodun said:
Why is that?
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Inflation. Other things are going to be blamed, but inflation started being a nightmare about a year and a half ago and it's going to take a while to get it back under control. I paid a few bills this morning and each one of them was up but they started rising in early 2024 and haven't stopped yet.
 
debodun said:
Why is that?
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A simple answer would be tariffs are to blame. But we all know cable prices have risen year after year. A more realistic answer comes from looking up why on the internet.

Traditional cable TV is facing challenges from streaming services. Consumers seeking flexibility, cost-effectiveness and on demand content have intensified the rivalry between cable TV and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. More people are ā€œcutting the cord,ā€ or canceling cable TV subscriptions in favor of streaming options.

Cable TV Vs. Streaming Services: What's The Best Option?

With cable losing customers to streaming services it's logical to raise rates on those still loyal to their cable provider.
 
OldOld said:
I've never have cable TV subscriptions. I hate to sit in front of TV for any period of time. When I have my TV on, it's usually because I am doing something else and I want some background noise.
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I had it for appx two years in the late 90s. Don't feel like I've missed anything at all.
 
Knight said:
A simple answer would be tariffs are to blame. But we all know cable prices have risen year after year. A more realistic answer comes from looking up why on the internet.

Traditional cable TV is facing challenges from streaming services. Consumers seeking flexibility, cost-effectiveness and on demand content have intensified the rivalry between cable TV and streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. More people are ā€œcutting the cord,ā€ or canceling cable TV subscriptions in favor of streaming options.

Cable TV Vs. Streaming Services: What's The Best Option?

With cable losing customers to streaming services it's logical to raise rates on those still loyal to their cable provider.
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Tariffs will affect the things we import.
 
How is it one of you pays $22 a month for YouTube and the other pays $82 a month?
 

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