Why do people suggest cancelling Sky...

Metranil_Vavin

Of course it is a personal opinion, but if you come on a money saving website, posting up your SOA and asking for help and advice, of course one of the first things people will suggest you ditch is SKY.

Funnily enough OH and I got Sky connected yesterday for the first time. We both earn good money, but I've personally never been a*sed about getting sky as I dont really spend hours and hours plonked in front of the tv!

We had freeview boxes (and still do in the bedroom and kitchen) which as far as I was concerned were perfectly adequate, but when we looked at how much we were paying BT for broadband and line rental (on a home phone we never use), and compared it to the basic Sky package + b/band+their landline, it actually worked out cheaper, so was a bit of a no-brainer really.

We may get the movies package added for a month over Xmas, but then again may not bother, but really if you're struggling to buy food, pay for gas/leccy/got the baliffs knocking on the door, it's pretty weak IMHO to treat satellite tv as a necessity when you can get a variety of channels on freeview anyway.

just to add I hate the look of satellite dishes stuck on the outside of houses too...another reason I held off for so long! Meh!

lmclean100

Must admit, there is no way that I'd get rid of sky, we're on the basic package (TV only). As some of you know, my mum who lives with me, has Alzheimers and she's fixated on Poirot, Miss Marple, Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder (do you see a theme here!!) and it keeps her happy to sit and watch back to back episodes of these on Sky. Makes my life a lot easier, even if she does get confused and thinks the adverts are part of the programme, mind you it does make her pronoucement of who the murder is quite amusing. We don't pay for the TV licence anymore because of mum's age so that helps a bit.

Yes, it's going to take me years to pay back my debt but the it took years to get into this debt it didn't happen over night. I'm not blaming the banks over my debt but it might have been useful if they had said no, instead of yes all the time. But that's water under the bridge, can't go back and change it, with hindsight I would have done virutally everything differently as I'm sure everyone else would do.

Cancelling sky is definitely a personal choice. It's a bit like haircuts - they are not a necessity, you won't die if you don't get your hair cut, you might look a bit of a mess for a while but no-one is going to die, as long as you wash it and keep it clean.

L

gilligansyle

Triggles wrote: »

I think also that how long you are going to be paying back the debt may enter into the equation as well. If it was only going to take a year or two, and you could cut a few months off that by cancelling Sky, then yes, it might be an option for us (although an extremely unpleasant one!). But ours will be long-haul, involving years of paying back - and 5-10 years is a long time to give up any and all luxuries! You have to give yourself SOMETHING to look forward to in the short term!

I think you are right, sky is considered a luxury, but if you are a long hauler, then you can't give up everything, although some do.
I very rarely watch TV, would sooner read or do crafts, I pay for the basic package and my son pays for the sports etc. but I don't think I could actually do without it.

Insomniac666

LilacPixie wrote: »

I think now comments about sky have just become routine. When I have posted my SOA in the past everyone always comments that is should reduce/get rid of my £40 internet/phone/tv package but I always reply with the same comment. Its a decent price for what we get, kids love nick jr, no ariel and the cost to install on for free view is scary and we don't smoke and only have a drink if its been bought as a gift for some occasion or another so it really is our only luxury.

Actually price of paying out for smokes is scary these days, thats one "luxury" which is very difficult to move, but I'm thankfull I'm in a house of non-smokers. and I rarely drink in house, I'm pretty much tea-total, with the odd exception of special occasions..

never-in-doubt

No - Not a chance

Good point, sky costs me the same as what my eldest daughter spends on smokes! However, my sky fee is monthly to her weekly cig bill....

In fact, my weed bill aint even what she spends on smokes - but hey, its her cash I guess lol

Just a valid observation....

Metranil_Vavin

My OH has quite a bit of debt from his previous marriage that we are trying to nail at the moment, and I have to say him giving up smoking has saved so much money it's untrue.

We still tend to glug too much of the old vino though..having to make a real effort not to 'reward' ourselves with a glass of wine at the end of each day!

gilligansyle

milliemonster wrote: »

I think Sky is a luxury, as are mobiles and lots of other things many of us say we can't do without.

However, it does come down to personal choice and circumstances,

It's going to take me a couple of years to pay off the debt we have, we could do it sooner if we got rid of everything, lived hand to mouth, had no treats or luxuries at all but I'm not prepared to do that if I don't have to, I'd rather my DFW journey take a few more months and at least still have a bit of life

I once went out with someone who was hardcore DFW. He had a basic cable package, he couldn't have an aerial for some reason; if he was short of money he cancelled it and the telephone; he used pay go phone but only ever texted, he lived on smartprice tinned food and smartprice spaghetti and bread,turned absolutely everything off except the freezer when he went out and went to work at 6 am and left at 3.30 so he could travel off peak. Fine in the short term, but he'd been doing it for 4 years!

Problem was that by the time I met him, he had no debts but it had become such a way of life tto him that he thought I was extravagant. But to me it wasn't living it was just existing and that is the balance that you have to look at.
If cutting sky completely would save significant amounts, I would do it, but would first have to pay for an aerial and fitting and then find a broadband and phone package etc. and as I don't drink or smoke, I am allowed to watch tv.

MrsTinks

Yes - Totally

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Side note - for a board guide on dfw your attitude regards to unenforceability is a little bad, to say the least!

Why? Am I not entitled to have an oppnion now because I'm a BG? Someone who's job it is to move threads for better replies if placed on the wrong board - occassionally locking threads before Abuse can come have a look and removing spam? What on earth has my views of the world got to do with being a BG?

Or did you not look up the duties of a BG and the part of my signature that says the oppinions expressed are mine and not those of MSE? You? Not reading the small print? No... surely not

never-in-doubt

No - Not a chance

MrsTine wrote: »

Why? Am I not entitled to have an oppnion now because I'm a BG? Someone who's job it is to move threads for better replies if placed on the wrong board - occassionally locking threads before Abuse can come have a look and removing spam? What on earth has my views of the world got to do with being a BG?

Or did you not look up the duties of a BG and the part of my signature that says the oppinions expressed are mine and not those of MSE? You? Not reading the small print? No... surely not

LOL, you miss my point.... you should be more open minded. Maybe you're right, I assumed the role of BG was to offer help and support to people or maybe Fermi is just an exception (he is as bad as me with unenforceability)....

nekosuki

never-in-doubt wrote: »

In fact, my weed bill aint even what she spends on smokes

You get billed???? I wonder if SAGE has an invoicing template for that kind of thing...