Here it is — the post we promised about cutting the cable cord and exactly how much we’re saving. As self-proclaimed TV fans, we’ve often collapsed on the couch after a long day of painting, organizing, or spackling and watched TV to unwind. For that reason, and because many of the channels Sherry prefers (yes, Bravo) weren’t always easy to get outside a traditional cable package, we didn’t think cord-cutting would be practical for us at first.
After repeated frustrations with our cable provider and a bill that climbed from $99 to $169 over the past four years, we finally decided to take the plunge. The process took time and a few detours, but we landed on a setup that only slightly changed how we watch TV while delivering substantial savings — roughly $950 a year. Here’s how we did it.
The Situation
To understand our decisions, here’s where we started: a Verizon Fios bundle for nearly seven years that included cable, internet, and a landline. We were originally enticed by introductory pricing and had renewed at a lower rate a couple times, but our bill recently hovered near $170 per month. That included DVR service and an extra DVR box, though not premium channels like HBO.
Over time our viewing narrowed. Most of what filled our DVR was:
- Anything on Bravo — Sherry’s favorite
- Competition and reality shows like The Bachelor, Survivor, and Shark Tank
- Primetime dramas such as The Walking Dead, This Is Us, and Scandal
- Kids’ movies taped off networks like Freeform, FX, or Disney
We didn’t watch much live TV, daytime programming, or sports, and we already used Netflix. That made us think our needs were simple and cord-cutting should be straightforward — but a few hurdles showed up, mostly around the home phone, competitive pricing from providers, and getting Bravo.
Hurdle #1: We Needed a Home Phone
Cutting the home phone seemed like the obvious first step, but cell coverage is spotty where we live and our alarm system needed a reliable connection. Replacing the landline with another landline provider didn’t save much, and many a la carte options were surprisingly expensive.
Hurdle #2: Unbundling Isn’t That Much Cheaper
We asked Verizon for a phone + internet price without cable, expecting a big drop. Instead, removing cable looked like it would save only $20–$30 per month. Once we added a cable replacement streaming service that cost $10–$30 per month, savings were minimal.
Hurdle #3: Bravo
Because our household is heavy on Real Housewives content, Bravo was non-negotiable. Major streaming services like Hulu, Amazon, and Apple didn’t include Bravo in their base subscriptions, and watching episodes a la carte or waiting for seasons to appear later wasn’t ideal.
After consulting listeners and doing more research, and with help from a knowledgeable Verizon rep, we found a workable solution:
Cable Solution: Roku + PlayStation Vue
We bought two Roku devices to replace our two cable boxes. A Roku is a one-time purchase that streams content from your internet to your TV. We picked Roku for its straightforward interface and because it’s neutral about where content comes from — it doesn’t push Amazon or iTunes first.
For live channels, we subscribed to PlayStation Vue. Its Access Slim plan provided about 45 live channels, including Bravo, for $29.99 per month. That allowed us to stream live TV and access on-demand content. We tried PS Vue’s free trial first, which helped us decide it fit our needs. Sling TV is a comparable alternative with different package options and sometimes lower prices, so that may work better for other households.
Using PS Vue took a little getting used to because it feels more like finding shows on Netflix than on traditional cable. There’s a “Your Shows” feature to collect episodes, but we often find it just as fast to sign in to individual channels (Bravo, HGTV, etc.) from the Roku home screen and watch from there.
Phone Solution: Ooma
One of the best suggestions we received was Ooma. It routes calls over your internet connection and offers free unlimited nationwide calls, charging only taxes and fees — $5.06 for us each month. Our existing cordless phone worked with Ooma, so the experience felt the same, except for the savings.
We purchased an Ooma Telo device for about $80 and plugged it into our modem and phone. We also upgraded our alarm system so it could rely on cellular backup, which allowed us to drop the traditional landline entirely.
Internet Solution: Negotiated Verizon Fios
With TV and phone handled, our final task was reducing internet costs. Sherry called both Verizon and Comcast and secured a competitor quote for 75 Mbps at $59. Using that specific quote, she convinced a Verizon rep to match and even beat the price, getting us $54/month for two years. Having a specific competing offer was the key to negotiating a much better rate.
The Savings
Here’s the breakdown comparing the new monthly total to the old one (our prior cable bill ran about $169/month, not including Netflix):
- Television (PlayStation Vue): $29.99
- Phone (Ooma): $5.06
- Internet (Verizon): $54.99
- New Monthly Total: $90.04
- Monthly Savings: About $78.96
- Annual Savings: About $947.52
We did spend up front on equipment: two Roku devices ($180), an Ooma Telo ($80), and a Wi‑Fi extender ($30), totaling $290. That initial cost reduces first-year savings but still means the equipment pays for itself in under four months of monthly savings.
Other Benefits
Beyond the money, cutting cable changed our viewing habits. Without an ever-growing DVR queue, we stopped watching shows out of obligation and became more intentional about what we watch. The pause and extra clicks required to find something makes us choose more carefully, which has reduced passive TV time.
Cons
There were a few trade-offs. The new interface took a short adjustment period, and explaining the setup to relatives can be a little awkward. Roku units don’t rely on IR receivers the way our old boxes did, although they are small and can be tucked away. Commercials returned in some places since we can’t always fast-forward through streaming content unless we use DVR-like features that some platforms offer.
One notable content gap for us was CBS programming like Survivor. CBS uses its own streaming service (CBS All Access), which may require a separate subscription. Availability varies by service and region, and PlayStation Vue has added CBS in some areas but not all.
The Verdict
Overall, we’re happy with the result. The annual savings are meaningful — enough to fund a vacation over time — and freeing ourselves from the bundle felt empowering. Aside from our internet contract, the services we chose are flexible and can be canceled or changed if something better comes along. For now, we’ve cut the cord, kept the shows we love, and saved a lot of money in the process.
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