Marketing author Seth Godin touched on some truths in a recent blog post:
Think you could live without the $1800 a year you spend on cell phone service and $1200 a year you spend on cable TV? Of course you can. You did ten years ago…
…What’s interesting to watch are the things that we can’t live without, the things we think we need, not want. Those things won’t get cut, yet most of them aren’t needs at all. That’s because the industries that market these items have done a brilliant job of persuading us that they are needs after all.
I’ve thought a lot about services that aren’t really needs. Here are four simple ways to tighten your economic belt and save up to $400 by canceling unnecessary hi-tech services:
- Cancel Cable/Satellite TV. I’ve written previously about going to free over-the-air television, but many people still think they need cable movie channels. Aside from renting or buying the occasional movie, you can also watch Ion TV. Ion TV is a free, over-the-air nationwide channel that shows movies on weekends. I tune in on Channel 66 in Manassas, Virginia. (estimated savings $20-$100 monthly)
- Cancel Expensive Cellphone Plans. Instead of making excessive unnecessary calls, switch to an affordable mobile phone plan and use your cell phone only in emergencies or for other special circumstances. I have a pay-as-you go plan and am charged only $100 per year, whereas many other people pay $100 or more per month. (estimated savings $20-$100 monthly).
- Cancel Expensive Gym Memberships. There is no need to join a hi-tech gym full of germs to get in shape. Instead, be like Herschel Walker and get in shapes without machines and weights. (estimated savings $25-$130 monthly).
- Cancel Netflix. As a previous member, I detested paying monthly fees when I wasn’t using the service. I can still rent from Blockbuster, watch an occasional movie in the theater, purchase a movie from Amazon every once in awhile, or watch Ion TV movies for free. (estimated savings $5 to $17 monthly).