Setting up a budget for first home

pb6672

Freeview is a digital TV box that you don't have to pay any monthly subscription for. You get all the basic digital TV channels, and you (theoretically) just plug your normal TV aerial into it (though you do need a strong signal!). Therefore your only expense would be the box (about £20) and your TV Licence.

http://www.freeview.co.uk/

As for mobile phone plans, I know O2 do something like you describe.

They have a "Family Bolt On" which costs £7.50 / month and allows unlimited calls, texts etc between 5 O2 mobile phones of your choosing. Only 1 phone has to pay the fee, and it can be added to a pay as you go phone if you didn't want monthly contracts.

http://yourfamily.o2.co.uk/familybolton

atypical

BadlyDrawnGirl wrote: »

although we know we can watch them for free on the BBC website, it DOES say you're supposed to be paying for a TV license if you watch them. Eek...

You only need a TV licence if you watch TV as it is being broadcast. As BBC iPlayer is not live you do not need a TV licence. There are sites such as TVCatchup which stream channels live, you would need a TV licence in this case.

BadlyDrawnGirl_2

atypical wrote: »

You only need a TV licence if you watch TV as it is being broadcast. As BBC iPlayer is not live you do not need a TV licence. There are sites such as TVCatchup which stream channels live, you would need a TV licence in this case.

Oh thanks, I wasn't aware of that! Freeview does sound like our best bet at the moment...but do we need to have a little satellite dish stuck on to the outside of our window for it to work? Or does it work through the regular building's antenna? And is the reception any good (for those of you who have it)?

evantej

BadlyDrawnGirl wrote: »

Oh thanks, I wasn't aware of that! Freeview does sound like our best bet at the moment...but do we need to have a little satellite dish stuck on to the outside of our window for it to work? Or does it work through the regular building's antenna? And is the reception any good (for those of you who have it)?

You will not require "a little satellite dish stuck on the outside of [your] window for it to work" fortunately. Generally, you buy a separate freeview box (Argos sells them for £17.99) and connect it to your television via SCART. But because it does not a satillite like Sky you have to be in an area which recieves it. If you have Sky then this is uncessary as the box itselfis digital too so you do not need a seperate piece of equipment. If you buy a brand new television then you can buy one with freeview hardware inside the television itself, which means no unecessary fuss.

I will correct the previous poster regarding a television license. You have to pay for a license if you recieve a live broadcast through a television (or equipment capable of recieving a live broadcast [they have covered themselves somewhat regarding PCI and USB TV tuners), which is connected to mains electricity. There is a glaring loophole here, and what I often do is unplug the mains charger from my laptop, while watching live football on the internet. Legally I am covered but I would not like to defend this position in a court of law . Alternatively, simply go down the pub if you need to watch live sports, and catch up on your television online using on-demand services.

Fire_Fox

All the back series of Top Gear are on a reasonably new digital channel 'Dave' which is available on Freeview. Have you thought about Skype for calling abroad? Or looking into getting inclusive calls to certain countries on either your landline or mobile phones? You will probably need to do your homework but it's certainly possible ...

atypical

evantej wrote: »

I will correct the previous poster regarding a television license. You have to pay for a license if you recieve a live broadcast through a television (or equipment capable of recieving a live broadcast [they have covered themselves somewhat regarding PCI and USB TV tuners), which is connected to mains electricity.

I'm sure this is only true if your parents already have a TV licence at your home address, which I'm guessing won't be the case for the OP.