Life Without a TV
There was an interesting post on Free Money Finance about the many benefits of going without a TV, including the financial savings , and the quality of life improvements .
Matt's View
Of course, there's nothing inherently wrong with watching TV (especially when there's a good golf tournament on!). However, it's pretty easy to make the argument that we Americans tend to overdo our tube time. According to one study , "average daily household TV viewing" in the U.S. tops eight hours. According to another , in many households with children, "parents have created an environment where the TV is a nearly constant presence."
From a strictly financial perspective, Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor has found a direct correlation between TV watching and savings--the more a person watches TV the less they save. And not just because of exposure to commercials, but also because of the expensive lifestyles depicted in many of the programs.
By the way, back in January I encouraged TV owners who use rabbit ears to order free coupons that'll knock $40 off the cost of a digital signal converter box. You'll need one starting in 2009, when most TV stations will broadcast only digital signals. If you received your coupons but have not redeemed them, be sure to check the expiration date. I just noticed that mine are set to expire later this month.
Managing Money by The Book
- "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." - Psalm 119:16
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